Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
“Lazarus! Come forth!” The voice of Jesus echoed deep into the place where the redeemed await. Can you imagine what Lazarus thought, as he heard his name called? Did he look at the other dead and say, “I hear my Friend calling”?
Jesus had received a message that Lazarus was sick, yet He did not go…He responded, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days…He had a purpose in waiting… for the glory of God.
When Martha came to Jesus, we see she affirmed her faith in Him as the Son of God, yet she was still filled with questions and doubts.
John 11:25-27 (ESV): “Jesus said to her (Martha), “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. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
I am reminded of Mark 9:24 when the father of the child with unclean spirits said: “I believe; help my unbelief!”
We, like this father and Martha, believe, but sometimes we struggle with doubts when Satan attacks and encourages us to question what is happening.
In John 11:15 we read: and for your sake I am glad that I was not there [when Lazarus died], so that you may believe. But let us go to him.
Jesus’ disciples, who had seen His many miracles, still struggled with belief.
Martha believed in the resurrection of the dead (John 11:24), but I wonder if she realized she was face to face with the One who made the resurrection possible.
Martha went and called Mary, telling her the Teacher had come, and friends who had come to comfort Mary followed her as she went to Jesus. Upon seeing Mary’s tears and grief, Jesus wept.
When Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away, there were protests… and Jesus again reminded them that if they believed, they would see the glory of God (verse 40).
The “glory of God” is the manifestation of God’s presence. Jesus wanted them to understand they were in the presence of the Holy One… that He was with them. He had already told them that He and the Father are One (John 10:30).
Before calling for Lazarus, Jesus prayed, thanking the Father for hearing Him. What an example for us… to be always aware and thankful that our Father hears!
When Lazarus came forth, Jesus commanded he be unbound from the burial clothes. What do you think was going through Lazarus’ mind? Did he remember those four days?
The narrative about Lazarus ends, but John tells that many believed, which angered the chief priests and Pharisees, and they began plotting to put Jesus to death.
Because of the threats to His life after raising Lazarus, Jesus and His disciples withdrew to Ephrium in the wilderness about 13 miles northeast of Jerusalem. People had seen Lazarus raised after four days, and their belief in Jesus was concerning to the religious leaders who wanted to continue holding power.
In John 12, Jesus returns to Bethany, and Lazarus gives a dinner for Him. It appears to me that life is back to “normal” for Lazarus… he is welcoming people into his home. It is at this dinner… six days before Passover… that Mary anoints Jesus with pure nard, an expensive ointment.
Within another week Jesus has been tried, crucified, and has arisen from the dead, victorious over Satan.
From this account we learn:
1. Turn to Jesus. The sisters sent word to Jesus before Lazarus died. They knew where help was.
2. We may struggle in faith at times. Jesus did not reprimand Martha when He saw her struggle…He simply encouraged her to believe.
3. Things don’t always happen on our time frame. There are times we have to wait.
4. Pray to the Father in faith and thanksgiving.
5. Continue doing good to bring glory to God, so others see Him in us.
We don’t have all the details we might like after Lazarus was raised, but we put our faith in the One who has power over death, knowing the time will come when He calls us to Him!
#IronRoseSister #HIStories #resurrection #guestwriter