THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS.
John 11:32-44.
Hearing of Jesus’ call, Mary ran to Jesus, prostrated herself at His feet, weeping, and complained: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Jesus became vexed in His spirit, a champion fired up for the fight to the death against death’s hold upon mankind (John 11:33). It is as if the Passion had already begun.
What followed is historic: Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and wept tears not of uncontrollable grief, but of righteous anger against the violent tyranny of death (John 11:34-35). The mourners who had followed Mary from the house recognised in this the love which Jesus had for Lazarus, which is true, but others wondered at Jesus’ seeming inability to prevent this tragedy (John 11:36-37).
Far from being unable to prevent death (cf. John 11:37), Jesus was about to overcome death in what was to be the seventh and final significant ‘sign’ (prior to Jesus’ own death and resurrection) in John’s Gospel.
Still "groaning within Himself," Jesus approached the cave where Lazarus' body was laid, and commanded that the stone should be rolled away (John 11:38-39).
It is interesting that Jesus, who is able to speak a word and impossible things get done, chose to give the witnesses a part to play in this great drama. If man does what he can, God will do the rest.
At this point the ever-practical Martha remonstrated with Him because by now it was too late, humanly speaking, to do anything for Lazarus. After four days, according to the common perception, corruption would have set in, and the spirit would have left the body for good.
We can imagine the volunteers pausing while they listened to what Martha had to say, and what Jesus would reply.
Jesus reminded Martha of His promise that if we have faith we will see the glory of God (John 11:40).
The stone was removed, and Jesus prayed a public prayer which was designed to encourage faith in the hearers (John 11:41-42).
Jesus “lifted up His eyes” to heaven, where the Father is, and addressed God in a familiar fashion as “Father.”
In fact, Jesus’ prayer is more a thanksgiving than a prayer. “Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always” (John 11:41-42).
These words let us know once again that there is a special union between the Father and the Son.
Yet although Jesus was praying to the Father, He was also doing so in a public capacity. With great sympathy He prayed in such a way that the people listening might benefit from the transaction between the Father and the Son: it is “because of the people I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 11:42).
Having prayed with such humanity, Jesus now spoke with all the authority of the Godhead. He called Lazarus by name, just as the Good Shepherd does call His sheep by name (cf. John 10:3), and the dead man rose from the dead (John 11:43-44).
“And he that was dead came forth, bound head and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin” (John 11:44a).
“Loose him, and let him go,” Jesus instructed (John 11:44b).
Jesus had already “loosed” Lazarus from the grip of death, but He wanted to involve the witnesses again. Lazarus was still bound about as a dead man, even though he was now alive. Those grave-clothes had to be removed by the hands of men.
There is perhaps a picture here of the newly born-again Christian. Those who are made new people in Christ are still, at first, hampered down with old attitudes, old habits. It is a part of the ministry of the church not to criticise, but to encourage, and to help remove those old shackles.
