The Seven Signs (Pt. 7)

 

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this ⁱon account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:38-44 ESV).

 

Jesus had been teaching in the villages beyond the Jordan, probably in Perea, which is just north of the Dead Sea. The disciples of Jesus and John the Baptist had at one time baptized in this place. Bethany was close to Jerusalem, and about 20 miles or so from Perea where Jesus was teaching when He received the message that Lazarus was ill. Lazarus began to grow very sick, so his sisters, Mary and Martha, having seen Jesus perform miracles, had sent for Him. Remember, during that time praying for the sick was a religious obligation, or duty, but the main reason Mary and Martha sent for Jesus was that they knew He had healing power.

 

Jesus loved this family, and stayed with them quite often; even so, He did not go immediately but waited two more days. This study of the Gospel of John has shown some excellent examples of God's perfect timing, (especially relating to His delays).  Many times, when our prayers seem to go unanswered, it's because the plans He has for us have a predetermined schedule. Jesus tells his disciples why he is not leaving immediately for Bethany: "This illness does not lead to death." Yet when they arrive they discover Lazarus has indeed died. A great lesson is to be learned at this point. There is a wonderful difference between dying and death for the believer. While the believer’s physical life may end, we simply will never experience death. We merely move from this life to eternal life.

 

Jesus does indeed call Lazarus back from the dead and merely says, “Unwrap him and give him something to eat.” In this midst of this incredible miracle Jesus instructs them to feed Lazarus. No doubt he was hungry. It has been four days. He certainly needed to have the grave cloths removed. He wouldn’t have been able to do that for himself. But, couldn’t Jesus have done that also? The answer gives us a clue to our part in the miracle of real life. Again, it is not a chore to be completed; it is a blessing to be experienced. We get to do what we are equipped to do while trusting Jesus to do what only He can do!