The final period of the life of Jesus Christ, the son of God, covers a period of approximately one hundred and twenty days. It begins at the time of the feast of dedication, which fell, according to our present calendar, during the last days of December. We quote from John’s gospel chapter 10 beginning at verse 22: ”And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Up to this time Jesus had had many arguments and disputations with the Jews, especially with those pertaining to the priesthood, but in one way and another he had put them off without violence. But the situation Jesus now faced called for a direct answer. The Spirit of God no doubt brought this about, for Christ’s mission was drawing to a close and would terminate when the next Passover came, which would be the next April according to the present calendar. Therefore Jesus answered them with a complete statement as recorded in John 10 verses 25 through 30: “I told you, and ye believed not; the works that I do in my Fathers name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
When Jesus said “I and my Father are one,” meaning that Jesus was a son, a true ambassador of God, it must be clearly understood that Jesus was an individual and the son of God in every way. To further shed light on this statement we have as a reference in John 17:11: -Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” One in purpose and action.
Jesus had spent three years up to this time teaching both by his own effort and by sending his disciples out among the people, and on every hand the Jews stood in opposition to his teaching. The Jews now manifested a murderous intent saying “For a good work we stone thee not: but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” John 10:33.
The battle line was drawn and therefore they sought again to take Jesus; but he escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.” John 10:39 & 40.
The scriptures make it clear that Jesus time to die was set by the Father, yet Jesus took no chance of being taken by his enemies the Jews. In John 7:6 there is this statement: “My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready,” to show us that Jesus’ time to die was a set time, and Jesus knew it. To mankind in general their time to die was always at hand.
Followers and friends of Jesus traveled the many miles to visit him and carry messages of interest. One such message was sent by Martha and Mary, and it read: -Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.- John 11:3. If there is more to the message it is not revealed in scripture. But be it known that God’s spirit rested on His son, therefore Jesus knew all things.
When Jesus received the message he said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the son of God might be glorified thereby.” John 11:4. If Jesus was to rush to the aid of Mary and Martha at once it would defeat the plan that “God might be glorified,” so Jesus “abode yet two more days still in the same place that he was,” even though the message from the two sisters seemed to be urgent. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters and by human expression one would have expected Jesus to go at once to Bethany, but in this instance there was a great lesson to be taught. so after two days Jesus said to his disciples: ”Let us go into Judea again.” This raised a disturbing question to his disciples for one of them said: “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?” Jesus answered: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.”
There can be but one interpretation of this statement; that being Jesus knew from God’s spirit that his time to die was not yet come and that this adventure was to enlighten the populace in general that Jesus was truly the son of God and was able to manifest His power.
Jesus, in order to show the necessity’ of their going to Judea, gives them a two-fold statement: first that “Lazarus sleepeth,” and then the last statement: “Lazarus is dead.” John 11:11-14.
One can readily see why Jesus could not have gone to Lazarus before he had been dead for some time, otherwise the next statement Jesus made would not carry any import whatsoever, for Jesus continues: “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” John 11:15. It was the will of God that Jesus show the disciples that resurrection from the grave was no myth, that in Jesus Christ was truly the power of resurrection to all those that believe and obey the truth. Jesus put aside the objections raised by’ the disciples with: “nevertheless let us go unto him.”
Thomas, feeling certain that Jesus would be slain if he went again into the hostile area of Judea, said to his fellow disciples: “let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16.
The trip to Judea took perhaps two days, assuming that the group made it on foot. “When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had lain in the grave four days already.” John 11:17. Mary, Martha and Lazarus kept the “House of Simon” where Jesus and his disciples often stayed for it was in Bethany, a place not far from Jerusalem. Perhaps the two sisters and brother were the most treasured friends Jesus had in the area of Jerusalem.
Jesus stayed in the outskirts of Bethany and sent word to Martha that he had arrived and where he could be found, most likely wanting a private visit with the sisters before publicly making his presence known. It is possible that there were special reasons for the private meeting, one being to feel out the general atmosphere & mood of the people, for Jesus avoided the elders in particular “for they had put a price on his head.” There were many Jews gathered to console Mary’ and Martha, and one must bear in mind that Jesus was a “wanted man” by order of the chief priests, this was especially true of Caiaphas, “the high priest that same year.” Martha met Jesus with joy, and yet with a tone of rebuke, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” This is one of the great statements of the scriptures. Jesus knew why he had not been there sooner and poor Martha felt only the regret of delay (the human, fleshly way we think.) For all that would read the statement, remember that Jesus could have healed Lazarus without ever leaving the “abode east of Jordan.” For what is time and distance to the Lord?” Had Jesus been with Lazarus he could not have refused to heal his friend, and this would have defeated the essential lesson that God was to perform through the power of His spirit, vested in His son; that is the power of resurrection of the dead. While Martha seemed disappointed, she shows her faith with this statement: “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” John 11:22. Jesus made an effort to console Martha temporarily saying: “Thy’ brother shall rise again.” (verse 23). Then in verse 24 Martha makes a noble statement: “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus affirms her statement (so often quoted out of context, which fails to depict the true meaning) in verse 25: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” verses 25 and 26. Martha’s answer (verse 27): “Yea Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
Martha then goes secretly to call her sister Mary, not trusting who might be present to watch her movements. She whispers: The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” Mary immediately leaves to meet Jesus and many of those that were at the house to comfort the sisters, thinking Mary was again going to the grave of Lazarus, followed her not knowing she was on her way to meet her Lord, even Jesus. When she reached Jesus, she confronted him with the same words her sister had used: “Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died.”
This proves how the thoughts of the sisters were the same. Their most urgent thought had been “Oh, if the Lord Jesus were only here Lazarus would be healed.” Sometimes we all have these thoughts. When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And Jesus asked: “Where have ye laid him?” They said unto him “Lord come and see.” Then “Jesus wept.”
“Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him.” And some of them said “Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” verse 37. Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take ye away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Jesus, “Lord, by this time he stinketh; for he bath been dead four days.” Jesus saith unto her, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.” And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.” John 11 :33-46.
What had taken place now opened new challenge to the chief priest and pharisees so they called a council together and said: “What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.” John 11:47,
The Jews were more interested in their own welfare than in serving the God that their forefathers had worshiped for generations; they cried out against change and refused to accept Jesus for what he was, the Son of God.
God, perhaps in anger, moved Caiaplias, the high priest that year, to declare prophetic words: “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” John 11:49-50. Caiaphas knew not the truth: -that Jesus was the Lamb of God that was to be offered for the sins of the world.” It wasn’t for the Jews only that Jesus would die, “but that Jesus was to gather together in one the children of God.” John 11:51 -52.
Many Jews were now becoming believers and this worried the Jewish leaders, so they were driven to desperation and -from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Jesus to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went hence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.” John 11:53-54.
John concludes the 11th chapter with a short summary of what would take place in the course of a few weeks at the Jewish Passover and to present the whole picture of what is to take place we must consider what is written in the other Gospels. This will be presented in following sections of the last period of the Life of Jesus Christ.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One