Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Jesus spoke these words to Martha at the grave of Lazarus to remind her that if she trusted His word she would witness God's saving power displayed. Though Lazarus had lain four days in decay, human reasoning and fear were to give way to obedient faith that removed the stone and left the impossible to the Omnipotent One. When human hands had done all they could, Christ's word called the dead man back to life and health, revealing His majesty as Son of God, Saviour and Lifegiver. That crowning miracle, done in daylight before many witnesses, was decisive proof that convinced honest minds yet only hardened those who had already rejected light. Christ still requires His followers to act in faith and remove the stone of unbelief so that His power can bring the spiritually dead to life.
Setting at Lazarus's Tomb
Jesus spoke these words to Martha at the grave of Lazarus of Bethany, gently reminding her of a promise her faith had not yet fully grasped. Belief in him and in his word would open her eyes to see the glory of God, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead would reveal that glory and display Christ's power over death and his saving power. Trust in God was to remain firm even when the answer seemed delayed.
Martha doubted because Lazarus had been dead four days and his body was decomposing and had begun to decay and see corruption. The glory promised to belief was to be seen in Christ raising such a one after four days in the grave.
He called her to trust his power and obey his command to remove the stone rather than reason against it. Objections and fear made the mourners doubt, yet they were to act in faith by removing the stone and doing what he required before he performed his work. She was to trust him rather than dwell on the past and draw strength from God's promises.
Lazarus belonged to the beloved family at Bethany where Jesus had often rested at his house. He was among the most steadfast of Christ's disciples, strong in faith from their first meeting and deep in love for him, and greatly beloved by the Saviour, whose heart was knit by a strong bond of affection to the family at Bethany and by peculiarly tender associations, though he loves all the human family and blesses all who seek his help. At the grave Jesus wept in sympathy and gave Mary and Martha their buried brother back, showing he is touched by the grief of the bereaved and ready to help those who trust in him.
Once human hands had done all they could by rolling away the stone, Jesus by his word called the decaying man back to life and to life and health, demonstrating his power to raise the dead. The restored Lazarus lived on alive and strong and continued as a witness to the miracle. He joined the crowd escorting Jesus to Jerusalem, and the miracle drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to see Jesus.
Faith Sees God's Glory
If a person will believe in Christ and in his word, that person will see the glory of God as his saving power and salvation and as divine power displayed in raising Lazarus from the dead. The assurance was given to Martha at the grave that faith would let her witness God's salvation and power over death, and the return to life of one dead four days and already decaying, as the stone was removed, revealed that glory. That glory was a demonstration of divine power giving unquestionable proof that Jesus is the Son of God, enough to convince any mind under the control of reason and enlightened conscience, done in the full light of day before a crowd of witnesses so that no trick or excuse could explain it away. Those who had rejected all lesser evidence were only enraged by it, and their hatred against Jesus grew deadlier until they watched for every chance to destroy him and were murderers in heart.
Natural impossibilities cannot prevent the work of the Omnipotent One, for Martha's faith had not grasped the meaning of the promise and she doubted because the body had begun to decay, yet she was gently reminded that belief rather than reasoning against his command would let her witness his power. Implicit trust in Christ's word without reasoning is true humility and self-surrender, while unbelief leaves believers spiritually weak. Faith in Christ is answered by seeing God's glory, as Christ raised Lazarus to bring his sisters unspeakable joy and to demonstrate his power to do more than people could ask or imagine.
Trust in God must remain firm when the answer is delayed, persisting in prayer with confidence that belief enables people to see his glory. Trouble and suffering are not reasons to doubt being God's children or to lose faith, and greater faith brings a clearer sight of his glory. The promise also belongs to faith in the risen, living Jesus who lives to make intercession for his people, for because he lives believers may hope to live also. This hope holds the soul securely and firmly like an anchor and keeps it from despair.
Proof of Christ's Divinity
The raising of Lazarus was the greatest and most wonderful of the miracles, the last and crowning miracle, revealing God's majesty, power and truth. The glory promised to belief was the display of divine power in that raising, giving decisive, wonderful, unquestionable proof that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour and Lifegiver, and the Messiah. God's plan allowed Lazarus to die and be buried before Jesus arrived, so that faith would see that glory in the resurrection.
That glory was seen after four days in the grave, as a testimony to the mighty power of Jesus of Nazareth, with no greater evidence that could have been given. It was done in the full light of day before a crowd of witnesses, so that no trick or excuse could explain it away.
It was enough to convince any mind guided by reason and an enlightened conscience, wonderful enough to banish all prejudice even in the most unbelieving. It led many to believe in Jesus and glorify God, and led rulers already convinced of the Saviour's divinity to believe in Him and confess Him. Lazarus's living presence itself became the testimony that Christ is the Son of God, not a report of after-death experiences.
Those who had repeatedly rejected light and all lesser evidence remained hardened in unbelief despite this overwhelming evidence. The Pharisees, priests, rulers and Jewish leaders met it with bitterest opposition in stubbornness, self-exaltation and proud boasting, and would not humble themselves to confess they were in error. They were only enraged by it, were maddened because they could not refute what had been done, and their hatred against Jesus grew deadlier until they watched for every chance to destroy Him and were murderers in heart, seeking to turn the people against the truth and growing more determined to kill Him. The miracle thus shows that further signs do not persuade those who refuse the light already given in God's Word.
Resurrection and Christ's Mission
Christ's raising of the dead during His ministry included Lazarus together with the son of the widow of Nain and Jairus's daughter, and these raisings showed His power as Lifegiver. In bringing back a man who had been dead long enough for his body to decay, He gave convincing proof of His divinity and revealed the Father through His works.
Lazarus's return to life was not immortality and not to everlasting life, for he was not clothed with immortality but remained subject to death and decay. This stands in contrast to the saints raised at Christ's own resurrection, who were raised to everlasting life never more to see death or sorrow.
As His word called Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead four days, so when He returns His voice will call the dead in Christ from their tombs to glorious, immortal life. Then they will be with the Lord forever, which shows His power to give life.
The raising was permitted to become the final and crowning evidence to the Jews that Jesus was the Son of God. Christ knew that restoring Lazarus to life would lead to His own death on the cross, where He would pay the ransom for humanity.
Raising the dead to life was Jesus fulfilling His mission as the Pattern Man just as certainly as toiling for wages as a carpenter at Nazareth while hiding His divine mission. It was the same fulfillment as walking on the white-capped waves of the Sea of Galilee and as dying as man's sacrifice on the cross to lift the whole race to a new and perfect life.
Cooperation and Present Application
Christ required human hands to roll away the stone from Lazarus's tomb and afterward to unbind Lazarus, even though His own divine power could have done both without them. Objections and fear made the mourners hesitate to act, yet He called them to obey in faith by removing the stone despite the decay. Only after they did what He required did He perform the work they could not do by raising the dead, showing that practical obedience and faith prepare the way for His work to be seen.
He still works in the same way through human faith and action to bring those who are spiritually dead to life. His followers must remove the stone of unbelief and cooperate with Him so that the spiritually dead can hear His life-giving word, while unbelief and resistance can hinder that work. In Switzerland He stood ready to make the spiritually dead alive, but doubts and jealousies and the desire to have their own way blocked His working until they removed the stone of unbelief from their hearts.
If a suffering sick person will believe, she will see the glory of God as God's salvation in bodily healing. Jesus as the Mighty Healer will take her case in hand and do wonderful things beyond asking when she comes to Him as a helpless suffering child and reaches out the hand of faith. She must draw nigh to God, unite with others in special seasons of persevering prayer, and keep the soul in perpetual communion with God. Grasping the promise and the God whose word is pledged with full assurance, she may trust that bodily and mental vigor He can and will bestow in accordance with His promise for Christ's sake.
Jesus spoke these words to Martha at the grave of Lazarus to remind her that if she trusted His word she would witness God's saving power displayed. Though Lazarus had lain four days in decay, human reasoning and fear were to give way to obedient faith that removed the stone and left the impossible to the Omnipotent One. When human hands had done all they could, Christ's word called the dead man back to life and health, revealing His majesty as Son of God, Saviour and Lifegiver. That crowning miracle, done in daylight before many witnesses, was decisive proof that convinced honest minds yet only hardened those who had already rejected light. Christ still requires His followers to act in faith and remove the stone of unbelief so that His power can bring the spiritually dead to life.
Setting at Lazarus's Tomb
Jesus spoke these words to Martha at the grave of Lazarus of Bethany, gently reminding her of a promise her faith had not yet fully grasped. Belief in him and in his word would open her eyes to see the glory of God, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead would reveal that glory and display Christ's power over death and his saving power. Trust in God was to remain firm even when the answer seemed delayed.
Martha doubted because Lazarus had been dead four days and his body was decomposing and had begun to decay and see corruption. The glory promised to belief was to be seen in Christ raising such a one after four days in the grave.
He called her to trust his power and obey his command to remove the stone rather than reason against it. Objections and fear made the mourners doubt, yet they were to act in faith by removing the stone and doing what he required before he performed his work. She was to trust him rather than dwell on the past and draw strength from God's promises.
Lazarus belonged to the beloved family at Bethany where Jesus had often rested at his house. He was among the most steadfast of Christ's disciples, strong in faith from their first meeting and deep in love for him, and greatly beloved by the Saviour, whose heart was knit by a strong bond of affection to the family at Bethany and by peculiarly tender associations, though he loves all the human family and blesses all who seek his help. At the grave Jesus wept in sympathy and gave Mary and Martha their buried brother back, showing he is touched by the grief of the bereaved and ready to help those who trust in him.
Once human hands had done all they could by rolling away the stone, Jesus by his word called the decaying man back to life and to life and health, demonstrating his power to raise the dead. The restored Lazarus lived on alive and strong and continued as a witness to the miracle. He joined the crowd escorting Jesus to Jerusalem, and the miracle drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to see Jesus.
Faith Sees God's Glory
If a person will believe in Christ and in his word, that person will see the glory of God as his saving power and salvation and as divine power displayed in raising Lazarus from the dead. The assurance was given to Martha at the grave that faith would let her witness God's salvation and power over death, and the return to life of one dead four days and already decaying, as the stone was removed, revealed that glory. That glory was a demonstration of divine power giving unquestionable proof that Jesus is the Son of God, enough to convince any mind under the control of reason and enlightened conscience, done in the full light of day before a crowd of witnesses so that no trick or excuse could explain it away. Those who had rejected all lesser evidence were only enraged by it, and their hatred against Jesus grew deadlier until they watched for every chance to destroy him and were murderers in heart.
Natural impossibilities cannot prevent the work of the Omnipotent One, for Martha's faith had not grasped the meaning of the promise and she doubted because the body had begun to decay, yet she was gently reminded that belief rather than reasoning against his command would let her witness his power. Implicit trust in Christ's word without reasoning is true humility and self-surrender, while unbelief leaves believers spiritually weak. Faith in Christ is answered by seeing God's glory, as Christ raised Lazarus to bring his sisters unspeakable joy and to demonstrate his power to do more than people could ask or imagine.
Trust in God must remain firm when the answer is delayed, persisting in prayer with confidence that belief enables people to see his glory. Trouble and suffering are not reasons to doubt being God's children or to lose faith, and greater faith brings a clearer sight of his glory. The promise also belongs to faith in the risen, living Jesus who lives to make intercession for his people, for because he lives believers may hope to live also. This hope holds the soul securely and firmly like an anchor and keeps it from despair.
Proof of Christ's Divinity
The raising of Lazarus was the greatest and most wonderful of the miracles, the last and crowning miracle, revealing God's majesty, power and truth. The glory promised to belief was the display of divine power in that raising, giving decisive, wonderful, unquestionable proof that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour and Lifegiver, and the Messiah. God's plan allowed Lazarus to die and be buried before Jesus arrived, so that faith would see that glory in the resurrection.
That glory was seen after four days in the grave, as a testimony to the mighty power of Jesus of Nazareth, with no greater evidence that could have been given. It was done in the full light of day before a crowd of witnesses, so that no trick or excuse could explain it away.
It was enough to convince any mind guided by reason and an enlightened conscience, wonderful enough to banish all prejudice even in the most unbelieving. It led many to believe in Jesus and glorify God, and led rulers already convinced of the Saviour's divinity to believe in Him and confess Him. Lazarus's living presence itself became the testimony that Christ is the Son of God, not a report of after-death experiences.
Those who had repeatedly rejected light and all lesser evidence remained hardened in unbelief despite this overwhelming evidence. The Pharisees, priests, rulers and Jewish leaders met it with bitterest opposition in stubbornness, self-exaltation and proud boasting, and would not humble themselves to confess they were in error. They were only enraged by it, were maddened because they could not refute what had been done, and their hatred against Jesus grew deadlier until they watched for every chance to destroy Him and were murderers in heart, seeking to turn the people against the truth and growing more determined to kill Him. The miracle thus shows that further signs do not persuade those who refuse the light already given in God's Word.
Resurrection and Christ's Mission
Christ's raising of the dead during His ministry included Lazarus together with the son of the widow of Nain and Jairus's daughter, and these raisings showed His power as Lifegiver. In bringing back a man who had been dead long enough for his body to decay, He gave convincing proof of His divinity and revealed the Father through His works.
Lazarus's return to life was not immortality and not to everlasting life, for he was not clothed with immortality but remained subject to death and decay. This stands in contrast to the saints raised at Christ's own resurrection, who were raised to everlasting life never more to see death or sorrow.
As His word called Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead four days, so when He returns His voice will call the dead in Christ from their tombs to glorious, immortal life. Then they will be with the Lord forever, which shows His power to give life.
The raising was permitted to become the final and crowning evidence to the Jews that Jesus was the Son of God. Christ knew that restoring Lazarus to life would lead to His own death on the cross, where He would pay the ransom for humanity.
Raising the dead to life was Jesus fulfilling His mission as the Pattern Man just as certainly as toiling for wages as a carpenter at Nazareth while hiding His divine mission. It was the same fulfillment as walking on the white-capped waves of the Sea of Galilee and as dying as man's sacrifice on the cross to lift the whole race to a new and perfect life.
Cooperation and Present Application
Christ required human hands to roll away the stone from Lazarus's tomb and afterward to unbind Lazarus, even though His own divine power could have done both without them. Objections and fear made the mourners hesitate to act, yet He called them to obey in faith by removing the stone despite the decay. Only after they did what He required did He perform the work they could not do by raising the dead, showing that practical obedience and faith prepare the way for His work to be seen.
He still works in the same way through human faith and action to bring those who are spiritually dead to life. His followers must remove the stone of unbelief and cooperate with Him so that the spiritually dead can hear His life-giving word, while unbelief and resistance can hinder that work. In Switzerland He stood ready to make the spiritually dead alive, but doubts and jealousies and the desire to have their own way blocked His working until they removed the stone of unbelief from their hearts.
If a suffering sick person will believe, she will see the glory of God as God's salvation in bodily healing. Jesus as the Mighty Healer will take her case in hand and do wonderful things beyond asking when she comes to Him as a helpless suffering child and reaches out the hand of faith. She must draw nigh to God, unite with others in special seasons of persevering prayer, and keep the soul in perpetual communion with God. Grasping the promise and the God whose word is pledged with full assurance, she may trust that bodily and mental vigor He can and will bestow in accordance with His promise for Christ's sake.