Objective
Students will learn that faith in Jesus, the Son of God, brings victory over both physical and spiritual death.
Warm Up
Road Signs – Have the students make a list of the many different signs they have seen along the road while traveling: Stop, Yield, Merge, Speed Limit, No U-Turn, Exit, Wrong Way, etc. If time permits, break into groups and have each group draw one of the road signs.
Ask:
- What are road signs meant to do?
- What would driving be like without them?
- How do road signs help people reach their destination safely?
Road signs provide directions to help drivers stay safe and to get to their destinations in a timely manner. Just like road signs provide direction, there are signs in the Bible for us to see that point us toward the destination where God wants us to go.
Transition
John’s Gospel was written with one purpose: to help people believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Throughout his book, John records seven miraculous “signs” that point to Jesus’ identity. The final and greatest of these signs is the raising of Lazarus; a moment that reveals Jesus’ power over life and death itself.
The Clip
Play “Resurrection Of Lazarus” from Season 4, Episode 7 of The Chosen.
Discuss:
- If you were Martha, how might you have felt when Jesus finally arrived?
- How might your feelings have changed when you saw Him face to face?
- How would you have reacted if you saw Lazarus walk out of the tomb?
- Why do you think some people still refused to believe, even after seeing a miracle?
Transition
Jesus’ raising of Lazarus wasn’t just about bringing a friend back to life. It was a powerful sign meant to reveal who He truly is: the Resurrection and the Life.
Let’s open our Bibles to John 11 and walk through this story together.
Bible Study
Read John 11:1-7, 11-15
Jesus receives word that His friend Lazarus is sick, but instead of rushing to help, He waits two days before going to Bethany.
- How long did Jesus wait before going to Bethany?
- Why do you think He delayed?
- What might His disciples have thought about that decision?
- How does Jesus’ delay challenge our ideas about God’s timing?
- How can waiting on God grow our faith?
Read John 11:20-27
Martha runs to meet Jesus and expresses her disappointment and faith. Jesus reveals one of His greatest truths: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
- What stands out about Martha’s conversation with Jesus?
- What does Jesus mean when He says, “everyone who believes in Me will never die”?
- How does this moment reveal Jesus’ true identity?
- What does Martha’s response teach us about faith in hard times?
- How do Jesus’ words bring hope to people today?
Read John 11:32-38
Jesus arrives at the tomb. Seeing the sorrow around Him, He becomes deeply moved and weeps.
- What emotions stand out in this part of the story?
- Why do you think Jesus was so moved by everyone’s grief?
- What does it show about His heart for people?
- How does Jesus’ compassion here help you understand God’s character?
- What does His reaction teach us about how to comfort others?
Read John 11:39-46
Jesus commands the stone to be rolled away, calls Lazarus by name, and raises him from the dead.
- How long had Lazarus been dead?
- Why do you think Jesus prayed aloud before performing the miracle?
- What might it have been like to see Lazarus walk out of the tomb?
- How do you think this miracle affected people’s faith?
- Why do you think some still refused to believe?
Wrap Up
God’s timing is always perfect, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Jesus allowed His friend Lazarus to die so that His power over sin and death would be clear to everyone who witnessed the miracle. This was the final sign in John’s Gospel—a powerful reminder that Jesus alone gives life.
Ask students to memorize John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.”
Encourage them to trust that the same Jesus who called Lazarus out of the tomb can bring life and hope into their situations today.