We will be spending each day in the month of July reading a portion of the book of John. Read the scripture text for the day and then share a comment about it in the comments section. We look forward to interacting with one another as we allow the Word of God to speak to us.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
“Loose him, and let him go.” He that was dead and now made alive, was still bound by the thing that labeled him. The Lord commanded those around him, to loose him. The miracle had taken place, but there was work to be done. Let us not get so caught up in the miracle, that we forget their is work to be done
35 Jesus wept.
When I first read this verse years ago I was under the assumption that he wept because his friend “whom he loved” does and he was sad, but reading this in the context of the whole passage of scripture I don’t think this is the case.
Yes he may have been sad that his friend died, but I can only image how heart wrenching it must have been to see all these people that saw and heard of so many other miracles not believe it when he said that Lazarus could be raised back to life, especially Mary and Martha!
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
These people who have seen Jesus do miracles and have experienced His power are now questioning His will. As Jesus then walked to the tomb the crowed murmured and questioned His timing. ‘If only’ ‘if He could do miracles for others why not the one He loved?’
We trust Gods plan when it goes the way we want it, but it challenges our faith to truth Him even more when His way in contrary to what we want to happen.
After Jesus cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,come forth scripture tells us
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin.
°Although he was alive he was still bound.
°There was no way Lazarus could unbind himself
° When Jesus told them to Loose him and let him go he was FREE
° We can not free ourselves it’s impossible
This also reminded me that what was dead, now LIVES again. There is hope for your dead situation.
Gods timing is always perfect. We often think we know when something needs to be done and if you wait til a certain point then it’s over and the moment has passed and you give up on that moment and think it’s not meant to be. Mary and Martha thought the same thing. If only you had been here sooner you could have saved my brother. Jesus knew the entire time what was gonna happen and when. Martha and Mary looked at it threw a human perspective and thought well he’s passed now so it’s over but hey we know where he’s going. Jesus allowed this to happen, He took His time getting there. Jesus was in no rush because He can see ahead we can’t. That’s where we have to trust Him and His timing. His timing is always perfect.
These scriptures are so full of insight and truth it’s hard pick one. Jesus was so much in this scenario revealing why He came. He was about his fathers business and yet fully human. What a great revelation that day!
When Jesus calls you out of the tomb he does a complete job. He told them to lose and set Lazarus free, it is not enough to come out. Now we must walk free!