Gospels in Harmony – John 11, Section 1 – Lazarus is Dead 

[Study Aired April 27, 2020]

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, 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. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

In this study we are going to look at the names and towns mentioned and see what they represent in our journey into the Kingdom of God.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, 

Lazarus 

BTSCTVM+ Definition: Lazarus = whom God helps (a form of the hebrew name Eleazar) 

1. an inhabitant of Bethany, beloved by christ and raised from the dead by him 2. a very poor and wretched person to whom Jesus referred to in Luk_16:20-25 

– Origin: probably of hebrew origin H499 

Lazarus is the friend of Christ whom he loved. Who does Lazarus represent? 

Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

Pro 22:11 Love a pure heart and kind words, and the king will be your friend. (ERV) 

Joh 15:12-17 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. 

All the parables we reviewed in Luke 14-17 in our previous studies prepared us to understand the significance of this story Lazarus. Lazarus is sick and we also start out sick within.

Isa 1:2-6 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Lazarus’ sickness represents the iniquities within us. This sickness is causes death.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God helps), of Bethany,

Bethany 

BTSCTVM+ Definition: Bethany = house of dates or, house of misery 

1. a village at the Mount of Olives, about two miles (3 km) from Jerusalem, on or near the normal road to Jericho 2. a town or village on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptising 

– Origin: of Aramaic origin 

Hitchcock Definition – the house of song; the house of affliction 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), 

Remember the Kingdom of God is within? Remember these things are for our understanding? 

Luk 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 

We are the house of God and these judgments (afflictions) begin at the house of God. 

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

What is affliction? 

Ezr 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 

Lev 23:26-29 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 

(ERV) Lev 23:26-29 The LORD said to Moses, “The Day of Atonement will be on the tenth day of the seventh month. There will be a holy meeting. You must not eat food, and you must bring an offering as a gift to the LORD. You must not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement. On that day the priests will go before the LORD and perform the ceremony that makes you pure. “Anyone who refuses to fast on this day must be separated from their people. If anyone does any work on this day, I will destroy that person from among the people. You must not do any work at all. This is a law that continues forever for you, wherever you live. It will be a special day of rest for you. You must not eat food. You will start this special day of rest on the evening following the ninth day of the month. This special day of rest continues from that evening until the next evening.” 

The afflictions are the results of a fast. Mike just did a study of this, and here is the link if you have not reviewed it yet. Is not This the Fast that I Have Chosen?

Isa 58:1-7 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary 

Mary 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Mary or Miriam = their rebellion 

1. Mary the mother of Jesus 2. Mary Magdalene, a women from Magdala 3. Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha 4. Mary of Cleophas the mother of James the less 5. Mary the mother of John Mark, a sister of Barnabas 6. Mary, a Roman Christian who is greeted by Paul in Romans 16:6 

– Origin: of hebrew origin H4813 

What does Mary represent? 

Psa 107:8-12 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 

Pro 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her sister Martha. 

Martha 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Martha = she was rebellious 

1. was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany 

– Origin: probably of Aramaic origin (meaning mistress) 

Hitchcock – who becomes bitter; provoking 

Pro 5:1-4 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 

Lam 3:15-19 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine, affliction and my misery the wormwood and the gall. 

Rev 8:10-11 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (their rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 

Jesus 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Jesus = Jehovah is salvation 

1. Jesus, the son of God, the saviour of mankind, God incarnate 2. Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of christ 3. Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor (Act_7:45, Heb_4:8) 4. Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of christ (Luk_3:29) 5. Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col_4:11) 

– Origin: of hebrew origin H3091 

Hitchcock – savior; deliverer 

Isa 43:1-3 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 

Isa 43:10-12 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 

Luk 2:8-11 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (the rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his (the savior and deliverer) feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him (the savior and deliverer), saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou (the savior and deliverer) lovest is sick. When Jesus (the savior and deliverer) heard that, he (the savior and deliverer) said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus (the savior and deliverer) loved Martha (the rebellious and bitter one), and her sister (their rebellion), and Lazarus (whom God Helps). When he (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that he (whom God Helps) was sick, he (the savior and deliverer) abode two days still in the same place where he was. 

In the same place he was (Aenon) 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Aenon meaning springs 

1. the name of a place near to Salim at which John baptised 

– Origin: of hebrew origin, a derivative of G5869 

Hitchcock – a cloud; fountain; his eye 

Strong’s – H5869 

ah’-yin 

Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape): – affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye ([-brow], [-d], -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow [from the margin], X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open (-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you (-rselves). 

Joh 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 

Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 

Gen 3:4-7 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

Pro 8:27-31 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 

Rev 21:5-8 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (the rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his (the savior and deliverer) feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him (the savior and deliverer), saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou (the savior and deliverer) lovest is sick. When Jesus (the savior and deliverer) heard that, he (the savior and deliverer) said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus (the savior and deliverer) loved Martha (the rebellious and bitter one), and her sister (their rebellion), and Lazarus (whom God Helps). When he (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that he (whom God Helps) was sick, he (the savior and deliverer) abode two days still in the same place where he was (eyes being opened and life giving waters). Then after that saith he (the savior and deliverer) to his disciples,

Next study we will finish looking at the names and towns in this story. 

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, 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. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.