Scripture: John 11: 4, 14, 17, 23, 26
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “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.” 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
Scripture Commentary:
The story of Lazarus is one of the most popular in the New Testament. When Jesus hears about Lazarus, Jesus knows that he has to die. If Jesus had been there the day Lazarus died, the people would have said that Jesus healed him of his sickness. In itself, this miracle would have been good; however, Lazarus dying and being in his grave for four days was something entirely difference.
The villagers loved and held Mary, Martha and Lazarus in high esteem. They had been witness to the funeral and saw the body go into the tomb. Jesus waited before entering the village to perform the miracle to show the people that he is the Son of God. He has power over the grave.
Lazarus is not the only one who Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus brought back the daughter of the synogogue leader (Matthew 9: 18-26) and the widow’s only son (Luke 7: 12 -15). However, neither of these people had been in the grave. Lazarus, on the other hand, had been in the grave and had started to decay.
With this miracle some rejected Jesus and started plotting to kill him. Do you accept Jesus as your Savior … or are you rejecting him?
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