When death meets the life giver: The resurrection of Lazarus

 

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus is one of the most powerful and dramatic miracles of Jesus in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of John, chapter 11. It serves not only as a demonstration of Jesus' divine power but also as a profound teaching on life, death, and resurrection.

1. Setting the Scene (John 11:1-16)

Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, lives in Bethany with his two sisters, Mary and Martha. Lazarus falls seriously ill, and his sisters send word to Jesus, hoping He will come and heal him. However, Jesus deliberately delays His visit for two days, even though He loves the family deeply. He tells His disciples that Lazarus' illness will not end in death but that it will serve to glorify God and reveal God's power.

Jesus' delay in going to Lazarus may seem strange at first, but it highlights that Jesus operates on a different timetable from human expectations. He often acts in ways that may appear puzzling at first but have deeper purposes.

2. Jesus Arrives (John 11:17-37)

By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. This detail is significant, as the Jewish tradition believed that the soul stayed near the body for three days after death, but after the fourth day, there was no hope of resurrection. Martha, upon hearing that Jesus is near, goes out to meet Him and expresses her faith in Him, saying that if He had been there, her brother would not have died. Jesus assures her that her brother will rise again, prompting Martha to refer to the future resurrection at the last day.

Jesus then declares one of His key "I Am" statements: "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). He assures Martha that those who believe in Him, even if they die, will live again, and that those who live and believe in Him will never die. He asks her, "Do you believe this?" Martha affirms her belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

Mary, upon hearing that Jesus is asking for her, also comes to Him. She falls at His feet, saying the same words as her sister: "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." At this point, Jesus is deeply moved by the mourning of the people and the sorrow of Mary and Martha, and He weeps. This is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it reveals the deep empathy and compassion of Jesus.

3. The Miracle: Lazarus is Raised (John 11:38-44)

Jesus, moved by the grief around Him, asks for the stone to be removed from the tomb. Martha, the practical sister, protests, noting that Lazarus has been dead for four days and the body will be decaying. Jesus responds, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" The stone is rolled away, and Jesus prays aloud, thanking God for hearing Him, not for His own benefit but to strengthen the faith of those present.

Then, with a loud voice, Jesus commands, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus emerges from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths. Jesus instructs those around Him to "take off the grave clothes and let him go." This miraculous event astonishes everyone, showing Jesus' ultimate authority over death and foreshadowing His own resurrection.

4. The Aftermath and Reactions (John 11:45-57)

Many of the people who witnessed the miracle believed in Jesus, but some went to the Pharisees and reported what had happened. The Jewish leaders, particularly the chief priests and Pharisees, were alarmed by Jesus' growing influence and the potential consequences for their power. They convened the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, and debated what to do. Caiaphas, the high priest, suggested that it would be better for one man to die for the people than for the entire nation to perish. Unknowingly, he prophesied that Jesus' death would serve as the atonement for humanity's sin (John 11:51-52).

This event marks a turning point in the Gospel narrative, setting in motion the events that would lead to Jesus' crucifixion.

5. Theological Significance

Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus' statement that He is the "resurrection and the life" is central to Christian theology. He is not just a teacher or healer; He is the source of eternal life. His resurrection of Lazarus is a preview of His own resurrection and a sign that He has the power to give eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Death and Hope: The resurrection of Lazarus teaches Christians that death is not the end for those who believe in Jesus. While physical death is a reality, Jesus' power offers hope for eternal life beyond the grave.

Compassion and Suffering: Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' tomb reveals His deep compassion for human suffering. He enters into the pain of His friends, showing that He cares deeply for those who mourn and suffer.

Foreshadowing of Christ's Resurrection: The raising of Lazarus serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus' own resurrection, which would be the ultimate triumph over death. It shows that Jesus has power over death and that through His death and resurrection, believers can have eternal life.

6. Application for Christians

The story of Lazarus can deepen the faith of Christians in several ways:

It encourages believers to trust in Jesus' power over death and to have hope in the face of their own mortality.

It highlights the importance of faith in Jesus as the source of eternal life.

It reminds Christians of the importance of empathy, as Jesus demonstrated compassion for those who were grieving.

It challenges believers to live with the hope of resurrection, knowing that physical death does not have the final word for those in Christ.

The resurrection of Lazarus is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' identity and mission. It not only confirms His divine authority but also offers a glimpse into the hope that Christians have in the resurrection of the dead through Jesus Christ.