When Jesus saw Mary and all who were with her weeping, he was “deeply moved” and wept. Mary, despondent in her grief, fell at his feet and said exactly what her sister had said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v32) Martha returns to Mary to tell her that Jesus was asking for her. In faith, she responds, “Yes, Lord.” (v27) He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Jesus clarifies for her – “I am the resurrection and the life. When Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again”, she assumed he meant the resurrection on the last day.
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FULL
Her full confidence in Jesus’ power was on display. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (v21). She met him saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Martha heard that Jesus was near, she went out to meet him. I love this quote:Īs Jesus approached Bethany, he discovered that Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. I’m working on an attitude of hope and confidence in His control and timing. Jesus explained quite clearly that his purpose was to reveal God’s glory.ĭo I trust him in hard times and see them as opportunities to reveal His glory? (Sometimes…) He was proving he has the power to raise us from death.
He was showing them something better than healing. Lazarus died so that Jesus’ power over death would be apparent to his disciples. This will help me withstand the storms of life. I need to remember this truth and cultivate patience and trust. When I think he is slow to answer (my timing), I need to remember that he alone is sovereign, knows what I need, and when I need it. I get anxious, afraid, and start questioning. Have you ever had an issue with God’s timing? I have. This is a great reminder that nothing is impossible for God and I shouldn’t hesitate to ask Him for anything! They were aware of the miracles he had performed previously. Just as Mary and Martha called for Jesus to help, we too should not hesitate to call on Him. When Jesus finally announces that he wants to go to Lazarus, he tells his disciples plainly “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. His delay in coming to Lazarus is a great example. We might expect (as Lazarus’ family did), that He would come running to help. We read in verse 5 that Jesus loved this family and often stayed with them. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (V4) Then he stayed where he was for two more days. Jesus was preaching out of town, and when he got word of Lazarus’s illness replied, “This sickness will not end in death. Lazarus came down with an unnamed, grave sickness, and when his sisters Mary and Martha realized his condition was worsening, sent word to Jesus for help. You can read the entire story of Lazarus in J ohn 11: 1-44.
Lazarus’ name in Hebrew means “ God has helped.” I find no coincidences in the Bible, so the fact that his parents named him before knowing the outcome of God’s help in his life is amazing to me!
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha and they were among Jesus’ closest friends. As we move towards Easter and Jesus’ own resurrection, I want to study the raising of Lazarus. We know the disciples saw Jesus perform many unrecorded miracles ( John 20:30-31), so there may have been many more. The raising of Lazarus is one of three stories of individuals that Jesus resurrected from the dead (besides Himself).
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