John by Gary M. Burge

Author:Gary M. Burge [Burge, Gary M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Bible Study & Reference, Biblical Commentary, Christian, Commentaries, New Testament, Reference, Religion
ISBN: 9780310497509
Amazon: 0310497507
Barnesnoble: 0310497507
Goodreads: 109765
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2000-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Bridging Contexts

THIS IS A profoundly ironic chapter in the Gospel of John. As one of its longest narratives, it draws us into the story with excellent dramatic development. It records the most remarkable miracle in Jesus’ ministry. Its climax is Jesus’ gift of life to his dead friend Lazarus—and here is the irony—its conclusion finds his enemies (represented by Caiaphas) plotting Jesus’ death. The Lord of Life demonstrates that he is victor over death and in the end, he has death pronounced on himself. He dispenses life while his enemies try to take it away.25 We are even given signals in 11:55–57 pointing us to the festival (Passover), which is going to be the final feast of Jesus’ life. Life and hope as well as dread and doom hang over the chapter ominously.

The nature of Jesus’ work. We should see this chapter as an important statement about the character of Jesus’ work. John includes this story so that Jesus’ message does not “sink into a general symbolic mysticism.”26 His works are concrete. He is not just the light; he gives sight to a blind man. Jesus is not just the resurrection and the life; he brings a man from the tomb. The revelation of Jesus does not take place apart from concrete acts in history. Therefore the historicity of this passage (so often assailed in modern criticism), the truth about this story, is not to be found in the inspiring narrative it builds but in the deed it records. Something happened in Bethany that was unparalleled. God (who alone is sovereign over life) has acted decisively in Jesus Christ.

This follows the general pattern of John’s message in his Gospel. Jesus has entered into human history and brought a number of “signs” that point us to his true identity. As such the raising of Lazarus is the seventh and final sign of Jesus.27 It is interesting to compare the first and seventh signs of Jesus—Cana and Bethany—for in each Jesus unveils his glory in the company of personal friends (2:11; 11:4, 40).

It is no accident that the final number (seven) is a symbolic biblical number of completion, since it is the most important sign of all. It not only unveils the ultimate power of Jesus, but it points to what may be the ultimate and all-encompassing sign of all, the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we will note later (see comments on chapters 19–20), the story of Lazarus’s empty tomb anticipates the story of Jesus’ empty tomb. The Lord who has power over life has power over his own life as well. “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again” (10:17). If resurrection is the final, climactic sign, how much more will Jesus’ glorification be the ultimate sign of the Gospel!

There are four principal themes (and a number of secondary ideas) that step from this chapter and deserve our closest attention as we try to communicate this text in a modern setting.

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