Lazarus Brought From Death To Life (J44)

Word of what might happen spread like lightning,
And a huge throng was waiting at the cave
That served as the tomb, suspense heightening,
To see if Lazarus Jesus could save!
Jesus said, “Roll away the entrance stone.”
Martha gasped, “But, Lord! It has been four days!”
“If you believe, the odor will be gone.”
Men moved the stone; He gave His Father praise,
“Thank you for hearing me; I had no doubt;
I said it that these watching might believe.
Lazarus! In the name of God! Come out!”
A sight that men’s minds could hardly conceive—
Out walked Lazarus, bound from toe to head
In white linen strips, come back from the dead!

Scripture Quoted: John 11:40-44 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’ “

Commentary on: John 11:38-44
Is there anything Jesus was unable to do? “Nothing is impossible to God” (See Genesis 18:14). Jesus was fully man, and He was fully God, even while He lived among men. He came to live as a man for the purpose of giving Himself up as the sacrificial lamb that paid for the sins of all mankind. He did this so that some could escape condemnation—only those who sincerely believe in Him as Lord; the ones who will not believe are still condemned to an eternal life of torment.

This raising of Lazarus from the dead to live again was Jesus’ seventh and last miraculous sign selected by John to include in his gospel book of the Bible. The ones he chose each makes a case for the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, none providing stronger evidence than this one. Those who were in the audience and saw Lazarus walk out, still wrapped in burial linens, mostly believed in Jesus from that time forward. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead Himself on Easter Sunday (a few short weeks later), stayed on earth 40 days and appeared to more than 500 people who knew and recognized Him, in a new body that still possessed the scars—completely healed—it sealed the belief of the apostles and hundreds of Jews who zealously spread Christianity over the known world. Today more than 2 billion living human beings happily believe that the same Jesus that brought Lazarus from the tomb alive was God, not to mention the billions more that have believed and died!

As for Mary and Martha, the sight of their walking brother ended their grief and brought joy back into their lives. They had not fully understood that Jesus intended to bring him back to life, but when they saw it, they never had any doubt that they had hosted God in their home many times. Martha’s worrying about the natural odor that might be released was unnecessary. If Jesus could restore Lazarus to life, He certainly would have no difficulty destroying the smell of putrefaction. The miracle had already happened inside the tomb when Jesus thanked His Father before calling for the man to come out. This was not a resurrection like that of Jesus, because Lazarus died again at his appointed time. Jesus is alive today and will be forever. His (Jesus') was the first resurrection; that of all dead believers will be next.

"That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)