Jesus Calls Lazarus Forth From the Grave
October 22, 2020
Commentary
Christ came to the tomb and ordered someone to roll away the stone. Martha objected to this strange request since Lazarus’ body would stink (vv. 38-39). Christ reminded her of His previous statements by saying, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (v. 40) (11:25–26). Then Christ offered a prayer before He performed the miracle (vv. 41-42). The prayer was one of thanksgiving rather than requesting. He is thankful that the Father has heard. It is because He is in close communion with the Father, that this miracle is possible.
Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come forth” (vv. 43-44). It has been said that if Jesus had not named Lazarus when He shouted, the whole cemetery would have been emptied. Here is a picture of many Christians who are alive in Christ but are still bound by the graveclothes of the world. They can’t work because their hands are bound.
The experience of Lazarus is a good illustration of what happens to a sinner when he trusts the Savior (Eph. 2:1-10). Lazarus was dead, and all sinners are dead. He was decayed because death and decay go together. All lost people are spiritually dead, but some are more “decayed” than others. No one can be “more dead” than another.
There are no recorded words of Lazarus in the Gospels, but his daily walk is enough to convince people that Jesus is the Son of God. Because of his effective witness, Lazarus was persecuted by the religious leaders who wanted to kill him and get rid of the evidence.
Application
One day when I was in my early twenties, I realized that I was spiritually dead and asked the Lord for new life in Him. At that moment He gave me new life and I began to have communion with Him through His Word and in prayer. One day He has also promised to give me a new body and I will be with Him physically for all eternity.
John 11:38– 44 (NET)
38 Jesus, intensely moved again, came to the tomb. (Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed across it.) 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you that you have listened to me. 42 I knew that you always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Illustration: Senior Pastor Tells Assistant to Run From Sin
A senior pastor once told his handsome new assistant pastor to avoid the dangers of immorality in the ministry. The assistant pastor quite sure of himself said, “I’ll do much of my socializing in groups. There is safety in numbers.” The wise senior pastor however responded, “Yes, there is safety in numbers, but there is more safety in Exodus!” RUN AWAY FROM SIN! (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).