“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ’Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ’Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ’Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ’Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ’Unbind him, and let him go’" (John 11:38-44, ESV.)
Based on historical record, Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, but a biographer related that he was fond of eating ice cream. The writer jokingly pointed out that perhaps that’s the reason why Hitler’s words were “sweet” and able to influence the German people that resulted in WW II.
But there are people whose words are really sweet. Their words have positive effect on us. We are encouraged. We are comforted.
No words of man, however, can equal the effect of the Word of Christ. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power…” (Heb. 1:3A, ESV.) Jesus Himself said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
As Jesus Christ is the “radiance of the glory of God,” His Word is also glorious.
This time, let’s focus on the topic, THE GLORY OF THE WORD while we study our text (John 11:38-44).
Through His Work, it is evident to see the Glory of God. But to the believers, even His Glory is also perceived in His Word. Just consider the fact that through His words, the universe and everything that is on it came into being! And through His words, all things are sustained and in their designated places. His very words are glorious. And if we personally encounter His Word, what would be our reaction?
Before we answer it, be reminded again that the Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John. He addressed himself repeatedly in the book as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He focused on the life, works and words of Jesus in His few remaining days on earth. He pointed out that Jesus is God. And he related the importance not only of believing, but also of loving Jesus.
In the first 16 verses of chapter 11, John pointed out an unexpected action of Jesus toward those He loved. In His love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Jesus wanted them to see or experience more than physical healing. His loving desire for them was to behold the glory of God.
In verses 17-27, we were able to have a glimpse of the glory of Christ. First, in His peculiar Presence and second, in the profound truth about Himself. Jesus told Martha that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
And last time, in verses 28-32, we noted some “flashes” of the Glory of Christ. We were able also to point out glorious reaction toward His Glory. First, quick response to His call. Second, perceive or feel how He loved us.
And now in our text, we could observe what would happen when Jesus would unleash His Sovereign Glorious Word. If we encounter it, what would also be our reaction?
I -- ACCEPT THE WORD (verses 38-40).
We read verses 38-40, “Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'"
When Jesus arrived at the burial site of Lazarus, the words that came out from His mouth were, “Take away the stone.”
But Martha protested, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
What Jesus said was contrary to reason. It was more reasonable that the stone to remain on its place to prevent the odor to come out. But what did Jesus remind Martha?
We read what Jesus said in verse 40, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
He told Martha just to believe, to trust, or to accept what He said, “Take away the stone.” He was telling her that His words are glorious, His instructions are trustworthy and would lead her to experience further the Glory of God. He wanted Martha to accept the glory of His Word than the goodness or soundness of the human reason. For Christ, to accept the Glory of His Word would enable Martha to behold greater glory than the sweetest aroma that this world could offer.
God’s Word, specifically His instruction, would sound or appear very unreasonable to our human understanding.
In the Old Testament, another instruction of God that would not appeal to human reason was given to Joshua. God told Joshua how to conquer Jericho in Joshua 6:3-5:
“You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."
It was an out of this world strategy to conquer a military target. God instructed them to march around their target for 6 days. Then, on the seventh day, they shall march 7 times, “and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout…”
In order to destroy the wall of the city, if God is Sovereign why not just let an earthquake accomplish it?
But Joshua did not question the instruction of God. He accepted it. He believed that His Word is reliable.
How about us, do we really believe or accept the Word of Christ or God? Or, do we accept only when it appeals to our human reason?
Suppose He told also told us this time, “Take away the stone”? Like Martha, are we going also to protest? “Lord, by this time there will be an odor,...”
Or, should we just accept His instruction? Like Joshua, no matter how unreasonable was God’s Word, he did not question it. He just accepted it.
What is the “stone” right now in our life that Jesus wants us to “take away”?
Perhaps, the stone is something that covers what God wants for us to expose. Is it a particular sin? Is it time for us now to confront it and confess it before God? Is it the wrong kind of spending habit that prevent us to tithe or to give generously?
It could be just an attitude or whatever hinders us, for instance, to read the Bible daily or stop us from reading it through it, or to pray earnestly daily.
Actually, not every person will believe or accept God’s Word. When Jesus told His disciples, “Remember the word that I said to you…” (John 15:20A.) Only His sheep-kind of people will accept or believe it. Not everyone in the world will accept it. The tendency of people is to forget what God said and remember what the world could offer.
As God’s people given by the Father to the Son, we should accept the Word of the Son. Believe the need to take away anything that covers or hinders us to experience or to see God’s Glory, or to remember the Glory of His Word. Be willing to take away, for instance, an accusing frame of mind. Instead, let the mind of Christ, the humble mind to come out.
Accept whatever Christ declared or instructed. Believe or accept His Word, though the world or human reason will protest against it.
What else would be our reaction to the Glorious Word of Christ?
II -- ACT ON THE WORD (vv. 41-44).
We read verses 41-44, “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
After Jesus spoke to His Father, thanking Him, he spoke again, not to the living person but to the dead. Jesus directed His words to Lazarus, who was buried for 4 days.
What did Jesus say to the dead Lazarus? “Lazarus, come out.”
Did the dead person protest? Did he question the instruction or command of Jesus? Of course, he did not. He was dead.
But though Lazarus was dead, when the Word of Jesus was unleashed, something happened to him. The initial part of verse 44 told us, “The man who had died came out,…”
There was no doubt that the Glory of God was displayed. The Powerful Work of God in bringing back to life a person from the dead was demonstrated.
But let us not fail to note the Glory of the Word of Jesus. When it was addressed even to a dead person, the dead acted on or obeyed it. One Bible commentator remarked that, if the name of Lazarus was not mentioned, all the dead at that time would come out from the grave!
Not only the dead acted on the Word of Jesus Christ. When He was in the boat together with His disciples and there was a great storm, He demonstrated the Glory of His Word. We read in Matthew 8:26-27:
“And he said to them, ’Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’”
Observe “even winds and sea” obey or act on the Word of Christ.
When He directed His words to Satan, he complied. After many attempts of Satan to tempt Jesus, He said: “Be gone, Satan!” (Matt. 4:10.) And in verse 11, what did Satan do?: “Then the devil left him…”
Even Satan and his demons acted on the Word of Christ.
Believers or lovers of Christ, have you acted always on the Word of Christ?
Realize that every true believer was spiritually dead. And through the Word, we experienced spiritual awakening. It’s commonly known, as “been born again,” as we read in 1 Peter 1:23, “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
Note it that we have been born again, we experienced new birth, or our spirit is awakened, or our dead spirit was given life, “through the living and abiding word of God.” Or, in the words of James 1:18A, as we read in the NIV: “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,…”
So, initially, all true believers had acted on the Word addressed to them. They came out of from their spiritual grave. They acted on the Word that they encountered. Because their spirit was revived, they have now spiritual consciousness, they obeyed the Gospel. They repented, believed, or accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
As if like the dead Lazarus, the spiritually dead person came out from the tomb. But the resurrected Lazarus did not stop acting on the Word after he was raised from the dead.
Though it was not mentioned in the Gospel what Lazarus did afterwards, we can safely speculate that during the remaining years of his life on earth, his love for Jesus and for His Word continued to grow. He kept firmly on His Word and persevered to act on it. He did stop obeying the Word.
Likewise, we should also continue to act on, or to obey the Word of Christ. Continue to encourage one another by His Word. Continue to read His Word daily. Continue to treasure, to remember, to keep it.
And continue to apply it in our life. Jesus said in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” So, continue to love one another, as it's in the context of the verse.
Are we friends of Jesus? Then, let’s obey what He commanded us! Let’s act on His Glorious Word.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, we hear the words, “Words are powerful…” But a famous person
(Charlie Chaplain) said, “Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is ‘elephant.’”
Human words are not really powerful. But Isaiah quoted the Sovereign God, as saying:
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:10-11, NIV).
That’s real power! There is glory of the Word. Even Satan cannot thwart it.
So, if we are also among the recipient of the Glorious Word, if it is really for us, or if it is addressed to us, we will surely accept it. And we will act on it.
