What do we do about Lazarus? John 11:1-44, 12:1-11 (John 11:17-48)
3 weeks ago, I was asked to lead a small funeral service for John Ward. Some of you would remember him when he came to church. His body lay here in a coffin and by that point he had already passed over a week and a half before. While we read passages like this and are reminded of the power of Jesus, it seemed absurd to me to pray for John to be raised up out of a coffin. In fact, I believe to do so, it would have been very much out of place. I have heard of people who have prayed for somebody who had newly departed, to be raised up to life, only to be both embarrassed and disappointed as to the outcome of their efforts. No-one was raised.
So, what do we do about Lazarus and this story of his resurrection after 4 days in the tomb? We are told that it was a cave and a stone was rolled against the entrance (John 11:38). Fiona and I have been to this site in Bethany. To get there, you have to descend down a couple of flights of stone stairs; the modern city was built over ancient ruins.
Lazarus had 2 sisters – You may remember Mary and Martha from the dialogue that occurred between Martha and Jesus. Mary was listening to the words of Jesus rather than helping Martha with the food prep for guests about to arrive.
Here we see it is Martha who confronted the Lord with the words, “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." Lazarus her brother was still dead at this point then Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life…." (John 11:21-27)
This is bold faith. Even in the midst of despair, she believed, regardless of the situation and the outcome. Is this our disposition this morning, regardless of what we are thrown in life? But my brother Lazarus is dead. What do you do? By faith, you believe. Why? Because it’s the truth.
Then Jesus said the absurd, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days."
The right response. Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "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." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 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." Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.” (John 11:40-45)
The name Lazarus is the Greek form of Eleazar: God is my Help. (Dods). God has more than helped; he has healed from death. Lazarus came out still wrapped in linen burial cloths. What do you do with Lazarus? You believe in Jesus. He has just raised a man who was dead for days. Lazarus is standing in front of you. Many Jews believed in Jesus as a result.
But then this. “So, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (John 12:47, 48)
Wait! What? Rather, than be overwhelmed at the goodness of God, you want to kill the giver of life, the One who is clearly who He said He was “the Resurrection and the Life.”
With such a disposition, what do you do with Lazarus? The answer is found in the next chapter. “When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus”. (John 12:9-11)
It seems the thing you do is get rid of the evidence. Kill Lazarus. Put him in the tomb again!
We need to ask, what causes such a hatred and a hardness to Christ? The answer is the desire for self, rather than the desire for truth.
Many believed in Jesus, because they saw the incredible miracle. These people are like Thomas who needed to see the Risen Christ; otherwise, he would not believe.
But what should we do? The answer is found in Martha. She believed regardless of what happened to Lazarus. Is this you this morning? Do you believe regardless of your health? Do you trust in Christ your ultimate healer? Do you believe in Jesus regardless of your finances, because He is your provider? Do you believe in Christ regardless of strained relationships, because He is closer to you than a brother. He is your Saviour and therefore, your eternal husband. There is no greater identity than that.
The miracle was undeniable, but the heart of unbelief is remarkable. We can be the same way. The true miracle of grace was evident not only in Martha, but her sister Mary and Lazarus. Imagine the testimony he had after being dead for so long.
Jesus said to Martha that He was the resurrection and the life. Jesus asked her, “Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
When John Ward was lying here a couple of weeks ago, it certainly would have been a miracle, if like Lazarus he was commanded to come out alive. Unlike Lazarus, John died post-cross and the resurrection of Jesus. John was ushered into the presence of Jesus. He was home.
This life will one day be over and we will be raised with bodies that endure and last into eternity, just like our Lord Jesus. So, what are you living for?
Straight after these events (after 6 days) Jesus went back to Bethany. It was about to be the Passover in Jerusalem, and Lazarus’ sister anointed him with very expensive oil. Jesus said that she was preparing His body for burial. The One who had raised Lazarus a week earlier, was about to go into the tomb. Think about that. Jesus entered Jerusalem the next day: the Triumphal entry as we know it.
The crowd were still amazed by what happened to Lazarus. “The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So, the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him." (John 12:17-19)
Jesus said these words to the crowd. "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.” (John 12:23-26)
Challenge. Lose your life now to this world and follow Christ, that you may live with Him in the next, with eternal life.