![]() Martha believed that everyone who has ever died will be raised at the end of the age (Revelation 20:13), but she had lost hope in the power of Christ in the here and now. Jesus Christ would be faithful to raise Lazarus from the dead, “so that the Son of God will receive glory” (John 11:4). This means that even if Lazarus died, his death would not be the end. Martha had also received a promise – that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death. Abraham knew that God could not break his promise (Numbers 23:19) and therefore, Abraham believed that even if Isaac died, God would be faithful to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham, when tested by God, was willing to offer up his son Isaac, because God had promised to make a great nation through Isaac. Do you believe this, Martha?”Ĭontrast the doubt of Martha with the faith of Abraham. John 11:23-26 – Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” J esus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. E veryone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Here is the part of the story I find most fascinating and significant: One of the great lessons we can learn from this story is that even when the situations and circumstances of life seem utterly helpless, even in those darkest moments, God is ultimately working all things together for good for His glory (Romans 8:28). ![]() It was God’s will that Jesus wait two days instead of coming to Lazarus immediately. They blamed him for foolishly waiting two days instead of coming immediately. The one who performed many miracles and healed many people seemingly failed to heal Lazarus before it was too late. Jesus had promised that the sickness would not end in death, yet no one believed him. John does not tell us why Jesus wept, but I believe he wept over their unbelief. In the midst of all this confusion, John tells us that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). ![]() Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” (John 11:37). Some of those present even mocked Jesus, saying, “ This man healed a blind man. Why had Jesus waited two days instead of coming immediately to heal Lazarus? Now it was too late! Martha and Mary both blamed Jesus, saying, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32). Mary and Martha must have been horribly distraught and confused. The Lord had said that the sickness would not end in death, yet Lazarus was dead. ![]() The disciples must have been terribly distressed, so much so that Thomas said, “Let us also go, so that we may die with him” (John 11:16 KJV).Īnd so they set off for the house of Lazarus, and when they arrived, his body had already been laid in a tomb for four days (John 11:17). What a shock this must have been for the disciples! I think many of us, familiar with the resurrection of Lazarus, do not realize the full emotional impact of those three words: “Lazarus is dead.” Jesus had clearly said that the sickness would not end in death, and yet, just two days later, he said, “Lazarus is dead.” Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14). They did not realize that Jesus was talking about the sleep of death. The disciples thought he was talking about natural sleep, so they said, “ Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better.” (John 11:12). Jesus tells his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” (John 11:11). But only a few verses later, we find a shocking plot twist. What good news for Mary and Martha! Jesus Christ had clearly stated that the sickness would not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” (John 11:4). Rather, he remained in the place where he was for two days, and told the messengers, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. They immediately sent messengers to Jesus, but surprisingly, Jesus did not go immediately to Lazarus. Jesus loved Lazarus dearly (John 11:5) and his sisters must have been deeply distraught when Lazarus fell seriously ill (John 11:1). Lazarus was the brother of the Mary and Martha whom Jesus visited in Luke 10. One of my favorite stories in the the gospels is the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, found in John 11:1-46.
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