The Word This Week
John 11:38…
In the most inglorious of settings, Jesus proves He has power over death and dying.
It is the seventh of the seven miracles recorded by John in his Gospel, designed entirely by John that we may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
It is often in the moments of our greatest despair when Jesus does His greatest work. This was certainly true for Martha and Mary, who were deeply grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. We do not know much about the family situation surrounding Martha and Mary and Lazarus, but we do know they loved each other and that they loved Jesus and Jesus loved them greatly.
Part of the depth of Martha and Mary’s despair was knowing if Jesus had been in Bethany when Lazarus came down with the sickness that caused his death, Jesus could have and would have healed Lazarus. While John’s Gospel only contains seven miracles of Jesus, John also reminds us later if all the miracles Jesus preformed were recorded all the libraries in the world could not contain them.
Jesus had been known to heal entire towns. Just imagine that! And this means He healed all who came to Him in faith on more than one occasion. People we suppose He didn’t even know. Lazarus was a man Jesus both knew and loved, so there is very little doubt had Jesus been there Lazarus would not have died. It was certainly the great expression of faith by both Martha and Mary.
But Jesus hadn’t been there. Not only that, Jesus had not immediately responded when Martha and Mary had sent for Him. By now, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. It is no longer possible for Jesus to heal Lazarus, and it is certain by now Lazarus is too far gone for any sort of miracle of Jesus to bring Lazarus back. In those days, people were much closer to death than we are. They were much less protected and separated from the realities of death. Everyone knew by now the cruelties of bodily decomposition had taken firm hold of Lazarus, and there was no way Jesus – even with His demonstrated power - could rescue Lazarus. This reality-based doubt based upon the apparent facts of this situation caused Jesus to groan in His spirit.
Jesus alone knew what He could do and would do now. Even now. Do you believe this?
Pastor Bill
In the most inglorious of settings, Jesus proves He has power over death and dying.
It is the seventh of the seven miracles recorded by John in his Gospel, designed entirely by John that we may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
It is often in the moments of our greatest despair when Jesus does His greatest work. This was certainly true for Martha and Mary, who were deeply grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. We do not know much about the family situation surrounding Martha and Mary and Lazarus, but we do know they loved each other and that they loved Jesus and Jesus loved them greatly.
Part of the depth of Martha and Mary’s despair was knowing if Jesus had been in Bethany when Lazarus came down with the sickness that caused his death, Jesus could have and would have healed Lazarus. While John’s Gospel only contains seven miracles of Jesus, John also reminds us later if all the miracles Jesus preformed were recorded all the libraries in the world could not contain them.
Jesus had been known to heal entire towns. Just imagine that! And this means He healed all who came to Him in faith on more than one occasion. People we suppose He didn’t even know. Lazarus was a man Jesus both knew and loved, so there is very little doubt had Jesus been there Lazarus would not have died. It was certainly the great expression of faith by both Martha and Mary.
But Jesus hadn’t been there. Not only that, Jesus had not immediately responded when Martha and Mary had sent for Him. By now, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. It is no longer possible for Jesus to heal Lazarus, and it is certain by now Lazarus is too far gone for any sort of miracle of Jesus to bring Lazarus back. In those days, people were much closer to death than we are. They were much less protected and separated from the realities of death. Everyone knew by now the cruelties of bodily decomposition had taken firm hold of Lazarus, and there was no way Jesus – even with His demonstrated power - could rescue Lazarus. This reality-based doubt based upon the apparent facts of this situation caused Jesus to groan in His spirit.
Jesus alone knew what He could do and would do now. Even now. Do you believe this?
Pastor Bill