v. 4 This sickness will not end in death. No it is for God’s glory so that God may be glorified through it. We see Lazarus’ illness as a great opportunity for Jesus to display his glory. Jesus can take any situation and bring glory to God in the midst of it.
v. 25 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and he whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? Martha really didn’t believe she was going to see her brother on earth again. She was actually frustrated with Jesus because he had waited and not come earlier. If only Jesus had come. Why did he wait? Where was he? Jesus had a greater message to convey in this situation. He was more than just a healer. He had power over life and death. He called himself the resurrection and the life. The resurrection is not just an event. It is a person. Jesus was declaring that he had power over the grave. All the mysteries of life, death, and what lies beyond the grave can be found in Him. He alone offers hope on the other side of the grave.
v. 32 When Jesus saw (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him,” he asked. When Mary came to Jesus, she made the same statement as Martha – “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” There is a difference though. Mary fell at his feet. The scriptures speak of another time when she fell at Jesus’ feet. She washed his feet. She worshiped at his feet. She sat at his feet to worship. Mary lived at the feet of Jesus. And as she cried, the heart of Jesus was moved. At this point, he went to the grave and raised Lazarus. Martha got a great theological answer – “I am the resurrection…” Mary received a resurrection. Something about Mary’s love for Jesus moved his heart. Jesus will move heaven and earth for those who find themselves at his feet. This is the highest place on earth.
v. 35 Jesus wept. Here at Lazarus’ grave, Jesus wept. There are many thoughts as to why he wept. Perhaps he was sharing in the grief of his friends. He was moved with compassion at their loss. Others suggest that he sensed the human plight of sin and death as he stood before the grave of his friend. In a sense, Jesus was weeping for all of us, and all of our loss. He was grieved for humanity. And some say he wept because he knew he was going to bring Lazarus back from heaven. Lazarus had gotten a taste of heaven, and now he was coming back. Jesus wept because he knew he was calling back his friend into the hell of this world. Whatever the case, we certainly see the heart of Jesus in this passage. We do not have a heartless, impassionate savior. He is one who is moved deeply by the heart of his people.
v. 40 Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? It is our unbelief that holds us back from truly seeing God’s glory. BELIEVE!
David, I am enjoying reading along thru John. I hope the response has been good and you will continue this ministry. Thank You. Marilyn Sadler
David, I have to say that this fast has really helped me not only to realize how we take our everyday blessings for granted, but also to “set our sights on the things above.” One part that really hit me today was the fact that Jesus was just 2 miles away from Lazarus and he knew what was meant to happen, yet he chose to wait. Why? It was not to pacify Mary or glorify Lazarus, but to simply show the power of God.To the onlookers and doubters questioning him, his response was always geared towards God’s power. Some may have felt that he was so far away and that he didn’t care, but he was right there the whole time. This is a humble reminder to all of us who may be struggling with an issue and we feel like God is not near and doesn’t hear us. The truth is he does hear and he is waiting on us to be like Mary and show our faith and complete trust in him. His answer is not to satisfy our whim or what we think we need, but to show the power of God through his timing! Fosdick stated: “Prayer should not be problem centered, but God centered” Our focus should not be “What am I going to get rewarded for”, but “how is God going to be glorified in the answer to this prayer?” A statement from the devotional God Calling states: “Your path is difficult for you.There is now work so hard as waiting, but yet I say wait. Wait until I show you my will. But I know always that the first step is to lay your will before me as an offering, ready that I shall do what is best, sure that if you trust me, what I do for you will be best.” God could have chosen to simply save Lazarus from dying, but he chose to perform a far greater miracle in order for us to see and thus believe in the true power of God. May we all realize that God could answer our prayers the way we want, but he may choose to delay the answer in order for us to develop trust and reliance on him and thus see a far better answer later. God Calling also states: “Delay has to be – sometimes.But think for a moment of the love and thoughtful care that seeks to harmonize and reconcile all your desires and longings and prayers. Delay is not denial – not even withholding. It is the opportunity for God to work out your problems and accomplish your desires in the most wonderful way possible for you.” May we all trust and allow hime to work in his timing!
11:25 I am the resurrection and the life.He who believes in me will live,even though he dies;and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.Do you believe this? Again-the most important question for any person!Impacts now and foever!
I once was dead, but now I’m alive! Just as Lazarus was dead in the physical, we too are dead in the spiritual, until we are “raised”. The old man in us is dying daily, and its not us who lives, but Christ in us. The disciples warned Jesus that it could be dangerous for Him to return to Judea because the Jews wanted to stone Him. Jesus said, “A man who walks by the night stumbles.” The word “night” in the Greek means: a time for deeds of shame and sin. It also means: a time of moral stupidity and darkness. When we walk in the light, we walk in peace, love and kindness. This is the fruit the world longs for.
So Jesus continues on his mission to raise a dead man. Now the same disciple (Thomas) who will not believe unless he sees, tells the others – “looks like this is the end – we have come to the end of our life – we might as well go with Him and die also.”
Sister Martha knows Lazarus will be raised at the last day. But soon she will find out not only is Jesus “Resurrection” but He is “Life”. We are raised now in Christ. Once our eyes were blind, but now we see. Sister Mary is always at the feet of Jesus, whether in anguish, whether serving or listening to His teaching. We find resolve, mercy, love, forgiveness, kindness and goodness at the feet of Jesus. That empowers us to spread the Good News! The new life, the resurrected life… I once was dead, but now I’m alive.