John 11 1-45
(1) Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (2) (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) (3) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. (4) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (5) Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (6)When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. (7) Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. (8) His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? (9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. (9) hese things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (12) Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. (13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. (14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (15) And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. (16) Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (17) Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. (18) Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: (19) and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. (20) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. (21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. (22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. (23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. (28) And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. (29) As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. (30) Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. (31) The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. (32) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. (33) When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (34) and said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (35) Jesus wept. (36) Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? (38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. (39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. (46) But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
This miracle comprises a very long dialog. A few points that I am going to concentrate on.
Lazarus’s sisters Martha and Mary went to Jesus informing Him that the one whom He loved (Lazarus) is sick. Jesus answers that the sickness is not unto death, but that God may be glorified. Jesus waits a couple days and decides to go. When He finally arrives at Bethany He found that Lazarus has been in the grave 4 days. Martha went out to meet Him saying if only He would have gotten here earlier, her brother would not had died. The one thing we will always need to understand is Jesus does not work on when we need Him, He works on when it is best for us. We might be in a dire situation when we want the instant result or gratification, But often times there is a better solution, God’s solution waiting to be manifested if we allow.
Martha goes on to say, that she even knows whatever Jesus asks of God, God will do. Even in this dire time, she still holds on to her faith, even after Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again, she explains she understands he will rise with the resurrection. Jesus goes on to explain how He is the resurrection and the life.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
On the flip side when Mary came to Jesus, she also told Him if He had been there her brother would not have died. I believe she knew that Jesus could heal, but it seems her faith stopped there. And many around grumbled also about Jesus’ timing. It seems he was possibly troubled by their lack of faith and the loss of her brother. He showed compassion for them. I believe in times we are going through life and get tested and our possibly our faith shaken a bit, these are the times Jesus still aches and yearns for us to truly trust in Him.
2 Corinthians 1:9: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2 Corinthians 1:10: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
When they finally get to the grave site, Jesus tells them to remove the stone. Now Martha chimes in saying he has been dead for 4 days, by this time he will stink. It seems her faith at the moment is being tested. For earlier she said she knew what God would do, but now? Jesus goes on and thanks God for hearing Him and calls out to Lazarus to come forth.
1 Thessalonians 5:18: give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The scriptures now tell those that those who were with Mary and also grumbled about Jesus’ timing, now believed. And some went to "tell” the pharisees.
We need to go to Jesus with our troubles, issues, desires, needs, pleads, etc. We also need to acknowledge that God time for results in our life are the best. Sometimes it is hard to grasp that. When we are in God’s presence, we need to acknowledge what He can and will do with our faith in Him. It is easy for us to grumble and complain without seeing instant results. We must have patience. We must allow Jesus’s perfect work to manifest. Before Lazarus, Jesus had already raised people for the dead. We already know what Jesus can do, there is no sense in questioning if He can or cannot.
Psalm 40:1: I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Ecclesiastes 7:8: Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
COMMENTS
[ posted by Cindy, 10/24/2023 08:50 AM ]
"Jesus wept." The shortest verse in the Bible.I can only think about what the disciples thought seeing Jesus cry over his friend Lazarus. They knew He had compassion for the sick, the widowed, the outcasts of society. But, here He openly grieves not only for his friend, but also seeing Mary and Martha's sorrow and anguish for their brother. Yes, Jesus purposely waited to go to where they were. The other "raising from the dead" miracles were people who had recently passed when Jesus went to them. This time Jesus waits 4 days. There is a huge difference... if you want to be a doubter about what Jesus is able to do...He was getting ready to put it on full display once again. He tells the disciples "he knows " Lazarus is dead when they start the way to him. Jesus could have easily have "spoke" the words from afar to heal Lazarus on the day they heard he was ill. We see Jesus has healed others without being with them. He only has to speak it. Lazarus' body would def be smelling, as evident in the comment in verse 39. These people knew without a doubt Lazarus was dead and had been cleaned and prepared for the burial, and put away in the tomb. It is their custom to be buried the same day you die, before the sun sets. And his body reeks of the decomposing flesh and fluids in the body. People say it is a smell you never forget. If there were any doubters of who Jesus was, seeing Lazarus walk out of that tomb still wrapped in his burial cloths wasn't enough of a shock... I don't know what else the people could have needed. It also secured the promise Jesus is telling people about the power of resurrection. When He tells them He is coming back, they surely 100% can believe that! And about their own resurrection. This was to show Gods power over death in a way no one had ever witnessed until after Jesus rises after His death. How could they not believe in the promise that each of them, even tho they will die mortally, they will live eternally after this event. The suffering they felt over Lazarus' death revealed Jesus (Gods) grace and power over death. It could only have one result, to strengthen their faith in Jesus and what He is telling them about the future. I would imagine the Pharisees had a hard time believing it also. How could they deny what Jesus did or who He was (and the power He has from God?) If Jesus can do it for Lazarus, He can do it for us also. Trusting in Jesus means believing in Him, and that belief leads to an everlasting life. This life is not the end. Maybe the end of our earthly life, but the beginning of our eternal life with God. Last thought, do you think Lazarus went to paradise the day he died? Did he come back and tell of what he saw? Was just telling this to Wendi and she said, "was it like a persons near death experience and what they describe what they saw". Only the gospel of John tells of Lazarus' death. I don't think anywhere else is Lazarus mentioned after this event. Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called for his purpose. " Rom 5:1-2 " Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . By whom we also have access by faith into his grace wherein we stand, rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. " Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. "
[ posted by Mike, 10/25/2023 09:26 AM ]
In John 12, There is a little more about Lazarus when Jesus came back to Bethany and ate at Lazarus's house. The people came not so much for Jesus's sake but to see Lazarus, for he was raised from the dead.