DECEMBER 31, 2017
THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS (PART II)
INTRODUCTION:
1. This chapter is one of the most remarkable in the New Testament. As J. C. Ryle put it, “For grandeur and simplicity, for pathos and solemnity, nothing was ever written like it.”
a) Nowhere else do we find such convincing proofs of our Lord’s Divine power.
b) Nowhere else do we find such striking examples of our Lord’s ability to sympathize with His people. Nowhere else in our Lord’s history do we see Him so distinctly both man and God.
2. The raising of Lazarus was manifestly intended to supply the Jews with one more incontrovertible proof that Jesus was truly the Christ, the Messiah.
a) They said to Him at the Feast of Dedication about three months before this, “If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” (Ch. 10:24)
b) In reply He distinctly appealed to His “works” as the best evidence of His Messiahship.
c) Now, after a short interval, we find Him within two miles of Jerusalem making preparations for one last demonstration of His divine power, one so stupendous as to convince any skeptic and silence him forever.
3. The Jewish unbelief was so decided that his great miracle will only signal the need for greater urgency in putting Jesus to death.
4. When word reached Jesus at Bethabara that Lazarus was sick, He purposefully delayed His coming for two days. Only after He knew that His friend had died did He leave Bethabara and come with His disciples to Bethany.
I. LET US FIRST CONSIDER THE STATE OF AFFAIRS RESPECTING JESUS’ FRIENDS UPON HIS ARRIVAL. (VERSES 17-19)
A. LAZARUS WAS DEAD AND HAD LAIN IN THE GRAVE FOUR DAYS. (VERSE 17)
1. When Jesus was there a short while before, His friend was alive and, we assume, in good health. How quickly the circumstances of one’s health can change. How suddenly death may come upon a person. (James 4:13-15; Luke 12:16-21)
2. Assuming that Jesus left Bethabara as soon as He intuitively perceived that Lazarus was dead, we might conclude that the journey from there to Bethany was about four days. However, Jesus took the time to pass through Jericho where He healed blind Bartimaeus, saved Zacchaeus and abode at his house, before coming to Bethany. (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 19:1-10)
a) The fact that Jesus was in route to Bethany to perform a good work did not prevent Him from doing other good works along the way. May we also in our labors of love not bypass any opportunity for doing good. (Gal. 6:10)
b) A somewhat similar case was that of Jarius’ daughter. (Luke 8:41-56) As Jesus was responding to Jarius’ plea to come and heal his dying daughter, there occurred a situation that He could not ignore. This delay resulted in the death of the girl. The end result was the same, though it required an even greater miracle.
c) In the case of Lazarus, Jesus not only intentionally delayed leaving Bethabara until Lazarus was dead, but also delayed His arrival at Bethany until Lazarus had been dead four days, and his body had begun to decompose. (See Verse 39)
(1) This was, without doubt, meant for the greater glory of God, and that the Son might be glorified thereby. (Verse 4)
(2) This detail is also useful for the purpose of the type. Regarding the resurrection of the dead in Christ at His coming, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8)
B. THE SURVIVING SISTERS WERE MOURNING THE LOSS OF THEIR BROTHER. (VERSE 19)
1. It is customary when death comes to a house for friends to come and mourn and to comfort those who are bereaved.
2. Their friends included many Jews who came from Jerusalem, Bethany being but a short distance from there, only “about fifteen furlongs,” which is about two miles. (Verse 18)
3. The hand of Providence is seen here, in that so many of the Jews would come here at this time so that they might be witnesses to the miracle that was about to occur.
II. LET US NEXT CONSIDER THE EXCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE TWO SISTERS. (VERSES 20-32)
A. FIRST WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN CHRIST AND MARTHA. (VERSE 20)
1. It appears that Martha was expecting His arrival, and had perhaps posted someone to watch and notify her as soon as He came in sight.
2. As soon as the word came, Martha dropped everything, left her friends, and hastened to go and meet the Lord.
a) It has been suggested that she was hastening to warn Him about the many Jews from Jerusalem that were present.
b) That may be true, but it is also very likely that she took leave from all visiting sympathizers and went to meet Him because there was no friend whose company she so desired at this time as His.
3. When Martha went to meet Jesus Mary sat still in the house.
a) Perhaps she, being surrounded with comforters, was not aware of Jesus’ arrival.
b) Since her temperament was more reserved than Martha’s, she may have been more disposed to withdraw in her grief.
c) That temperament which had formerly been to her advantage (Luke 10:38-42) was here a hindrance.
4. The discourse between Jesus and Martha is here given. (Verses 21-27)
a) Martha initiates the conversation with a sharp complaint, but then follows it up with words of correction and comfort. (Verse 21, 22)
(1) Her first words were full of resentment and blame. “If thou hadst been here my brother had not died.” (Verse 21)
(a) In her complaint is seen evidence of her faith in Christ’s power, as well as confidence in His pity. Had He been there, not only could He have healed her brother, but would have.
(b) Sadly, we also see in the same words indications of unbelief, with respect to His power and His wisdom. “If thou hadst been here my brother had not died.” (See verse 15; and Ch. 4:48-50)
(2) She then corrects herself, and her correction contains great comfort. (Verse 22)
(a) Her faith was full of hope. Although raising one so long dead was unprecedented, she believed that through Him such a miracle was possible.
(b) She did not presume to ask directly for this miracle, leaving it to His greater wisdom, but her wish is implied.
b) Jesus’ answer was filled with hope and assurance, and at the same time, ambiguous, leaving the time frame uncertain. “Thy brother shall rise again.”
(1) We, like Martha, fret too much over what might have been, i.e. how things might have been done differently, perhaps preventing a death.
(2) Jesus would have us to stop fretting about what might have been, and focus on our future hope.
(3) This was Martha’s truest comfort, regardless of whether she understood Jesus to be speaking of a present or future resurrection.
c) Martha’s response indicates, once again, a mixture of faith and unbelief. (Verse 24)
(1) First, she believed what was revealed about the resurrection. (See Acts 24:14, 15)
(2) Secondly, her answer seems to indicate that this glorious truth was not enough to comfort her in her present loss. As if the comforts of the resurrection to eternal life were not sufficient to balance the affliction.
d) Jesus then answered with words that must surely encourage every true child of faith. (Verses 25, 26)
(1) Martha believed that God would do for Him whatever He would ask (Verse 22); she believed in a resurrection at the last day (Verse 24); Christ tells her He has all such power in Himself (Verse 25). He who has power to raise a world of dead men to life can surely raise one man who has been dead four days.
(2) Notice the glorious promises here made by our Lord to all believers.
(a) The promise here is either to whosoever among the living believers on Christ, or to whosoever lives spiritually by believing on Christ.
(b) There is a promise for the body, of a blessed resurrection. “Though he die yet shall he live.”
(c) There is a promise for the soul, of a blessed immortality. “…shall never die.”
e) Martha acquiesced in her Lord’s words with complete assent. (Verse 27)
(1) Martha made a good confession. (Compare Matt. 16:15, 16; John 6:59)
(2) In this true and hearty confession, Martha infers that, this being so, there is no difficulty in believing that He is the resurrection and the life, and the fountain of light and truth and all blessedness.
5. The discourse between Jesus and Mary. (Verses 28-32)
a) We detect the total satisfaction that Martha feels as her interview concludes, and she goes her way and also her desire for her sister to receive the same comfort from Christ personally. She was most happy to convey words of the Master’s call to Mary. (Verse 28)
(1) Martha delivered the message to Mary secretly, because it was important that her sister’s interview with Jesus be one on one, as her own had been; and perhaps also because many Jews were present who were not friends of Christ.
(2) Though the message was for Mary’s ears only, it appears that it was very enthusiastically delivered.
(a) “The Master is come.” He whom they longed for was come.
(b) “…and calleth for thee.” Martha was the messenger, but it was Jesus who called for her.
(c) How special and precious it is when Christ, through His sent messengers, calls His own to Himself.
b) Mary, having heard, hastened to her Lord without delay. (Verse 29)
(1) Suddenly, nothing else mattered; she removed herself from all company and the house, and came.
(2) So it is when the Master effectually calls for His own.
c) She went to Him without the town where He waited for her. (Heb. 13:13)
d) The Jews presumed to know why Mary had left in such a hurry. “She goeth to the grave to weep.” (Vs. 31)
e) The Jews then followed her, probably thinking they would mourn with her, but were instead brought to where Christ was, to become witnesses of a most glorious miracle.
f) Mary came and fell at Jesus’ feet, repeating exactly the words that her sister had uttered when she first saw the Lord. “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
(1) She, in effect, charged Jesus with her brother’s death. Martha had done so as well.
(2) Sometimes when sorrows flood our souls, we are prone to ask, “Lord, where are You; why are You not here?”
(3) Let us be reminded from this story that Jesus is always near. He has not forsaken us, and we will, in His time, know His higher purpose in allowing the sorrow.
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