John 11:39

New International Version

“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.”

For Meditation

Of course, it had been four days, and Jesus knew it; and indeed, all that Martha said was true. That, however, was not the point. The entire narrative was about the Man they called their friend and the purpose of Lazarus’s death (Jn. 11:17-44).

The Son of God had set His face towards Jerusalem (Mk. 10:32) as the Passover Lamb, and everything must line up as God had decreed them in the Godhead. The “I AM” sayings John recorded were intentional—to reveal Jesus as the Self-existent and Eternal God (Exod. 3:14), come in the flesh to save His people. Lazarus’s sickness presented another opportunity for Jesus to reveal His glory as God, who is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25). He, therefore, waited two days after the message got to Him (4-7). Jesus didn’t have to be there to heal Lazarus. He could have sent His word to heal his friend, but He didn’t. Why?

God has a higher purpose for many things that befall us we do not know about. We are, therefore, surprised by His seeming unresponsiveness in our suffering and ardent prayers. Job and thousands of saints teach the same lesson, including the Savior’s Gethsemane travail. Lazarus’ condition was no exception. His sickness was “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (v.4, 26). Perspective and attitude toward suffering are everything. The proper perspective about God in suffering could yield a dramatic transformation that brings joy and strength to endure through them.

Martha hesitantly meets the Lord and expresses her disappointment in His delayed arrival. Her brother is dead (21), but she believes the Master could ask the Father to keep Lazarus in eternal bliss until the resurrection. To her, that is the best Jesus could do for them (22-24). With that mindset, Jesus’s life-changing, life-altering divine statement, “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” (25) received no spiritual understanding from Martha. It got lost in her grief. Can you relate?

Mary also comes and lays the same charge at the Master’s feet. You are too late, Jesus (32). Is it not interesting how we charge the Lord with apathy, even while we prostrate in worship?

Tears flow all around, and sorrow fills the air at the graveyard (33), and it sickened the Lord and stirred anger in Him.

“Where have you put him?”

“Lord, come and see.”

The Master is human, just as His subjects are, and feels our pain and sorrow. He weeps, though He is going to raise Lazarus soon. The devastation of sin and the blindness of the people to His visitation moved Him in His humanity to weep.

“Take away the stone.”

A simple command by the Resurrection and the Life, but not that simple to Martha. She still does not get it. Nothing makes sense to her about Jesus anymore. Leaving Lazarus to die was enough pain for them. Why subject them to further anguish by exposing the horror of her brother’s decaying body and the terrible odor that would greet them?

Martha’s problem is our problem, too. When disappointment heightens our grief and pain, nothing anybody says makes sense to us anymore. We get stuck in our pain, which obscures the Lord’s voice. Many saints have taken offense to God’s simple command about their situation because it did not meet their expectations and timing. Talking about the effect of rains on crops, God says,

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:10-11).

Still angry, Jesus commands the dead man in a loud voice:

“Lazarus, come out!”

The voice that created the entire universe commands, and death gives way. Lazarus comes out with his grave clothes dangling over him. I can see Martha’s face at this point—amazement!

May the same amazement meet you this Easter to bring the spiritual revival God intends for you in Christ. Amen.

Pray with Me

Father, your ways are beyond ours, and your thoughts for us are too marvelous to comprehend. That is why we fall on your Spirit for wisdom and revelation that we may walk with you with faith. In Christ Jesus, we pray, amen.

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