Jesus received news from Mary and Martha, who lived in a village in Judea called Bethany, that Lazarus was sick.
“Lord, the one You love is sick.”
Upon hearing this, Jesus said,
“This sickness will not end in death,
but is for the glory of God,
so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
(John 11:4)
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus,
yet He did not go immediately to them.
After two days, He said to His disciples,
“Let us go back to Judea.”
The disciples responded, remembering that just recently people in that area had tried to stone Jesus,
“But Rabbi, a short while ago
the Jews there tried to stone You,
and yet You are going back?”
To this, Jesus answered,
“Are there not twelve hours of daylight?
Anyone who walks in the daytime
will not stumble,
for they see by this world’s light.
It is when a person walks at night
that they stumble,
for they have no light.”
He continued,
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep;
but I am going there to wake him up.”
(John 11:9-11)
The disciples did not understand that Jesus was speaking of his death, and thought that He meant Lazarus was simply resting.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany,
Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
Martha and Mary both said that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died.
In response, Jesus said,
“Your brother will rise again.”
Then, He added,
“I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in Me will live,
even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in Me
will never die.
Do you believe this?”
(John 11:23, 25-26)
When Jesus saw
Mary and the others weeping at the tomb,
He was deeply moved and wept.
Jesus then went to the tomb and instructed them to take away the stone.
He prayed to God, explaining that He was doing this so that they would believe that He was sent by God.
Then, with a loud voice, He called,
“Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, came out of the tomb, alive.
The name "Lazarus" is derived from the Hebrew name "Eleazar" (אֶלְעָזָר), which means
"God has helped" or "God's help."
True to his name,
Lazarus received new life, not by any merit of his own, but purely through the love and grace of Jesus. He stands as a symbol of those who receive resurrection life through God's unconditional grace.
2024.12.28