“While it created problems for him with the religious authorities, Jesus proved that he is all we will ever need.”
This is it. This is the story that began the last days of Jesus’ life on earth. What Jesus said and did at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus was so radical and revealing that the religious authorities concluded that the only thing they could do was to - kill Jesus.
There are many incredible and revealing moments in the story of Lazurus found in John 11. One such moment can be found in verses 5 and 6, which says, “So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days.”
Jesus had received a message from Mary and Martha telling him that Lazarus (his friend) was very sick, deathly I’ll. Yet, Jesus stayed where he was for two more days. This statement has always seemed odd to me. For many reading this story, the natural conclusion might be, “If Jesus loved this family, he should have dropped everything he was doing, left right away, and healed Lazarus.”
However, if you’ll notice in verse 4, Jesus says, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” As we’ll see, Jesus was fully and finally revealed in the next several verses both by what he said and by what he did. In this revelation, we see how Jesus ‘loved’ all humanity and brought glory to God.
You see, lingering for a few days created the opportunity for him to have transformative conversations with both Mary and Martha. He verbally revealed to them that he was the long-awaited Messiah. We benefit from these conversations still to this day. “Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again (John 11:23). “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha? (John 11:25–26).” She responded positively to his question then called to her sister.
Lingering also created the opportunity for Jesus to exercise his power over life and death, another revealing that reinforces what he’d just told Martha; remember Jesus went into this situation already thinking, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death.” Incredible. All of this was to reveal to Mary and Martha and you and me precisely who Jesus is. Then he shows it powerfully by raising Lazarus from the dead.
One commentator I read this week wrote, “Essentially Jesus is saying, “I am exactly what Lazarus needs, and also what you need. He is dead, and you are alive. So listen. ‘Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live’” (verse 25). That’s for Lazarus. And “Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (verse 26). That’s for you. “I will rescue Lazarus, body and soul, from the grave. And you. You live, and believe in me, and so you will never die. And do you know what this means, Martha? It means I love you. And I love your brother. I will not abandon his soul to the pit or let his flesh be destroyed. I will raise him. And I will keep you in everlasting fellowship with me. I am telling you this. I am revealing my power and my glory to you, because I love you.”
You see, in waiting, Jesus created these opportunities to reveal himself on several levels. While it created problems for him with the religious authorities, he proved that he is all we will ever need. Jesus can rescue and restore; he can provide hope in grief; he even joins us in our suffering - he just doesn’t leave us there. In this story, Jesus reveals who he was in a way that went far beyond that day at Mary and Martha’s house so long ago.
Jesus raised Lazarus because he is the resurrection. He is the arrival in history of God’s final, glorious renovation of all things. Lazarus is a preview of your resurrection through faith in Jesus. Jesus is coming back to this earth in power and glory. Come to me, Jesus said. I have much more to show you."