John 11: Lazarus, Come Out!

Scripture Reading: John 11:17-44 One of the most memorable of Jesus' miracles is His raising Lazarus from the dead. And the story includes one of Jesus' most magnificent declarations … "I am the resurrection and the life" (Jn 11:25). Certainly, this display of authority and power is meant to be an encouragement to believers, reminding them of their own resurrection one day. In addition to the idea of resurrection, the stunning promise of John 11:26 both takes our breath away and takes away our fear of death … "Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." Of course, Jesus is not saying that Christians will never die physically, but that they will never taste the reality of spiritual death, namely separation from God. Upon physical death, believers go from the present reality of life to the unimaginable reality of living in the very presence of God. The emotions of Jesus are on display in this account. Not only do we read about Jesus weeping (Jn 11:35), but also of a deep indignation within the heart of Jesus. Twice we read of Jesus being "deeply moved" (Jn 11:33,38). The meaning of the verb probably implies anger and indignation. The old Princeton theologian, B. B. Warfield, said it this way: "It is death that is the object of his wrath, and behind death him who has the power of death, and who has come into the world to destroy. His soul is held by rage: and he advances to the tomb in Calvin's words 'as a champion who prepares for conflict'" (Warfield, The Person and Work of Christ, 117). Christ defeats the enemy death, and we are freed, forever, from fearing this destructive foe. Let our joy be full and our courage unshakable.