21 Days of Family Devotions - Day 20: Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Today’s lesson is about when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
Learn the Big Idea:
Jesus has power over death.
Read the Passage: John 11:17–44
[17] Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. [18] Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, [19] and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. [20] So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. [21] Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” [23] Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” [24] Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, [26] and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” [27] She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
[28] When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” [29] And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. [30] Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. [31] When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. [32] Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [33] When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. [34] And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” [35] Jesus wept. [36] So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” [37] But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
[38] Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. [39] Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” [41] So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” [44] The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Watch the Video:
Tell the Story: CLICK HERE to view the story slides
NOTE: If you click on the first slide it will go full screen and a script will be on the bottom of the screen.
Discuss the Questions:
What was the name of the man who died? (Lazarus)
What were the names of Lazarus’ sisters? (Mary and Martha)
How long had Lazarus been dead? (4 days)
Which sister ran to see Jesus first? (Martha)
In the first part of v25 Jesus says “I am” what? (The resurrection and the life)
In the second half of v25 and v26 Jesus explains what “I am the resurrection and the life” means. What did He say? (That whoever believes in Him will never die)
After Mary and the rest of the crowd came to Jesus they were weeping and wailing. In v33-35 we learn that Jesus was moved, troubled, and that He wept. Why do you thing Jesus cried? (Talk about this for a while. We don’t know for sure but here are some possibilities – 1) Jesus felt compassion. Lazarus was his friend and Mary and Martha were so sad. 2) He was sad/angry because sin entering the world caused death and sadness to enter. 3) He was sad/angry that the crowd was wailing like the pagans who died without hope. 4) He was sad/angry because most of the crowd thought He was too late to do anything.
When they got to the tomb, what did Jesus tell them to do? (Roll away the stone covering the tomb)
What did Jesus do first? (He prayed)
Because Jesus prayed, do you think we should pray?
What did Jesus yell to Lazarus? (Come out!)
What does this miracle teach us about Jesus? (He has power over death!)
Have some Fun:
Sing some Songs:
