Seminary
John 11:1–46, Part 2

John 11:1–46, Part 2

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

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Jesus mourning Lazarus

In the previous lesson, you identified principles from the account of the Savior raising Lazarus from the dead. This lesson will give you the opportunity to teach a principle that can help you and others receive the Savior’s help during life’s challenges.

Helping students teach one another. Providing opportunities for students to teach one another can help them better understand and apply the truths they have learned. While students are teaching one another, remain actively involved by moving from group to group and monitoring the learning activity, providing assistance as needed. Doing so can help students stay on task and receive necessary help so they can benefit more from the activity.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about what they learned from the account of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and the Savior in John 11:1–46. Tell them they will have the opportunity to teach about a principle they learned from this account. Invite them to come prepared with ideas about how they might teach that principle effectively.

Possible Learning Activities

Impact of teaching

This lesson is the second of two lessons on John 11:1–46. In the previous lesson, students identified principles. Consider teaching that lesson in preparation for this one.

Students could share their answers to the following questions in pairs or small groups.

Reflect on a time when you were taught something about Jesus Christ or His gospel that had a deep impact on you.

  • How was it taught to you?

  • Why was it so impactful?

Jesus Christ is the Master Teacher. As He taught with power and the Spirit, those who listened with humility felt deeply the impact of His teachings (see John 3:2; John 6:35, 68-69).

  • What are some examples of people being significantly influenced by the Savior’s teaching?

Reflect on the Savior’s example and your own experiences as you prepare and teach a brief lesson based on the account of the Savior raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:1–46. One element of the Savior’s teaching was that He always taught true doctrine and principles. In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to follow the Savior’s example as you teach a true principle. As you develop your ability to teach in the Savior’s way, you can become more like Him.

Lazarus

Recall as much of the account of the Savior raising Lazarus from the dead as you can. If necessary, read the following summary.

Invite a student or two to summarize the account. If desired, draw stick figures for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus on the board. Also use a picture of the Savior (do not use a stick figure to depict the Savior). Invite a student to refer to these visual aids as they summarize the account. If necessary, use the following information to add to or clarify what students say.

Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. Jesus purposefully delayed His journey and arrived four days after Lazarus had died. With love and compassion, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This dramatic display of divine power emphasized that Jesus was the chosen Messiah and had power over death. After learning of this miracle, the chief priests and Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

Your lesson

Prepare a lesson using a principle we can learn from John 11. Choose one principle from the following options that you are most interested in or that you feel is most relevant to teenagers.

Display the following lesson options for students to choose from. Be aware of students who may experience anxiety and may have difficulty presenting a lesson. These students could submit a lesson outline rather than being asked to teach.

It may also be helpful to identify students who may need help reading, preparing, or speaking and to assign them a partner to prepare and teach with.

Think about how much time students will need to prepare and teach their lessons. Make adjustments to the timing based on students’ needs.

Provide students with the following handout to help them prepare their lessons.

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Preparing a Lesson for John 11

Respond to the following prompts to help you create an outline for your lesson. Consider spending 15 to 20 minutes to prepare your lesson and 5 to 10 minutes to teach it.

  1. How can you introduce the principle you chose in a way that helps those you teach understand why it’s important?

  2. Which verses would you read with those you teach to best illustrate this principle? (If you know of an additional scripture account, scripture passage, or statement by a Church leader that could help those you teach understand the principle, consider writing it here as well.)

  3. What does this principle teach you about the Savior? Consider asking those you teach to share what they learn about Jesus Christ from this principle.

  4. What could you share about how this principle has helped you? What blessings have come from living it? Consider inviting those you teach to share experiences as well.

  5. Write down your thoughts about the principle you are teaching and a brief explanation of how it strengthens your testimony of Jesus Christ. Share your testimony if you feel impressed to do so.

Additional ways to teach this lesson and additional resources for students to use to prepare their lessons can be found in the “Commentary and Background Information” and “Supplemental Learning Activities” sections of this lesson.

Invite students to teach each other their lessons or to briefly share their outlines in pairs or small groups. They could also share their lessons at home with their families.

  • What did you learn from this experience?

  • How can preparing lessons and teaching others help you and others come closer to and become more like the Savior?

Commentary and Background Information

Additional resources

The following videos and talks can help you prepare and teach your lesson. You might use these resources in one or more of the following ways:

  • to better understand the principle you are teaching

  • to identify truths, stories, or insights that you can share in your own words while teaching

  • to find statements or video clips that you could display for those you are teaching

All of the videos listed can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Lesson option 1: The Savior can perform miracles in our lives as we act with faith in Him during our trials

  • Neil L. Andersen, “Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice” (general conference, Oct. 2015) (watch from time code 1:40 to 4:32).

  • “Finding the Incredible: What Cancer and Trials Can Teach Us” (5:33).

Lesson option 2: God’s miracles in our lives come according to His will and timing

  • Jeffrey R. Holland, “Waiting on the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 115–17.

  • Jeffrey R. Holland, “Good Things to Come” (4:55).

Lesson option 3: We can follow the example of Jesus Christ by showing compassion to others

  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are My Hands,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 68–75.

  • “Mourn With Those That Mourn” (watch from time code 8:54 to 11:36).

Lesson option 4: We can see God’s love and power manifested as He strengthens and comforts us during our struggles

  • John C. Pingree Jr., “I Have a Work for Thee” (general conference, Oct. 2017) (watch from time code 5:49 to 6:48).

  • “Using Your Trials to Help Others—Hope Works” (watch from time code 4:05 to 10:54).

Lesson option 5: Jesus Christ has power over life and death

Supplemental Learning Activities

Navigating-challenges booklet

Students could use the principles found in John 11:1–46 and the materials in this lesson (and any others they are aware of) for this activity. Each student could complete one or more of the following activities.

  • Draw a picture that depicts one of the principles taught in this lesson.

  • Recount a personal story in which you or someone you know lived one of the principles taught in this lesson and saw the promised blessings.

  • Create a list of scripture passages or scripture accounts, statements by Church leaders, and references to talks or videos that could help someone who is going through a challenge.

After sufficient time, collect the students’ contributions and combine them into a special class booklet designed to help people navigate challenges. This booklet could be copied for students to keep and use in the future when they or a loved one need help with a challenge they are facing. Provide students with the resources necessary to complete this activity, such as paper and art supplies.

Alternative activity

Students could choose a person depicted in the account recorded in John 11:1–46 (Mary, Martha, Lazarus, or one of the bystanders) and could write about the account from that person’s point of view. Invite students to include the following in their accounts:

  • the person’s feelings and thoughts during this experience

  • what the person in the account might have learned from and about the Savior through this experience

Students could share these accounts with one another and then liken the story to their own lives and make a plan to act with faith in Jesus Christ.