Martha still did not understand she was about to see Jesus’ “resurrection and the life” authority in action (cf. 11:39). But neither did the others (11:37). Everyone seemed to believe Jesus’ healing powers, but never thought that He could do what He was about to do. This included Mary, whose words were the same as Martha’s: “if only You had been here earlier…” Jesus did not respond to Mary with words, but instead, it was with emotions: He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
Why was Jesus
troubled, and weeping? I don’t think He
was weeping along with the rest of the people who had lost a friend or loved
one. He would have been crying when He
first heard about Lazarus’. Nor was He
was weeping just because He was thinking about His own impending suffering and
death. It does appear that Jesus’
emotional response grew as He approached the tomb.
Death is the most
grievous result of sin. Death is the
greatest power of Satan, the “god of this world.” Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work and to
bring deliverance from death. Think
about this. Jesus cried as He approached
Jerusalem, knowing the dark days of death in her future (Lk. 19:41). Jesus had great sorrow in Gethsemane, knowing
that He would soon be subject to death (Mk. 14:32-34). That is why we see Jesus weeping as He
approaches the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus
was keenly aware of the wages of sin and death’s grip on humanity. His sorrow would crescendo on the cross when,
bearing our sin, He would cry out to His Father, My God, My God, why hast
Thou forsaken Me? We should be so in
tune with the truth that we sorrow and are trouble over sin and death.
As you read the
climactic account of 11:38-44, you should have a sense of how amazing the scene
was. Jesus prays out loud, not that it’s
necessary for His Father to hear, but so the people can hear and believe. Then, “with a loud voice” He commands Lazarus
to come out of the tomb. As many have
noted, Jesus called out Lazarus by name lest all the dead should hear and
rise. Such is the authority of the Son
of God, who is the resurrection and the life.
We used the term “amazing” to describe the scene. That’s an overworked term in our world, as
are “awesome” and “wonderful” and so forth.
Just remember: what we mean in this case is, “how glorifying to
God!” This story is all about the glory
of God!
Many years ago, I heard a sermon preached by
Stuart Briscoe, an Englishman associated with the Capernwray Fellowship, who
had moved to Wisconsin to pastor a church.
The sermon, entitled “Dead, Defeated or Dangerous,” was based on the
story of Lazarus, who was first dead, then alive but bound in the grave
clothes, and finally freed to live a “dangerous” life for the glory of God. We are each in one of those categories: either
dead in sin and needing to believe in Christ; or alive in Christ, but bound by
the remnants of death, sin that hinders us; or alive in Christ, filled with the
Spirit and living with zeal for the glory of God. Perhaps that will encourage you, as it does
me, in a life of faith in Jesus, the Son of God!
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