Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?” (11:35-37) Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. (12:9-11)
We sometimes forget the humanity of Jesus and that He is not just 100% God but He is also 100% human; He feels love and He feels pain and sorrow. In these three chapters in John we see one of the greatest miracles that ever occurred in the ministry of Jesus; the raising of Lazarus from the dead. However, we also get a glimpse into the sovereignty of God in the life of a man. In chapter 10, Jesus intentionally delays after hearing the news of Lazarus’ illness in order to arrive after his death. Yes, Jesus could have easily gotten there in time and saved the day, keeping Lazarus from dying. Yet, the plan and of God was much greater than just preventing his death.
In chapter 11, we see a precious exchange between Jesus, Marth, and Mary. We also see Jesus standing before the tomb and calling a long-dead Lazarus back from Paradise to re-enter his dead body and walk from the tomb like a mummy, bound in grave clothes. This was no magicians trick, and there was no mistake—this man had obviously died and been buried for 4 days to now be completely healed and alive again. This was a turning point in the ministry of Jesus and a turning point for those who were following Him. People began rejecting the assertions of the Jewish leader and recognized that the Messiah had come. The miracle was so plain, and people were so swayed by the resurrection of Lazarus, that the Pharisees began plotting to kill him as well as Jesus.
Lazarus had gone from being a friend of Jesus to being a living witness that was greater than anyone else had ever been. It only took dying to get there. Many times we question where we are in life and the things we are going through, only to later realize that this was God’s plan all along to ensure even greater glory for Himself. Lazarus became a greater witness in death than he had ever been in his previous life. It cost him dearly to be the one used to sway the crowd, and apparently, it would continue to cost him as the high priest starts looking for a way to kill him. This is what we sign up for when we become one of God’s children. We sign up for His Lordship which means we volunteer to do whatever it takes to magnify Him. We hold nothing back and offer Him our very lives, if necessary, so that He is glorified and the gospel proclaimed. There is no price too high and no sacrifice too great to be sure the whole “world goes after Him.” (12:19)
