She tells him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) But then, she said something that was truly extrordinary as she continued, “but I know that even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.” That’s absolutely extrordinaty! Martha’s statement is a testament to her unwavering faith in Jesus’ power. Martha hears that Jesus has arrived and goes to meet him. They were hoping and expecting Jesus to come sooner, to heal their brother but now it was too late – at least so it seemed – as Lazarus had already been dead and buried for four days. When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Martha and Mary are understandably upset and grieving the loss of their brother Lazarus. It was also a catalyst for the events that led to his own death and resurrection, which were the ultimate demonstrations of God’s power and love. It was one of the most remarkable miracles he performed and it had a profound impact on those who witnessed it. Jesus’ delay was important because the raising of Lazarus was a pivotal moment in his ministry. He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep but I am going there to wake him up.” (John 11:11) When they didn’t understand, he clarified, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. Thirdly, the delay allowed Jesus to prepare his disciples for what was to come. ![]() So he was totally dead, his body would have started to decay and the situation seemed completely hopeless. However in this case, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus came. In the cases of Jesus raising the son of the widow in the town of Nain (Luke chapter 7), and raising Jairus’ daughter (Mark chapter 5), they had not yet been buried, nor did their bodies start to decay. This was a powerful demonstration of his divine power and authority. It must be noted that even though there are two other recorded instances of the dead being raised to life by Jesus, the raising of Lazarus is by far the most significant. By waiting to go to Lazarus, Jesus was able to show that he was not only able to heal the sick but also raise the dead in a very powerful way. Secondly, the delay allowed Jesus to demonstrate his power over death, which was a key aspect of his message and ministry. This made his resurrection all the more miraculous because there was no doubt that he was truly dead. Firstly, it allowed Lazarus to die and be buried before Jesus arrived. This delay is significant for several reasons. Jesus’ response is surprising because he does not rush to Lazarus’ side, but instead waits two more days before traveling to Bethany. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) Instead, he tells his disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. However, when Jesus receives the message, he does not immediately go to Bethany. ![]() So, they sent a message to Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” (John 11:3) The sisters were close friends of Jesus and they had faith in his power to heal their brother. ![]() The story of the raising of Lazarus begins with a message from Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, informing Jesus that their brother is gravely ill. This story is a testament to Jesus’ divine power and reveals important truths about his message and ministry. The raising of Lazarus from the dead is one of the most extraordinary miracles performed by Jesus in the Bible, and it is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |