Lazarus, Come Forth!

“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:38, 44).

We have before us, one of our Lord’ best miracle. A miracle that proves him to be God Himself. Verily, the story of Lazarus’ death is known to many Christians, even those who are not Christian. They know there was a man from Bethany who was brought back to life. To deny such an act, is to be foolish; given the facts that surround the event.

We are told at the beginning of the chapter (eleventh) that our Lord had known this family. He was acquainted with them (Mary, Martha, and Lazarus), he was their friend; and greatly loved Lazarus: ‘Jesus Wept.’ That he wept, we are shown how Christ’s heart was set upon Lazarus and his two sisters.

Our man Lazarus was ailing, and our Lord was not there at the time. Someone was sent by Lazarus’ sisters to inform the Lord Jesus Christ that Lazarus was very sick (John 11:6). Let him come and visit him.

Our Lord did not go immediately to see Lazarus, even though he greatly loved them (Jn. 11:5). Was it because he did not care, as some ignorant fellows imply? By no means! Our Lord Jesus Christ knew what he was doing, for he extended his stay where he was by two days. But observe; later on, he said to his disciples: Let us go to Judea again. He had been there a couple of times.

The disciples were hesitant to return to Judea, for fear the Jews were seeking to stone their master. Our Lord nonetheless sought to return, after discoursing with them some things (Jn. 11:8, 10). Our Lord Jesus Christ knew at this time; our man Lazarus to have been already dead. If dead, then, why go there? “To awaken him.” Here we learn, for one thing, death to our Lord is but a sleep. He awakens those that have died as if they were sleeping. But the disciples did not get the full meaning of our Lord’s words. Because of this misunderstanding; he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Ah! Let us pay close attention to the progress of this chapter, beloved Christian. Our Lord goes to Bethany which was near Jerusalem, about two miles off. He comes and Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she immediately went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. It must have consoled Martha to hear Christ had come, but; did she believe that Christ was able to raise Lazarus from the dead? Thus Martha sayeth to Jesus:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (vv. 21, 22).

To these words our Lord replied:

“Your brother will rise again.”

Christ knows what he has come to do. But Martha is of a different idea. For she sayeth unto Christ (as a reply):

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Martha knows that indeed those who have died in Christ, will inevitably rise at the last trumpet. But Jesus sayeth unto her:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (vv. 25, 26).

Very well, then. Jesus Christ would want the world to know: He is the resurrection and the life. We are told that our Lord was ‘deeply moved’ in his spirit when he saw the other sister Mary weeping. And that he was greatly troubled. Because of this; Jesus asked them, where have you laid him (Lazarus)? They went and showed him the tomb where he was. And behold; here, John records the shortest sentence ever: Jesus wept. This weeping could not have gone without notice, that the Jews standing there exclaimed; “See how he loved him!” But some of them, the ignorant Jews said; “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” Only a proud heart can ask such a question.

It is here, then, we focus our attention. We read that Jesus was deeply moved again, when he came to the tomb (a cave). Jesus commanded the stone which was put at the entrance to be rolled away. He might as well have said a word, but he did not take responsibility from man; therefore, says he; “Take away the stone.”

Martha immediately comes and tells the Lord, by this time; it must needs be: the body to be rot and stinking. But Christ erases Martha’s unbelief by reminding her of his prior words: Believe in me, Martha, only believe! And ye shall live. So they rolled the stone away, and mind you: remember this was during the day, in front of all to see. Both Christ’s followers, and his opposers. Christ had nothing to hide.

Jesus Christ offers praise to his Father. “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.” Here, we learn a heavenly truth. Jesus Christ and God the Father, behold; are One. Same in essence, different in Persons. Let those that hear him offer this prayer of praise: know that he is sent by the Father. And that the Father always hears him. The Jews who deny Christ as the Messiah, let them pay close attention here; and therein shall know this is the Christ who was spoken about by the prophets.

Immediately our Lord finished offering his thanksgiving unto the Father: we read he cried out with a loud voice. And what did he cry out? Lazarus, come forth! Our Lord could have only whispered; but for the sake of those who were standing there, especially those that doubted his deity; it was fit they hear clearly. There was no magic here, but reality brought face to face with a watching world.

Behold! The man (Lazarus!) who was dead came out immediately. His hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. The way of burial in the ancient world was really interesting. The burial garments were made of expensive Egyptian white linen. The face was bound with a scaff . The rest of the body was laid on a sheet of linen wide enough to wrap around the body and long enough to fold over the head and down to the feet.

It is obvious this miracle left many mouths opened. Many minds puzzled. This, our Lord did not do to gain popularity; rather that many would believe in Him as sent from the Father. And verily, John records; ‘Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done’ (vv. 45, 46).

So we see here how the Word of God does soften some men, and for others, does harden them. The same fire does melt the wax, and harden the clay. Our Lord; we are told, sayeth to those who saw Lazarus come to life: ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’ Again, our Lord could have commanded the garments to fall off. But to satisfy the minds of those who doubted; let them unbind him whom they buried four days earlier, and thereby confirm it is really Lazarus. Let them touch his bones and flesh. Let them touch his nose, ears, hands, like Thomas, they will believe if they only touch a resurrected man. Our Lord had nothing to hide.

Therefore, let us learn here; that Jesus is really God. Our Lord provided evidence of his divinity. Who can rise men from their death, but God? He only used words. It was a easy matter for him, for; he is life himself. Those that place their trust in Him, behold; shall surely rise at the last trumpet. Let the Christian rejoice at this thought!

We learn, Christ’s compassionate heart set upon his people. That he wept, him being God as well as Man, shows us that he does bear our pains. He does feel them. Having being tempted himself, he does feel our condition. That’s why he says: ‘Come to me all you who are weak and heavy laden…” (Matt. 11:28). Let us, like Martha, come and meet Jesus. Only but come!

We learn also, Christ will not turn our requests away. We read a message concerning his friend Lazarus, that he was ailing; he was sent for, but did not go immediately. Let us not be discouraged when our requests are not met immediately. His not answering is an answer in itself, yea, for our own good. When we pray, we know he hears. Though there be delays, yea, it is not denials. Christ did attend to the request of Martha and Mary, at his own best timing. His ways are not our ways. We need only to believe, ‘he hears us!’

Lastly, we learn thus; Lazarus did not speak of his condition when he was dead. He did not bring those ‘super-experiences.’ Have you ever heard, or even read of stories of men visiting heaven and hell? That they died and Christ took them on a tour betwixt the two worlds? Verily we have! Let us beware of such mouthings! Lazarus and the apostle Paul have much to teach on the matter. Christ standing at Lazarus’ tomb could have cried “Come forth!” But he placed Lazarus’ name before “Come forth”, lest all those tombs opened up and surrendered their dead.

Let us be watchful of those who are said to have died, then after some time; behold, come with all lies concering what they saw. To confirm these narratives are man-made; one only needs to compare the stories, and thereby a logical mind will find contradictions. So, then, the heaven visits; let us count them as nothing but mouthings filled with lies. For it is written, it is appointed once a man is dead, after that; cometh judgement.

It is the wisdom of God why he did not let Paul, or Lazarus speak of those higher experiences. We have therefore no warranty whatsoever to put words on Lazarus’ mouth of what he saw. We are only told he was dead, and was brought back to life, yea, to the glory of God alone. We would do well to close our lips where God has not spoken.

May we hear Christ’s voice saying: Come forth from your sins; for, I am life and the resurrection.