The Implications of Lazarus

John 11:25-26 NASB
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

These words were spoken by Jesus to Martha, with regard to the raising of her brother Lazarus from the dead as recorded in John 11:1-46. One might think that this is just another description of another of Jesus’ miracles, but this is not just another miracle, nor did it haphazardly happen at this particular time, by chance. If you read the remainder of John 11:47-57, you will note that the raising of Lazarus takes place just prior to the arrest and crucification of Jesus Himself. But there is more. 

You will note that Jesus deliberately waited before He set out to approach the tomb of Lazarus and that four days (John 11:17) had gone by since Lazarus had been placed in his tomb. That’s four days without refrigeration that we might use today to preserve the body, four days for the body of Lazarus to begin to decompose. In fact, Martha, the sister of Lazarus, tells Jesus that the body of her brother will have begun to smell because of how long he has been in the tomb John 11:39).

So when Jesus prays to His Father and then commands Lazarus to come forth from the tomb (John 11:40-44), this is not just a body that has only just died, but this is a body that has also begun to actually decompose. This doesn’t happen because we are not talking about just the heart in the body starting to beat again, but we are also talking about multiple complex body systems that are now damaged, being repaired to be whole and functional again. 

And what does Jesus say in His pray to His Father? “ … so that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:42) And as astounding as those words are, these words of Jesus that precede the raising of Lazarus are even more astounding.

John 11:25-26 NASB
“Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Emphasis is mine.

I am the resurrection and the life. Jesus spoke these words just before he was arrested and crucified.  He spoke them and demonstrated His ability to do exactly what He said He had authority to do (John 10:18). He did it for Lazarus, He did it for Himself and He will do it for all who believe and trust in Him. 

Listen once again to what Jesus said in John 5:19-24 NASB:
“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.  For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

What more could Jesus possibly have done to make the reality of His divine power known? Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead before His own foretold death and resurrection.  If you had been an eye witness to these two resurrections, would you have believed? I know I surely would, and yet having not seen, I still believe. 

And in closing I would like to share with you this verse that God also brought to my memory while writing this post: 2 Corinthians 13:1 NASB: “ This is the third time that I am coming to you. ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED.” Emphasis is mine. Jesus kept this Law.

Think of these things, when we celebrate Resurrection Sunday!

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!