John 11:35-4535Jesus wept. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. (John 11:35‑45)
The town of Bethany was on the side of a mountain ridge, and Lazarus was buried in a cave, a common place of burial in that land.
Martha and Mary and their friends led Jesus to the place, all were weeping, mourning for Lazarus.
A stone was over the opening of the cave and the Lord said for them to take it away. Martha thought that should not be done, because the body would already be decaying. But Jesus reminded her that He had said she should see the glory of God, and He had told the disciples that this sorrow was that the Son of God should have glory, which soon was shown them.
The stone was taken away and Jesus prayed and gave thanks to God that His prayer was heard; then He called with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
“And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes; and his face bound about with a nain.” It was their custom to wrap cloth closely about the face and limbs of a dead person. But those tight bindings around Lazarus did not hinder his obeying the voice of the Lord Jesus, neither was the power of the Lord prevented because his body was decaying.
Lazarus stood before Jesus, and the sisters and all the people saw him alive again. Jesus told them to loose him of the bindings so he could be free to walk among them. All of them could have called ever so loudly, and Lazarus could not have heard; how wonderful the power of the Lord!
The joy of Martha and Mary is not told, but it must have been a time of wonder and awe for all, and of praise to God and to His Son, then by that cave, for such a change from death to life. Many of the friends who had either not known Jesus before had not fully believed in His power from God, believed Him then. We would suppose every person who stood by that cave and saw Lazarus come before them alive, would have believed in Jesus, as One from God, but it seemed they did not.
Jesus had before raised two persons who had died, a young girl and a young man, but they had not been dead long and not buried, so the power of the Lord was more felt in the raising Lazarus (Mark 5:35-4335While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. (Mark 5:35‑43); Luke 7:11-1611And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. (Luke 7:11‑16)).
The Lord Jesus’ words and care of Martha and Mary seems written that all since who believe in Him may be comforted in sorrow, which even many boys and girls know.
His promise was very sure, “The brother shall rise again.” But he knew there was a time of sorrow and He wept with them. Perhaps the most comfort is in the words that the sorrow would be for the glory of God and for the Son of God. So we may believe there is glory to God in some way now also, and to bear sorrow patiently with His comforts, honors Him.
ML 11/10/1946