MARTHA AT THE TOMB
The command Jesus gave just before Martha objected.
What is "Roll the stone aside"?
By looking upward and addressing God intimately as "Father" before performing a miracle, Jesus models the exact same structural pattern He used during this massive Galilean miracle involving a small boy's lunch.
What is the Feeding of the 5,000?
The exact words Jesus shouted at the tomb.
What is "Lazarus, come out"?
Resurrection life is given by Christ alone, but the study guide says this group plays a role in helping someone walk in the freedom Christ has given.
What is the community / the church?
This is the specific type of burial structure where Lazarus was laid to rest.
What is a cave?
The practical, physical reason Martha gave for not wanting the tomb opened.
What is the smell (Lazarus had been dead four days)?
The thing Jesus thanked the Father for at the very start of his prayer.
What is hearing him?
What still bound Lazarus' hands and feet when he came out of the tomb.
What are graveclothes (strips of linen)?
The study guide applies the "unwrap him" command to these two kinds of people who still often need the church's help today.
What are new believers, and those freed from bondage (old habits or grief)?
While John describes Lazarus's tomb as a cave with a stone rolled against it, the Gospel accounts use this identical physical description to characterize another rock-cut tomb where a foundational resurrection occurs later.
What is the tomb of Jesus?
The study guide says Martha's hesitation shows that even this kind of faith can waver when obedience feels impractical or uncomfortable.
What is strong faith?
Jesus said he didn't need to pray out loud to inform the Father — instead, he did it for this reason.
What is for the sake of the people standing there, so they would believe?
This part of Lazarus' body was wrapped in a separate cloth.
What is his face?
Before Jesus performs the supernatural miracle, He requires the community to handle this heavy, natural obstacle first.
Jewish custom required burial to happen on this specific timeline relative to the person's death, explaining why Lazarus was already interred when Jesus arrived.
What is the same day (within 24 hours)?
Though Martha is often remembered for her doubt here, earlier in this chapter she uttered one of the New Testament’s greatest confessions of faith, declaring Jesus to be this specific prophetic figure.
What is the Messiah (or the Christ / the Son of God)?
The verses in John 11 where Jesus prays aloud before raising Lazarus.
What are verses 41–42?
Jesus gave this order to the bystanders regarding the stone at the entrance.
What is three days?
The Greek verb used when Jesus commands the crowd to "let him go" is aphete, which is the exact same word used elsewhere in the Gospels to describe this vital spiritual act.
What is forgiveness (or releasing/remitting sins)?
Verse 44 notes that Lazarus's face was wrapped in a soudarion; according to Roman and Jewish cultural context of the time, this piece of cloth was primarily used in daily life for this purpose.
What is wiping away sweat?
The promise Jesus reminded Martha of when he responded to her objection.
What is "you would see God's glory if you believe"?
The specific truth Jesus wanted the crowd to believe because he prayed aloud.
What is that the Father sent him?
While John 11:38-44 records the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany, this is the only other place in the four Gospels where the name "Lazarus" appears—though it refers to a fictional character in a parable who also dies.
What is the Gospel of Luke? (Specifically, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31).
When Jesus stands outside a valley cave filled with dried bones and commands them to receive life by speaking out loud, His actions directly mirror a famous visionary command given to this major Old Testament prophet.
Who is Ezekiel?
The detail that Lazarus walked out of the grave still entirely bound by burial linens directly contrasts with this specific clue left behind inside Jesus' empty tomb, which Peter and John observed on Resurrection morning.
What are the linen cloths folded up (or left lying by themselves)?