Jesus has traveled to Bethany but Lazarus has already died.
Click here for an online Bible John 11:17-37
Both Martha and Mary said that if only Jesus had been there, then Lazarus would not have died. They believed in his power to heal, but raising someone from the dead was beyond their thinking. Jesus talked about the resurrection and Martha understood that those who believe will be resurrected in the end.
Jesus made some pretty strong statements here. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Martha agreed with him, but apparently, her understanding was as the Christ, Jesus is the source of the resurrection at the end of time.
The bystanders questioned why Jesus could not have prevented Lazarus from dying. Everyone has underestimated Jesus. His statement to Martha was declaring his power over life and death. He had purposefully waited for Lazarus to die, so that he could come and raise Lazarus from the dead. His purpose was to bring glory to God.
An interesting question comes up here. Why did Jesus weep? Is he grief-stricken by the death of Lazarus? Is he overwhelmed by the sadness the sisters and the other mourners? He knows that he is going bring Lazarus back to life in about five minutes. He knows that the mourners will be overcome with joy and praise God. I can’t say for sure, but I think the reason for Jesus’ tears is the fact of death. Death is due to sin. This is why Jesus came to earth – sin.
Two things we often lose sight of here. One is that we often think we have God figured out. In fact we give him advice all the time on how we think he ought to handle things. We should spend less time advising him and more time listening to him. Second, we don’t get how bad sin it. We think that our sins are little sins that don’t really matter much, but in reality, all sin is offensive to God. Sin required the death of Jesus to bring reconciliation between us and God.
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4 comments:
Jesus did bring glory to God, if they observer believed that Jesus was God. Jesus speaks very clearly in saying that He is displaying the power of God through Himself that we might believe in Him. It is truly a magnificent display of affection from the Father to the Son, from the Son to those who loved Lazarus.
I find the interaction between the sisters and Jesus remarkable. We see Martha runs to Jesus, but Mary waits in solitude and in prayer, for Mary was praying and Jesus heard her prayers and was already beginning to become deeply moved, the mourners and the sight of Mary was the straw that broke the camel's back... Jesus wept. I can not help but feel empathy for them as I think through the scenery and what it must have been like for Christ to know what He was about to do to Lazarus for their unbelief and still be wrestling with great compassion for those present.
Big picture: intercessory prayer and brokenness helps in getting close to the heart of our Savior. I work in a place full of spiritually charged individuals, the problem is that it is very far removed from what I am familiar and have grown accustom to knowing of the Holy Spirit. These are Indians/Hindus and the spirits that are manifested are very difficult to contend with. I very much need your prayers to keep me safe/remaining and increasing in faithfulness to our Lord and Savior. And your prayers for me to be an effective witness in my actions and deeds... they need to see the power of God the One True God. Help me intercede for these lost souls on their behalf, so that they may find the True source of Light. The disciples did not know they needed to believe more until Jesus challenged their disbelief. Pray that their disbelief will be challenged! and that the Lord will reveal to me His timing of events, so that He may be glorified and that they may believe in Him.
Love,
EJ
Before He wept Jesus was angry (the Amplified Bible says "disturbed") and after He wept Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (oops, did I give away the story?). So the thought that the tears are for disbelief and sin seems right to me. Anger over sin and weeping for the disbelief in their souls.
I find it interesting that Mary, who not too long ago was sitting at His feet soaking up everything Jesus said, does not come to greet Him when He arrives. Did she ignore His arrival because she had fallen into unbelief too? She stated that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there. Maybe she just did not understand the infinite power of Christ. Maybe that's why He wept. His compassion for this woman who was so in love with Him and now doubts His Lordship.
My prayer is that I will continue to see the power and presence of the Holy Spirit moving in my life and in the lives of those around me.
Dear EJ,
I completely understand the position you are in - taking a stand for Christ in the middle of nonChristians can be very difficult and sometimes a frightening experience. I would recommend you join some sort of small church group and then under the cover of Christ ask for prayers in that setting. They should be able to intercede for you and also keep you accountable for your actions.
Peace,
Bobbie
I thought Jesus wept because Mary and Martha wept, and he saw that Mary and Martha love their brother so much. Lazarus probably the main provider in Mary and Martha's family here on earth. Just my thought.
I do not believe Jesus wept over disbelief. Loun, seems to be more in line with what I was thinking. There disbelief is a separate thing. But yes, their love for their brother is what I believed moved Jesus to tears. I also believe that Mary stayed praying and Jesus could hear her prayers maybe even the plans of her heart about this future she would now have to live with out her brother. He probably even heard the grief in her heart as well as the remembrance of joyful youthful events with her brother. The tossing of emotions that Mary wrestled with distant from her Savior -- you see she is not trying to make Jesus do anything she is simply having a hard time cooping with the loss -- and Jesus hears (there is no good word to describe how Jesus knows whats going on with) Mary and asks Martha to go get her. Then the respect that is felt by her presence and the mourners is the climax...
another thing about belief is that it has no limit. I think Jesus was challenging them to increase their capacity to believe. You see to me the unthinkable is constantly being revealed through Jesus.
Take a look at your daily life, what unthinkable thing happen to you today?
No one ever heard of a man... you fill in "the rest of the story." Once you've been shown the unthinkable, put God to the test, not like the pharisees -- as if this is some sort of quiz show -- but really put your belief system into it... trust Him to do it... start seeing it done in faith and walking in that faith... now that is the beginning of belief -- to step off or out of that belief or to stop believing in that faith that you begun believing is to fall into unbelief or at least the unbelief that it seemed to me that you were referring to, because you said fall as if to go back. But you could very well have seen exactly the way I was describing, being that we understand unbelief like unbelievable or that part of belief that has yet to begin??? I sometimes confuse myself with all of this philosophical rhetoric, but it is just another aspect of love.
For example: you said "join," that would mean that you have an unbelief that I have joined a church or else you would not have recommended it. You see your lack of belief in me. I do not mean to nick pick, but time to come to a greater belief in me. "Step by step all the way." ;) I do appreciate your thoughtfulness with regards to my situation.
Love,
ej
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