As you recall, after leaving Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples went across the Jordan to the place where John the Baptist used to baptize those who responded to his message of repentance. Shortly after their arrival, Jesus received an urgent message that He was desperately needed in Bethany (about two miles from Jerusalem) where his good friend Lazarus was sick to the point of death. As you remember from last week, Jesus delayed for two more days, and then told His disciples that it was time to go. Jesus knew that Lazarus had already died, and told them that God had something more to reveal to them. When Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany, they were told that Lazarus had already been dead for four days. 

If you like doing some math, let’s assume that Lazarus died shortly after the currier was sent to find Jesus. If it took a day to travel from Bethany to where Jesus was ministering beyond the Jordan, and a day to return, and if Jesus stayed for two days after receiving the message from the currier, that equals the four days mentioned in John 11:17. When Martha (one of Lazarus’ sisters) saw Jesus coming, she went to meet Him and said: 

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give it to you” (John 11:21-22).

Jesus responded by reminding her of a truth revealed in the Old Testament,

“Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23).

And then Martha recognized this truth from the Scriptures, and responded by saying,

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24).

Jesus affirmed this truth, but he had something else in mind prior to “the last day,” and said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

This statement of Jesus forms the core of our modern theology of the resurrection. Jesus is the resurrection and the one who is “life,” that is, He possesses “life” in His very being. Furthermore, all those who die “in Christ” have the assurance that they will be raised to live for eternity with Him, and those who are alive and “in Christ” will never really die. What does Jesus mean by this? Certainly, Jesus is not saying that they will not experience physical death, but that their soul will continue to live on into eternity. I like to say that they simply “change their address!” What a wonderful assurance for all those living today who are “in Christ.” And then I love how Martha responded to these words of Jesus:

“Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world” (John 11:27).

You probably recognize that this is what Peter confessed when Jesus took the disciples to Caesarea Philippi: 

“You are the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

At this point, Martha went back to their home and told Mary that Jesus had arrived and was asking for her. When Mary came to Jesus she fell at His feet and said: 

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32).

When Jesus saw Mary and the others who came with her weeping, Jesus was deeply moved and then asked to take Him to where Lazarus had been laid. When He arrived, John tells us:

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35). 

Most of you probably recognize this verse as the shortest verse in the Bible, just two words, “Jesus wept.” Seeing Jesus weeping, many of those present recognized how Jesus loved him, but then began to wonder why the One who could open the eyes of the blind did not keep Lazarus from dying. Coming to the tomb, Jesus asked those present to remove the stone. While Martha was concerned about the “smell” that would be present after Lazarus being dead for four days, Jesus said:

“Did I not say to you, if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).

When they removed the stone, Jesus lifted His eyes toward heaven and said:

“Father, I thank You that You always hear Me…but because of the people standing here I said it that they may believe that You have sent me” (John 11:41-42).

Did you catch that? Knowing that many were gathered around Him, Jesus intentionally looked toward heaven and spoke directly to His Father so that those watching would believe that He was more than a Prophet, but the Messiah, the Son of the living God. At this point, Jesus spoke with a loud voice, saying:

“Lazarus, come forth!”

And Lazarus did “come forth,” bound hand and foot with cloth wrappings, prompting Jesus to tell those gathered at the tomb to “unbind him.” 

Some of you reading this blog may find yourself “bound” by the shackles of sin, doubt, and fear. The One who raised Lazarus from the dead can give “life” to your mortal body. Why? Because He Himself was raised to life after His crucifixion, and because of His own resurrection (Easter isn’t too far off), He can give you life, His life. Just ask Him to forgive your sin and to give you His life. He is in the business of giving life to bodies that are spiritually dead. Just as Lazarus “came forth,” you too can “come forth” from a life of bondage to new life in Christ. Just ask Him to do that. He never rejects a heart-felt prayer. 

Peggy and I send our love to you and pray God’s blessings upon you.