Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
Thomas urged his fellow disciples to go with Jesus into Judea even if it meant dying with Him. They went because Jesus insisted on going to where Lazarus lay dead, though the disciples had tried to dissuade Him because the Jews there had lately sought to stone and kill Him. Thomas expected the journey would likely cost their lives, yet he rallied the others to go, while Jesus remained protected until His allotted time was ended. The two days' delay and the death itself were by design, to give undoubted proof of divine power and unite the disciples to Him in unbreakable faith by a crowning miracle that would convince all who could be convinced that He is the Saviour of the world. That raising of Lazarus became crowning evidence to the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God, leading many to believe while those who had repeatedly rejected light remained hardened.
Thomas's Words and Setting
Thomas spoke when Jesus had decided to go to Judea, calling upon his fellow disciples to go with Him even if it meant dying with Him. The journey into Judea carried great danger, for the Jews there of late had sought to stone Jesus and were determined to kill Him. The disciples had tried to dissuade Jesus from going and to prevent Him, but found it impossible to turn Him back. Thomas looked for death as the likely outcome of going, yet he rallied the others to accompany their Master.
No harm could in fact come to Jesus then, for He was still guarded by heavenly angels and His allotted time had not yet ended. At Thomas's call all twelve went with Jesus toward Bethany. That Bethany lay on the slope of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus often found rest at the house of Lazarus.
Miracle's Purpose and Witness
Jesus insisted on going to Judea because Lazarus was dead, and He was glad He had not been there, to the intent that the disciples might believe. The two days' delay was not from want of interest in the stricken family but by design, to make the death of Lazarus an occasion for undoubted proof of divine power. It was meant to unite the disciples to Him in a faith that could not be broken when some among them were questioning if they had been deceived and if He were really the Christ since He had not saved Lazarus whom He loved, by working a crowning miracle that would convince all who could by any means be convinced that He is the Saviour of the world.
Lazarus's death and Jesus' delayed arrival were part of God's plan. His death was permitted so that his resurrection would provide the Jews with a crowning evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. Christ knew that raising Lazarus would lead toward His own death, through which He would pay the ransom for humanity. The raising led many to believe in Jesus, while those who had repeatedly rejected light remained hardened and reported the miracle to His enemies.
Christ's character as Saviour and Lifegiver was demonstrated at Lazarus's grave. His bringing Lazarus back to life is convincing proof of His divinity and a work through which the Father was revealed. To Nicodemus it was an undeniable evidence of Jesus' Messiahship. To his sisters it brought unspeakable joy as evidence of Christ's power over death. That crowning miracle had a wonderful effect on people's minds and drew a large, enthusiastic multitude to see Jesus.
Christ raising the dead to life was just as certainly fulfilling His mission as the Pattern Man as when He toiled as a carpenter and hid His divine mission, as when He walked on the Sea of Galilee, and as when He died as man's sacrifice on the cross to lift the whole race to a new and perfect life. Lazarus had no experience or story to report from death, for the dead know nothing, and their love and hatred have perished. After being raised, he bore witness to Christ's divine power and urged the people not to put Christ to death. His return to life was temporary; he did not become immortal but remained subject to death and decay. Unlike Lazarus, those raised at Christ's resurrection received everlasting life.
Thomas urged his fellow disciples to go with Jesus into Judea even if it meant dying with Him. They went because Jesus insisted on going to where Lazarus lay dead, though the disciples had tried to dissuade Him because the Jews there had lately sought to stone and kill Him. Thomas expected the journey would likely cost their lives, yet he rallied the others to go, while Jesus remained protected until His allotted time was ended. The two days' delay and the death itself were by design, to give undoubted proof of divine power and unite the disciples to Him in unbreakable faith by a crowning miracle that would convince all who could be convinced that He is the Saviour of the world. That raising of Lazarus became crowning evidence to the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God, leading many to believe while those who had repeatedly rejected light remained hardened.
Thomas's Words and Setting
Thomas spoke when Jesus had decided to go to Judea, calling upon his fellow disciples to go with Him even if it meant dying with Him. The journey into Judea carried great danger, for the Jews there of late had sought to stone Jesus and were determined to kill Him. The disciples had tried to dissuade Jesus from going and to prevent Him, but found it impossible to turn Him back. Thomas looked for death as the likely outcome of going, yet he rallied the others to accompany their Master.
No harm could in fact come to Jesus then, for He was still guarded by heavenly angels and His allotted time had not yet ended. At Thomas's call all twelve went with Jesus toward Bethany. That Bethany lay on the slope of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus often found rest at the house of Lazarus.
Miracle's Purpose and Witness
Jesus insisted on going to Judea because Lazarus was dead, and He was glad He had not been there, to the intent that the disciples might believe. The two days' delay was not from want of interest in the stricken family but by design, to make the death of Lazarus an occasion for undoubted proof of divine power. It was meant to unite the disciples to Him in a faith that could not be broken when some among them were questioning if they had been deceived and if He were really the Christ since He had not saved Lazarus whom He loved, by working a crowning miracle that would convince all who could by any means be convinced that He is the Saviour of the world.
Lazarus's death and Jesus' delayed arrival were part of God's plan. His death was permitted so that his resurrection would provide the Jews with a crowning evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. Christ knew that raising Lazarus would lead toward His own death, through which He would pay the ransom for humanity. The raising led many to believe in Jesus, while those who had repeatedly rejected light remained hardened and reported the miracle to His enemies.
Christ's character as Saviour and Lifegiver was demonstrated at Lazarus's grave. His bringing Lazarus back to life is convincing proof of His divinity and a work through which the Father was revealed. To Nicodemus it was an undeniable evidence of Jesus' Messiahship. To his sisters it brought unspeakable joy as evidence of Christ's power over death. That crowning miracle had a wonderful effect on people's minds and drew a large, enthusiastic multitude to see Jesus.
Christ raising the dead to life was just as certainly fulfilling His mission as the Pattern Man as when He toiled as a carpenter and hid His divine mission, as when He walked on the Sea of Galilee, and as when He died as man's sacrifice on the cross to lift the whole race to a new and perfect life. Lazarus had no experience or story to report from death, for the dead know nothing, and their love and hatred have perished. After being raised, he bore witness to Christ's divine power and urged the people not to put Christ to death. His return to life was temporary; he did not become immortal but remained subject to death and decay. Unlike Lazarus, those raised at Christ's resurrection received everlasting life.