Dear John 11-"Lazarus, Com out!"
North Carolina Granddogs
January 11
Another treasure is left for us in this precious Book of John, as he recounts the story Lazarus in the tomb. The emotions in this story are powerful, especially in the case of Lazarus' sisters who can't believe Jesus would allow a dear friend to die, when they knew he had healed total strangers.
In verse 4 we read of Jesus' intentionality in waiting to arrive after Lazarus has been buried.
When Jesus heard this, he said, "This sickness will not end in death.
No, it is for God's glory, so that God's son may be glorified through it."
Like the sisters, we struggle with God's timing in our own lives. We just can't get our human minds around the fact that He is always up to good for Kingdom purposes. He views situations in an eternal realm, while we are stuck in an earthly comprehension.
A detail, I've missed when previously studying this passage is in verses 7-8. Jesus says to his disciples.
Let us go back to Judea. They respectively remind Him, as if he has had a senior moment…Um, that would be where the Jews were just trying to stone you.
We can put our minds around the fact that Jesus is fully aware of what will occur in the future; even of what will come out of each of our mouths.
When we have challenged our children to memorize scripture verses, my husband is always quick to say, "John 11:35 will not suffice." Jesus wept. He did cry at the sight of Lazarus' sisters at the tomb.
He obviously didn't want them to be experiencing such grief or for his friend to have died. Another comment that has passed me by before is that the Jews surrounding this situation said of Jesus,
See how he loved him. v. 36
Why do you all think, after Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, he asked the others to be the ones to take off his grave clothes? Was it because it was a smelly job? Was it because he was emotionally exhausted at this point? Was it like a magician, who wants his audience to be convinced of the miracle? Did the sisters do this honor?
Well, the Pharisees were fit to be tied over this act! V53 says,
From that day they plotted to take his life.
Also, after this act Jesus never moved about publicly among the people of Judea.
The show stopper words in this chapter have Jesus proclaiming who is is! Who we rejoice in him being!
I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
John 11:25-26
I know, they still didn't get it. Many a person sitting in a church pew today will not get it, but let's pray that more and more do. Just think…Jesus knows whose "Yes, Lord" will be "Yes, Lord" and whose "No, will be an eternal no."
Lord, thank You in advance for rescuing us from the grave that is to come! Rabbi, teach us, train us, and love us as you love Lazarus. Unwrap our grave clothes and welcome us into your heaven soon.
In Jesus' Name, Amen
