LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RAISING OF LAZAUS:

Things Man Cannot Do

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus Christ.  He was the brother of Martha and Mary.  Jesus deeply loved all of them.  “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” (John 11:5).  John 11 begins with these words:  “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha” (v. 1).  This sickness would ultimately bring Lazarus’ death.  His death would be followed by a period of mourning.  Lastly, Jesus would turn mourning into joy.  He would bring Lazarus back from the dead.  From this event in the life Christ, we learn that there are some things that man cannot do.

            First, man cannot prevent death.  All men will eventually die.  Most are very familiar with Hebrews 9:27.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die…”  There are many things that man has done to prolong life.  Wellness programs bring longevity to life.  Modern medications cause men and woman to live longer.  Better treatments of diseases have caused mankind to live longer.  But, man has not been able to stay off death.  Man quits breathing.  The heart ceases to pump.  The brain is no longer active.  The eyes close.  The body turns cold.  Jesus told His disciples:  “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14).  There were none who were at the home of Martha and Mary who could stop this tragic end.  There are none who can stop it today.

            Second, man cannot always comprehend God.  Jesus was God on earth.  One of His names is Emmanuel, God with us (Matt.1:23).  Sometimes it is difficult for us to comprehend the teachings of the Christ.  In John 11:4, Jesus made this statement to His disciples when He learned of Lazarus’ sickness:  “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Did Jesus’ apostles comprehend the depth of this statement?  Most likely not.  Jesus also told the apostles:  “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may wake him out of sleep” (John 11:11).  They did not comprehend this statement either.  Their response proves it.  “Then said the disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well” (John 11:12).  The wisdom of God can often be difficult for man to comprehend.  Sometimes, we have built barriers in our minds that will not allow us to comprehend easily.  At other times, we just miss the simple truths of God’s Word.

            Man also has trouble comprehending the power of God.  When Jesus finally arrived at His friends’ home, Martha met him, and said:  “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21).  In response to her words, Jesus said:  “Thy brother shall rise again” (John 11:23).  Martha did not comprehend that it would be that very day.  “Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24).  Jesus then reminded her that He is “the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).  Martha had faith.  She believed Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (see v. 25).  However, she could not fully comprehend the power of Jesus to bring Lazarus out of the grave after having been in the tomb for four days.

            Third, man cannot raise the dead.  There are some faith (“fake”) healers who affirm they can raise the dead, but they cannot.  Not one of them could do what Jesus did for Lazarus.  Lazarus had been dead long enough that his body had started to decay.  When Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus, he said:  “Take ye away the stone” (John 11:39).  “Martha, the sister of him that was dead saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh:  for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39).  Jesus was not concerned.  He lifted up His eyes to the Father and prayed.  “And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43).  He only spoke three words.  He only had to say them once.  “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin” (John 11:44).  Not one man, regardless of his claims to be able to do so, could raise a man from the dead after four days at this time.  He could cry out for hours, but the dead would not stand again.

            Fourth, man cannot deny the miracle that Jesus performed.  All knew that Lazarus was dead.  His body had been prepared for burial.  The actual burial had taken place.  The stone was laid upon the door of the tomb.  Four days had passed since his demise.  Lazarus, however, now stood before them alive and well.  “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did believed on him.  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we?  for this man doeth many miracles” (John 11:45-47).  Did you hear those last words?  “This man doeth many miracles.”  Not even Jesus’ enemies could deny the miracles.  This deeply frustrated the Jews.  In fact, they even thought about killing Lazarus because of the impact his resurrection had on the faith of many of the Jews (See John 12:10-11).  No, Jesus miracles were real.  Man could not deny them.

            As we study the life of Christ, we are impressed with the fact that Jesus clothed Himself with flesh and lived among man as a man.  Yet, we are often reminded that He was much different than we are.  He was God in the flesh.  The things that man was not able to do, He could do. He raised Lazarus.  One day, He will raise all that are in the graves.  Jesus made this promise:  “Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29).  All of us need to be preparing to be part of the resurrection of life.