For This Cause

The Raising of Lazarus

We recall that a favorite stopping-off place of our Lord was in the town of Bethany, about two miles east of Jerusalem, just beyond the Mount of Olives. Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As he walked the road to Bethany, we could imagine it would be with keen anticipation, for the home of his friends was an oasis of warmth and hospitality. It was here that Jesus often came for rest and fellowship. On one occasion, as Jesus was ministering in the north, he received word that his friend Lazarus was ill. Lazarus was a very good friend of his, but Jesus did not go immediately to see him, as we might think he would. After two days, he said to his disciples, “Ourfriend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awaken him out of sleep.” (John 11:11) The disciples were puzzled, even as we would have been. They answered, “Lord, if he sleeps, he doth well.” In other words, if he was ill, it was good that he was sleeping. It would be better not to disturb him. Our Lord then replied, this time very plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”Jesus had likened death to a sleep. When we sleep, we do not know anything, even as we are told in Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10. “The dead know not anything…for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.” This helps us to understand why Jesus could say that Lazarus was sleeping.The disciples and Jesus proceed to Bethany. When they arrived, Lazarus had already been dead four days. Mary and Martha were glad to see Jesus, but Martha expressed disappointment, “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.” “Martha, thy brother shall rise again.”Martha’s reply was very meaningful and significant to us, “Yes, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection in the last day.” He shall rise again in the resurrection…we recognize in Martha’s answer the reflection of Jesus’ teachings to them, that of a resurrection. By faith, Martha knew that Lazarus would live again in Christ’s kingdom.Jesus asked to be taken to Lazarus’ tomb. He was so touched by the sorrow of death that we are told, “Jesus wept.” He instructed the stone to be rolled away, and lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed. He then cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, Come forth!” “And he that was dead came forth.” (John 11:43, 44) Can you imagine the joy of family and friends, as they saw Lazarus brought back to life?It is this same joy that will be experienced by all the world, as they are reunited with their loved ones, when they are brought back from the grave to a kingdom to be established here on earth. Every human being who has ever lived will be awakened from the sleep of death. Jesus told us this in John 5:28, 29: “The hour is coming in which all (notice ALL) that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” All these families of the earth will be raised from the dead by Jesus and His Church. As they are resurrected, they will be given an opportunity to know the Lord, for at that time Isaiah tells us, “the earth (notice EARTH) shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)Jeremiah confirms this, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying, Know the Lord, for they shall ALL know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) This will be the earthly seed of Abraham, resurrected from the dead to a kingdom here on earth, and given an opportunity for life.The blessing of ALL the families of earth…good tidings of great joy to ALL people…this is THE CAUSE for which our Lord came! The joys and blessings of that kingdom will be endless. Jesus gave us a glimpse of what it will be like, as he healed the sick, made dumb men speak and crippled men walk, and restored sight to the blind.