Summary4 min read

The Big Picture Story Bible – Part 19: A Dead Man Is Raised to Life

Host & Narrator: David Helm (for Crossway)
Date: April 28, 2020

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the miraculous story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Through accessible storytelling, David Helm explores key biblical themes: Jesus’s compassion, his divine power over death, and his role as the promised King who brings life and blessing to the world. The episode also touches on the responses of those who witnessed the miracle—faith, hope, and opposition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lazarus’s Illness and Jesus’s Response

Mary and Martha, knowing their brother Lazarus is dying, call for Jesus’s help.
Surprising Delay:
- “Jesus loved his friends. But when he heard Lazarus was sick, he did a surprising thing. He stayed where he was. He did not come right away.” (00:17)
- Instead of rushing to help, Jesus waits, indicating a deeper purpose behind his actions: "Jesus knew God was going to use him to do something amazing. Jesus was going to show God's power over death." (00:24)

2. Confronting Grief and Faith

Martha’s Faith and Confession:
- When Jesus arrives, Martha expresses both her grief and her faith:
  - "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (00:34)
  - “Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Do you believe this?” (00:37)
  - Martha affirms: "She believed that Jesus was God's king and son who was sent to bring life to the world." (00:43)
Jesus’s Empathy:
- Upon meeting Mary and seeing her weep, "Jesus saw her crying. He went with Mary to the tomb. And then Jesus cried too." (00:47)
- His compassion is highlighted, showing Jesus shares in human sorrow.

3. The Miracle at the Tomb

Skeptics Questions:
- Bystanders question Jesus's power:
  - “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (00:52)
- The crowd’s skepticism underscores the magnitude of what is about to happen.
Jesus Prays Publicly:
- "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I said this that they may believe that you sent me." (01:02)
The Command & Miracle:
- In a dramatic turn, Jesus shouts:
  - "Lazarus, come out!" (01:06)
- “And do you know what happened? God answered Jesus prayer. Lazarus came out. He was alive. A dead man was now alive again.” (01:07-01:11)
Significance of the Miracle:
- “Jesus showed the people that God's spirit had power to bring new life.” (01:12)
- The miracle leads "many people [to] believe in Jesus."

4. Deepening Conflict

Messianic Recognition and Threat:
- The people acclaim Jesus:
  - "Here is the one who will rescue God's people. Here is the one who has become God's place. Here is the one who even rules over death and can bring God's blessing to all the peoples of the earth." (01:17)
- Rising Opposition:
  - The authorities react with anger and jealousy, setting the stage for future conflict:
    - “They hated [Jesus] and did not want him as their king. They decided that the time had come. They would kill him as soon as they could.” (01:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Jesus’s Delay:
- “But when he heard Lazarus was sick, he did a surprising thing. He stayed where he was.” (00:18)
Jesus’s Declaration of Power:
- “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (00:37)
Jesus Weeps:
- "And then Jesus cried too." (00:48)
Jesus’s Loud Command:
- “Lazarus, come out.” (01:06)
The People's Response:
- "Many people believed in Jesus. On that day. They believed, here is the one who will rescue God's people." (01:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Mary and Martha call for Jesus: 00:03–00:13
Jesus chooses to wait: 00:17–00:24
Arrival at Bethany and Martha’s confession of faith: 00:29–00:44
Jesus’s compassion and tears: 00:46–00:49
Skeptics question Jesus’s power: 00:51–00:53
Jesus commands the tomb to be opened and prays: 00:55–01:02
Resurrection of Lazarus: 01:06–01:12
Crowd’s belief and religious leaders’ response: 01:13–01:28

Conclusion

This poignant retelling highlights both Jesus’s deep compassion and his divine authority over life and death. Through simple yet powerful storytelling, David Helm illuminates the central Christian belief that Jesus is the long-promised King who brings life and hope—not just to Lazarus, but to all people—while foreshadowing the opposition and ultimate sacrifice to come. The episode serves as both a faith-building narrative for children and a reminder to adults of the overarching story of redemption woven through the Bible.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
A
Part 19 a dead man is raised to life. A man named Lazarus was very sick. His sisters Mary and Martha knew that he was dying. They wanted Jesus to come and heal Lazarus. So they sent for Jesus. Jesus loved his friends. But when he heard Lazarus was sick, he did a surprising thing. He stayed where he was. He did not come right away. Jesus knew God was going to use him to do something amazing. Jesus was going to show God's power over death. So Jesus waited until Lazarus died. And then he went to be with his friends. By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been in a tomb for four days. Martha met him and said, lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus replied, you, brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Do you believe this? Martha said yes. She believed that Jesus was God's king and son who was sent to bring life to the world. Then Mary came to see Jesus, and Jesus saw her crying. He went with Mary to the tomb. And then Jesus cried too. Some who were there saw Jesus and said, could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying? They did not know that Jesus was getting ready to show them that God had sent him to rescue people from sin and death. Jesus told them to open the tomb. Only then did Jesus step forward and pray. Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I said this that they may believe that you sent me. Then in a really loud voice, Jesus shouted, lazarus, come out. And do you know what happened? God answered Jesus prayer. Lazarus came out. He was alive. A dead man was now alive again. Jesus showed the people that God's spirit had power to bring new life. Many people believed in Jesus. On that day. They believed, here is the one who will rescue God's people. Here is the one who has become God's place. Here is the one who even rules over death and can bring God's blessing to all the peoples of the earth. The people were ready to make Jesus their king. But that made the leaders angry. They were jealous of Jesus. They hated him and did not want him as their king. They decided that the time had come. They would kill him as soon as they could.