Bible Study series: John 12:9-11. Many Jews believed in Jesus now because of the resurrection of Lazarus. The establishment had to eliminate him.
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In this post, links are provided for further study.
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Scripture: John 12:9-11
9 A huge crowd of Jews learned that he was there and came not because of Jesus alone but so that they might see Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. 10 The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also 11 because many of the Jews left because of him and believed in Jesus. (John 12:9-11)
Comments:
9-11:
The huge crowd came from Jerusalem because the news of Lazarus’s resuscitation three or four months earlier spread like wildfire. They not only wanted to see Jesus but also Lazarus. So the religious establishment struck back. They also planned to kill Lazarus because official Judaism and their place in it were threatened. Many Jews departed from Judaism and believed in Jesus.
As we have discussed before, faith or believing is more than just intellectual assent. It has to be directed towards someone, in this case, Jesus. It encompasses your entire being and devotion.
Word Study on Faith and Faithfulness
Apparently, many Judeans expressed true faith in him. Recall that many Jerusalemites converted to the Messiah after Pentecost (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7 [large number of priests]; 20:21). No doubt the miracle which Jesus performed for Lazarus helped them across the threshold from disbelief to faith.
Carson: What is clear is the raising of Lazarus prompts many Jews …. To ‘go over’ to Jesus and put their faith in him: the expressions assume a self-conscious conversion, a move away from the religion practiced by the authorities and a move toward genuine trust in Jesus (Carson, comments on v. 9).
“chief priests”:
Please see this post and a short write up about them.
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
GrowApp for John 12:9-11
1. The religious establishment of Jerusalem went on the attack against Lazarus. After your miracle, whatever it may be, have people or the devil attacked you?
RELATED
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
12. Eyewitness Testimony in John’s Gospel
4. Church Fathers and John’s Gospel
3. Archaeology and John’s Gospel
SOURCES
For the bibliography, click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 