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Again feeling very upset, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave with a large stone covering the entrance. He said, “Move the stone away.”
Martha said, “But, Lord, it has been four days since Lazarus died. There will be a bad smell.” Martha was the sister of the dead man.
Then Jesus said to her, “Remember what I told you? I said that if you believed, you would see God’s divine greatness.”
So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me. But I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that you sent me.” 43 After Jesus said this he called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with pieces of cloth. He had a handkerchief covering his face.
Jesus said to the people, “Take off the cloth and let him go.”
There were many Jews who came to visit Mary. When they saw what Jesus did, many of them believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus did.
What can we learn from Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?
Jesus said, “Come out,” and the man came out. Jesus did it because he loved him.” Galilea, 6
“Jesus loves us and he can raise people from the dead.” Mary Jane, 6
“He can rescue us from yucky darkness.” Mollie Mae, 6
“He gave Lazarus another chance and let him live again.” Nathalie, 7
“Jesus’ miracles worked because he is powerful. Everybody is full with joy because of his miracles.” Jayden, 8
In the Bible, death is not part of God’s original plan. Death entered into our world through the sin of Adam and Eve.
When Jesus spoke to Martha (sister of Lazarus), he said he was the resurrection and the life. When he raised Lazarus from the dead, he proved it! Three days after Jesus died on the cross, he rose from the dead. Jesus proved that death does not have power over him and all who believe in him.
When Jesus told Martha to remove the stone from her brother’s tomb, Martha reminded Jesus that Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus told Martha that if she believed, she would see God’s divine greatness. A better translation of “God’s divine greatness” is “the glory of God.” The original New Testament Bible was written in the Greek language.
God is perfect in every way. His glory is the way he shows His perfection. Psalm 91:1 tells us this: “The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made.”
Have you ever seen a beautiful sunset or rainbow? These are like God shouting to everyone about the beauty of his person. God wants everyone to know him. He is perfect in every way.
So how did Jesus show his glory when he raised Lazarus from the dead? As the Son of God, Jesus has the power over death. All he had to do is say, “Lazarus, come out!” and the life came back into the body of Lazarus. It’s a good thing, Jesus called Lazarus by name or all the people in the graveyard might have risen from their graves.
Remember, if you believe in Jesus as your savior, nothing can overcome his life within you. You will face difficult times and problems. It’s a promise from Jesus that most Christians don’t want to claim.
“In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (John 16:33).
The biggest problem in this world is death. Jesus defeated death when he rose from the grave three days after he allowed himself to be crucified on a cross to pay for our sins.
There is nothing more glorious than God’s overcoming life. Raising Lazarus from his grave is only a small taste of God’s overcoming, forever life!
41 So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me. But I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that you sent me.” 43 After Jesus said this he called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with pieces of cloth. He had a handkerchief covering his face.
Jesus said to the people, “Take off the cloth and let him go.”
Notice that Jesus prepares for a miracle by giving thanks to God. In the middle of all the sorrow over the death of Lazarus and the shock about opening his grave, Jesus gives thanks.
Is there any problem so big that we cannot stop to thank God that he hears us? What a privilege it is to know with certainty that God hears us. How can we be so sure?
Do your mom and dad hear you when you ask for their help? If you have good parents, they are always there for you. Would God do less than a good parent? No, he will do more. If you have trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, you have been born again into God’s family. You belong to God. You can never escape God’s love. You can call on him at any time.
Do you ever wonder what God wants you to do?
“Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18).
An attitude of gratitude will often determine your altitude or how high you rise in life. Start by thanking God that he hears you and see what happens.
Wouldn’t it be cool if you bring people back to life from the dead by calling their names like Jesus did with Lazarus? Do you know that you can do something more important than calling people back to life in this world? When Lazarus came back from the dead, he had to die again. Perhaps one of the reasons Jesus wept is because he was sorry that Lazarus was going to leave heavenly paradise to return to life on planet Earth.
When you share the gospel of God’s saving grace, you can offer your friends God’s forever life as a free gift. When people receive Jesus as their savior, they pass from spiritual death to spiritual life and that’s forever! That’s much better than being brought back to life for a few more years before having to die again.
Do you have the faith to see a person’s eternal need? Do you have the compassion to share with people the good news that God loves them and sent his Son to die on the cross to pay for their sins?
Most Christians are so worried about what people will think about them that they won’t risk sharing the gospel with their friends. If you have never shared the gospel with friends, ask God to give you the boldness and courage to do so. Even the great Apostle Paul prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29-30).
45 There were many Jews who came to visit Mary. When they saw what Jesus did, many of them believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus did.
Many who saw Lazarus believed in Jesus. Others rejected Jesus and reported the miracle to the religious leaders, the Pharisees. They saw Jesus as a threat to their religious system based in Jerusalem.
Jesus brings people together, but he also divides them. If you tell people about Jesus, you will make new friends and perhaps lose friends.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me,” (John 14:6). It’s popular today to say that there are many ways to heaven. Jesus said he is the only way. If someone is trying to earn God’s favor by following a religion, Jesus’ offer of eternal life as a free gift makes them mad. In their pride, they want to earn their way to heaven, which is impossible.
(Carey Kinsolving is an experienced public speaker, syndicated newspaper columnist, author and producer. Many of Kinsolving’s feature articles have appeared in The Washington Post and other major newspapers.)