Bible story lazarus rising dead full#
Bible story lazarus rising dead trial#

If this Miracle be true, we instinctively feel all is true and Spinoza was right in saying, that if he could believe the raising of Lazarus, he would tear to shreds his system, and humbly accept the creed of Christians.īut is it true? We have reached a stage in this history when such a question, always most painful, might seem almost uncalled for. But now it would be one so well known as Lazarus, at the very gates of Jerusalem, in the sight of all men, and amidst surroundings which admitted not of mistake or doubt. He had, indeed, before this raised the dead but it had been in far-off Galilee, and in circumstances essentially different. But chiefly do we now think of it as the Miracle of Miracles in the history of the Christ.

Bible story lazarus rising dead full#

From this height, also, have we an outlook upon the gathering of the Church at His empty Tomb, where the precious words spoken at the grave of Lazarus received their full meaning - till Death shall be no more. And from this high point - not only from the resolution of the Sanhedrists, but from the raising of Lazarus - we have our first clear outlook on the Death and Resurrection of Christ, of which the raising of Lazarus was the typical prelude. Here, on this height, the two ways finally meet and part.

As regards Himself, we have here the fullest evidence alike of His Divinity and Humanity as regards those who witnessed it, the highest manifestation of faith and of unbelief. The raising of Lazarus marks the highest point (not in the Manifestation, but) in the ministry of our Lord it is the climax in a history where all is miraculous - the Person, the Life, the Words, the Work.

There is yet another and more solemn one. It now only remained to settle and carry out the plans for giving effect to their purpose. For, it was on that occasion that the members of the Sanhedrin formally resolved on His Death. It also forms the prelude and preparation for the awful events of the End. It will be remembered, that the visit to Bethany divides the period from the Feast of the Dedication to the last Paschal week into two parts. John xi.1-54.)įrom listening to the teaching of Christ, we turn once more to follow His working. Jesus speaks to the Church - parents, priests, catechists, all members of the Church - and gives this standing order regarding the souls he has raised to new life: “Untie them and let them go free.The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah - Alfred Edersheim (St. Christ raises us, but he has work for the Church to do: Untie those he has raised in baptism, and let them go free. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Untie him and let him go free.’” Notice something important here: Although Jesus raises Lazarus and gives him new life, Jesus also commands the bystanders to untie Lazarus and let him go free. You can skip right to the end of the Bible and see that Jesus wins there, too. “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands …” Its full force comes over him, and he weeps - so much so that the bystanders say, “See how much he loved him.” In his human heart, Jesus experiences the full force of the loss and the blow that death delivers. Coming upon the scene, Jesus is described as deeply moved, as perturbed, as weeping. And so before raising Lazarus and dispelling grief, Jesus checks the condition of Martha’s faith and elicits an act of faith: “Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe.” Our faith and our soul are more important to God than our bodies and creature comforts. Encountering Martha, Jesus inquires about her faith. Jesus is determined to go and help Lazarus even though he puts himself in great danger in doing so since they are plotting to kill Jesus in Judea. Note, too, how Jesus’ delay enables something even greater to take place. Somehow our waiting is tied to strengthening us and preparing us for something greater. This, of course, is paradoxical, because we expect love to make one rush to the aid of the afflicted. “So when Jesus heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.” Note that the text says Jesus delayed because he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.

Bible story lazarus rising dead trial#

But, if we are faithful, every trial is ultimately for our glory and the glory of God. The Lord permits these trials and difficulties for various reasons. Sometimes there are trials in our life, by God’s mysterious design, to bring us to greater things. The Gospel opens noting that a close friend of Jesus, Lazarus, is deathly ill. Let’s look at this Gospel in six stages and learn how the Lord acts to save us and raise us to new life.