Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

Pastor Carol Grace ♦ May 5, 2010 ♦ Leave a comment

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

John 11:38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39″Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I 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.”

43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The 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.”

I have heard it said that Jesus’ words were so powerful, that had He not called out Lazarus by name that all of the dead in the tombs would have arisen. What a sight that would have been!

Look at the order of what occurred here.

First, Jesus says, “take away the stone.”
Next, Martha objects because the stench of death would be strong
Jesus answers that He is about to reveal the glory of God
Jesus thanks the Father for what He is about to do.
Jesus calls Lazarus forth.
Lazarus emerges.

Jesus and the Father were One, so He had no need to pray that God would resurrect Lazarus, He only needed to thank Him for what was about to happen. This miracle of God was not just an act of compassion, it was a foreshadowing of what would occur following Jesus’ death. It was yet another way to prepare the disciples for what was about to come.

There are so many parallels in the Scriptures, but we sometimes overlook them. I pray that as we read God’s word the depth of meaning would be revealed, and that the miracle of resurrection would bring new life to each of us.