Our purpose here is to point out the serious difference in the way of thinking of the ordinary man and God’s messenger – the Savior Jesus Christ. Hence the difference between the way of thinking of the nonbeliever and the man who, through faith in Jesus, is a new creation. The last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, declares in John 3:30ff.: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The New Testament must come to the fore, the Old Testament message is now not at the forefront, as it points to Jesus, Who fulfills it.
The last Old Testament prophet continues: “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What he has seen and heard he testifies about; but no one receives his testimony. He who has received his testimony has set his seal to the fact that God is true.” These words point to the vast discrepancy and incompatibility between earthly and heavenly thinking. Therefore, eternal life remains misunderstood. But the prophet continues in verse 36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life,” which is also the recurring message of Jesus.
Jesus also points out in his arguments with the Jews that they do not understand him because of their different natures: “He said to them, ‘You are from below; I am from (those who are) above. You are of this world, I am not of this world’” (John 23).
1. The Promise of Eternal Life: John 8 & 9 Context
In John 8:51–52, Jesus says:
“If anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death.”
“If anyone keeps my word, he shall never taste death.”
This promise frames the events in John 11. Jesus does not deny physical death but refers to spiritual death — eternal separation from God. This explains why He says Lazarus is only “sleeping”: from the eternal perspective, death is not final.
In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind and refers to Himself as the light of the world, showing how physical conditions (like blindness or death) mirror spiritual realities.
2. Two Types of Death
There are two levels of death:
- Physical Death: The temporary end of bodily life.
- Spiritual Death: Eternal separation from God — the true “sickness unto death.”
This aligns with Kierkegaard’s phrase “sickness unto death,” where sin and unbelief lead to a death deeper than the physical — a hopeless state without reconciliation to God.
Jesus raising Lazarus illustrates that while the body may die, the soul can remain alive in God’s presence. This is why Jesus can say, “He is asleep,” even though Lazarus was physically dead.
3. Consciousness in Death: Sleep or Separation?
A provocative question arises: Was Lazarus conscious while he was “asleep”?
We are not told what Lazarus experienced. There’s no testimony from him. But Jesus’ use of “sleep” likely refers more to the state of the body, not necessarily the spirit. His statement implies physical dormancy, not finality.
4. Miscommunication and Carnal Thinking
Throughout John 8–11, we observe a persistent disconnect between Jesus and others — whether the disciples, the Jews, or Mary and Martha:
- Jesus speaks from a spiritual, eternal viewpoint.
- Others interpret Him through the carnal mind — concerned with physical danger, present circumstances, and worldly outcomes.
“If you were here, Lazarus wouldn’t have died.”
“Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (Thomas)
These show how death is perceived by human understanding as final, whereas Jesus operates from the eternal.
5. Light and Darkness: Walking Without Stumbling
In John 11:9–10, Jesus says:
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.”
This speaks to spiritual illumination. Jesus, the Light of the World (John 9:5), is present — and those who walk with Him will not stumble. But when He is gone, only those who have the light within them (i.e., the Holy Spirit) will not stumble.
This is a prophetic foreshadowing of the Church Age:
After Jesus’ death, the Holy Spirit becomes the internal light for believers.
6. The Jews Who Came with Mary: Two Responses
In John 11, a new group appears: the Jews who came with Mary.
- Some wept and later believed in Jesus (John 11:45).
- Others questioned:
“Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have kept this man from dying?” (v. 37)
These represent two heart conditions:
- The soft-hearted, moved by compassion and open to faith.
- The hardened, skeptical even in the face of miracles.
Jesus’ groaning in the Spirit (vv. 33, 38) reflects His grief — not only over death, but over unbelief and the misinterpretation of who He is.
7. Jesus’ Weeping: Divine Compassion and Frustration
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
This shortest verse in Scripture holds immense depth. His weeping is not just grief over Lazarus, but also mourning over the unbelief and spiritual blindness of those around Him.
They weep for death as final, while He knows death is temporary — a sleep.
8. Spiritual Blindness and Sickness Unto Death
Spiritual blindness (John 9) and sickness unto death (John 11) are parallel conditions:
- Blindness = Inability to perceive the truth of God.
- Sickness unto death = Sin that leads to eternal separation.
Jesus came as the Great Physician — not for those who claim to be well (like the Pharisees), but for the sick, the blind, and those aware of their need (cf. Luke 5:31-32).
9. Eternal vs Temporal Hope
People often place hope in temporary things: health, wealth, status.
But true hope — the kind that overcomes death — comes only from God. Not from:
- Fashion
- Success
- Material comfort
But from knowing Jesus, who alone can give victory over death.
10. Final Thoughts: A Call to Renewed Mind and Eternal Vision
Romans 12:2 speaks of the renewing of the mind — not thinking according to the present age, but in light of the age to come.
The disciples, like many of us, feared death and clung to physical life. But Jesus continually redirected them to:
- The eternal perspective
- Life beyond death
- The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Summary:
John 11 is not just about Lazarus being raised, but about Jesus redefining death. He reveals that true death is not physical but spiritual — separation from God due to unbelief. And true life is eternal, found in union with Christ through the Spirit. The light of the world was walking among them, yet many still walked in darkness.
Christian Mission Center Saint Paul 