38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 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.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 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.” [1]
John 11:38-44 is the story of the greatest sign that Jesus performed on earth. It is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave.
This passage of the resurrection of Lazarus clearly fits the theme of the Lordship of Jesus.[2] This theme is sprinkled throughout the Gospel of John. No man could raise a dead man. John records this as the seventh sign, which shows the perfection and indicates that this is the greatest sign that He does on earth. Only God could raise a man from that dead. God has the authority over life and death. Jesus shows that here, He is – truly – the author of life.
The resurrection of Lazarus come in the middle of the narrative of his story in the Gospel of John. This passage, being the high point of that story. This is also what gets Jesus crucified. We see that in the next passage in John, the Jews seek to kill Jesus. More than just seek, it seems that here they set their minds to doing so.[3]
Earlier in the Gospel we see Jesus say this, “28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” [4] Jesus was predicting – or prophesizing – this very moment. Jesus would call out to Lazarus, but He will also call out to all who believe on the day of Judgement.[5]
One thing that a reader might miss is the first century burial practices. As far as we are removed from this culture – both chronologically and geographically – the practical understanding of burial can get lost today. First tombs were carved out of rock, usually in a cliff. They would be owned by a family and have multiple places for deceased family members. The dead would be wrapped in linen and placed in the tombs for a year. Then family members would go back to gather the bones to put in a box.[6]
Jesus calls out to Martha to move the stone away from the tomb. She gives the 2nd[7] best one liner in all of the KJV, “Lord, by this time he stinketh:”[8] They go back and forth, then Jesus prays out loud… again. This implies that He had already prayed for Lazarus.[9] The in the climax of the story, Jesus – with a loud voice – commands Lazarus to come out. Though it is not John’s point, it has often been remarked that the authority of Jesus is so great that, had he not specified Lazarus, all the tombs would have given up their dead to resurrection life.[10]
Right before this story Jesus just finished saying how He is the resurrection of the life. He concretely shows this to be true in this story.[11]
This would have been comforting for John’s audience in Ephesus, to know that when Jesus says something, He doesn’t just sit idly by, but will come through on all the claims He makes.
The theological implications of this passage cannot be stressed enough. Although this passage seemingly stresses it all by itself. We see in Jesus’ prayer that He doesn’t do anything without the Father.[12] We also clearly see the divinity of Jesus in raising a man who had been dead for four days. But we also see a very clear picture of a beautiful reformed doctrine. We see the doctrine of irresistible grace.
The picture is of a man dead who cannot save himself yet God - by His good pleasure - gives life back to that man.
Here we see this in the physical, but for all who are believers, this happens spiritually as well.
When reading this passage, it is nearly impossible to resist comparing this story with another resurrection story to come in the Gospel of John. To answer the question, “how does this point to Jesus?” It points to Him because in a few short days, Jesus would be in the same state as Lazarus. Jesus would be dead. With seemingly no hope of life. It looked like the end of the story. I am certain some of the disciples though if only someone would have come sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. Yet, like this story, Christ raises from the dead, bringing newness of life with Him.
What we must learn from this passage is God works all things for His glory.
Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus because He felt bad for him or his sisters. He did it for His own glory. And what He does for His glory is the greatest thing for us as well.
As much as death can hurt, what God has planned far out ways the temporary pain of today. What we learn is that God is sovereign, and the strife we find today will be nothing – no matter how difficult – 10,000 years from now.
Bibliography:
Burge, Gary M. John: the NIV Application Commentary: from Biblical Text ... to Contemporary Life. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 2000), 324.
D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 417.
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: John 1-11. (Chicago: Moody Press, 2006), 470.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 150.
Tasker, R. V. G. The Gospel According to St. John, an Introd. and Commentary. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), 138.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 11:38–44.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 11:39.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 11:38–44. [2] Burge, Gary M. John: the NIV Application Commentary: from Biblical Text ... to Contemporary Life. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 2000), 324. [3] Tasker, R. V. G. The Gospel According to St. John, an Introd. and Commentary. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), 138. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 5:28–29. [5] MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: John 1-11. (Chicago: Moody Press, 2006), 470. [6] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 150. [7] 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? Numbers 22:21-38 [8] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 11:39. [9] D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 417. [10] D. A. Carson, 418. [11] Burge, Gary M., 323 [12] D. A. Carson, 418.
