How does John 11:14 demonstrate Jesus' foreknowledge and divine authority over life? The Moment in Focus “So Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’” (John 11:14) Why This Statement Matters • Jesus is still across the Jordan (John 10:40), yet He announces Lazarus’s condition with perfect certainty. • No messenger brings the news; He knows supernaturally. • By choosing the word “plainly,” John stresses the directness and authority of Jesus’ declaration. Evidence of Foreknowledge • Distance could not hinder His awareness—He speaks what only God could know at that moment (cf. 2 Kings 5:26; John 1:48). • Earlier, He had already framed the outcome: “This sickness will not end in death” (John 11:4), revealing the end before the disciples witnessed the process. • Verse 11 adds, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” He perceives death as sleep because He foresees the awakening. Divine Authority Over Life and Death • Jesus controls timing: He remains two more days (John 11:6), allowing Lazarus to die so that God’s glory will be displayed. • He later commands, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). One authoritative word reverses four days of decay. • Other claims reinforce this power: – “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.” (John 5:21) – “I have authority to lay down My life and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:18) – “I am the Living One… I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:18) Key Takeaways for Today • Jesus’ knowledge is exhaustive—no circumstance in our lives hides from His sight (Psalm 139:1–4). • His authority is absolute—He remains sovereign when we face loss, illness, or death. • Because He conquered death, our hope rests not in circumstances but in the One who calls the dead to life (Romans 8:11). |
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