“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany…When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is NOT UNTO DEATH, but for the glory of God, that THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through it.” (John 11:1, 4) OK, we are going to see how Jesus “views” this situation. First of all when Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, “…He stayed TWO MORE DAYS in the place where He was.” (John 11:6) After this Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:7-8) Bethany is in Judea where Jesus was threatened by the Jews but Jesus had a VERY IMPORTANT AND MIRACULOUS EVENT to perform there.
These things Jesus said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “LAZARUS IS DEAD. And I AM GLAD for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” (John 11:11-15)
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING,
- Jesus said, “This sickness is NOT UNTO DEATH” When Jesus came, “He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb FOUR DAYS.” (John 11:17) Jesus said, “…whoever lives and believes in Me SHALL NEVER DIE.” (John 11:26) The body of Lazarus had laid in the tomb for 4 days, his skin was rotting off of his body but HIS SPIRIT WAS ALIVE AND WELL in Jesus’ care.
- Jesus confronts Martha first and tells her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION and the life. He who believes in Me, THOUGH HE MAY DIE, HE SHALL LIVE.” (John 11:25) She did not believe Lazarus would now be RAISED UP.
- Jesus now confronts Mary and she did not believe Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead, A LOT OF UNBELIEF WAS PRESENT
- The unbelief in Jesus as the resurrection and the life is what caused Jesus to “weep” not because Lazarus was laying in the tomb, Jesus was about to bring Lazarus back!!!
Jesus said “take away the stone” they said he would “stink” Jesus said “…with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth! And HE CAME OUT bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)
-Bill Stockham