“Now Lazarus was sick, the town of Mary and her sister Martha…the sisters sent to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick. Now Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He STAYED TWO MORE DAYS in the place where He was.” (John 11:1, 3, 5-6) When this news came you would think that Jesus would hurry to heal him but no He stayed for two more days, why? He had something very special for them!
Finally Jesus says, “Lazarus is dead. And I AM GLAD for your sakes that I was not there, that YOU MAY BELIEVE.” (John 11:14-15) Jesus wanted His disciples to believe in just who HE REALLY WAS! “…when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Martha, went and met Him, and said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:17, 20-21) When Jesus told her, Lazarus would rise, she DID NOT BELIEVE it would be NOW. So WILL, Mary came and she DID NOT BELIEVE NOW, either. Jesus said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.” (John 11:34-35)
Jesus did not weep because Lazarus died, He was going to RAISE HIM from the dead!!! Jesus wept because of THE UNBELIEF! “Now Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died CAME OUT bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44) “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything TOO HARD FOR ME?” (Jer. 32:27)
ALL WE NEED TO DO IS, “Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)
-Bill Stockham