Try to imagine yourself in the following scenario: You are living during the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth. You believe in Him and can tell from His miracles that He is from God. You know two women, Mary and Martha, whose brother Lazarus has died, a man you know Jesus loves. They sent word to Jesus to come heal their brother, Lazarus.
“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill’” (John 11:1–3).1
However, you were surprised by Jesus’ reaction to this sad information about His friend, since you knew He was kind, healing all those who came to Him, and He loved this family.
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (John 11:5–6).
Why would Jesus do this if He loved Lazarus? Jesus’ decision to delay His arrival will be the first in a series of things that will make you scratch your head.
When Jesus arrived, Mary’s sister, Martha, said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (John 11:21–22).
You didn’t hear Jesus say, “Sorry I didn’t get here in time,” or, “Yes, you’re right. I could have healed him. No, He said, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23).
You had heard Jesus give puzzling responses to questions. You thought perhaps He was trying to teach Martha a biblical truth. She said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). Martha had her doctrine squared away, and it was indeed a statement of faith on her part. However, Jesus said something in response that must have startled her, you, and anyone else within earshot.
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25a).
Jesus wanted to make it clear that, then as now, it is more than faithful belief in biblical truth. It is about Him. He is the resurrection. He is life. If we ponder this a bit, it is like a nuclear explosion that levels everything in its blast radius. Without Him, there is no such thing as the resurrection Martha believed would transpire. That act is in Him. It is Him. Without Him, not only is there is no resurrection, but there is also no natural or spiritual life. All life is in Him. It is Him.
That’s a giganormous idea of who Jesus is. Shall we say, “Almost everything we know about on earth and in the universe?” “Everything we are as living beings?” Take Jesus away, and we take life away. We are left with a universe of barren rocks.
So much said in one sentence. However, Jesus isn’t finished.
“Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25b-26).
Jesus makes known to us a truth. If we believe in the one who is life itself, we will then have life—true life here on earth and eternal life in God’s kingdom. Beautiful. Comforting.
So, Jesus goes right ahead to give a practical demonstration of the reality of His words.
“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 on 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 11:41–44).
Three words. Three words from the one who is life. Dead brain tissue restored. Destroyed heart, lungs, and organs restored. Life.
Before we finish, this is the answer to the question asked earlier in this article: “Why would Jesus wait to heal a sick man whom He loved?” Jesus supplied the answer before He left to go to Lazarus. “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him” (John 11:14–15).
Jesus let a sick friend die so His disciples would learn more about what it means to believe in Him. A higher reason from one who can do all things.
Oh, that the world would know that Jesus is life itself! That they would know that without Him there is no life whatsoever. None. Those who don’t know Jesus have no life in them, a life of barren rocks.
1All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Gif courtesy giphy.
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