Encore Post:
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. When Jesus came to Jerusalem, He often stayed with them in their home in Bethany, a little town two miles away. So, when Lazarus fell ill, it was personal, even more so because Jesus knew his friend would die. Jesus had raised some people from the dead. Yet the resurrection of Lazarus would be one of his greatest miracles and would set in motion the events leading to his suffering, death, and resurrection.
So, two weeks before his own resurrection, Jesus went to comfort his friends. He said the words that touch a chord in our hearts even today: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)
Before Jesus went to the tomb, Martha confessed her faith in Him. When Jesus said these words, she replied, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Before Lazarus ever walked out of the tomb, Martha already trusted Jesus.
Still, Jesus grieved for his friend. Then He ordered the tomb opened and called Lazarus back from the grave. A common Jewish belief held that after several days there could be no question that a person was truly dead. Whether or not everyone believed that exactly, four days made it impossible to argue that Lazarus had merely fainted or been mistaken for dead.
Previously, Jesus had raised several people from the dead. Lazarus’s resurrection was different because it happened close to the priests’ homes. The Sadducees could dismiss reports about Jesus more easily when they came from distant Galilee. When their neighbors actually witnessed Lazarus coming back from the dead, they could not dismiss it.
The priests’ problem was not that the miracle lacked evidence. The problem was that it had too much evidence. Lazarus lived only a short walk from Jerusalem, and many people had attended his funeral. They could speak with Lazarus himself. If people believed Jesus could raise the dead, many would also believe He was the Messiah.
When Caiaphas, the High Priest, heard about this miracle, he said, “It is better that one man die than the people.” He was right, even though he did not know why. From this moment on, the priests and the Pharisees planned to kill Jesus and Lazarus. A week later, Jesus would ride into Jerusalem amid lambs destined for sacrifice. With his death, he destroyed death, its angel passing over us forever.
Originally posted at What does this Mean? Blog: https://whatdoesthismean.blog
The posts in the blog What does this Mean? are now available at What does this Mean? | Rev. Robert E. Smith | Substack
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Pastor Emeritus
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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