Saturday 27 March 2010

Background

Just before this passage, Lazarus, the brother of Mary andMartha, has died and has been lying in his tomb for four days.Jesus has travelled to Bethany, to the home of Mary and Martha, andin today's passage, to the amazement (and in some cases, horror) ofthe witnesses, raises Lazarus from the dead (John11:1-27).

In verse 28, Mary describes Jesus as "the Teacher", which is asignificant description to be given by a woman. The rabbis (Jewishteachers) would not teach women, but Jesus taught themfrequently.

Wailing at a tomb was a common custom at the time, and those withMary thought that this was what she was about to do. Because theyfollowed her, to console her in her grief, Jesus got maximumpublicity for his miraculous deed. The 'weeping' of Mary and themourners would have been a loud and outward expression of grief(verse 31). This is different however to Jesus' quiet and personaltears of verse 35 and the words used in the original Greek denotethis contrast. Such descriptions of Christ's actions illustratethat he was a human man with human feelings.

Many Jews believed that the soul remained near the body for threedays after death in the hope of returning to it. So the fact thatLazarus had been dead and buried for four days meant they wouldhave most likely thought all hope of bringing Lazarus back to lifehad gone. But Jesus does the unthinkable and "the dead man cameout".

By the raising of Lazarus, both God and God's son would beglorified. And even though miracles displayed the glory of God inJesus, they would also, ultimately, lead to his death on theCross.

To Ponder

How can you make sure that you never lose thewonder of everything that the Lord Jesus has done?

In what ways can we understand the enormity ofthis miracle?

Read the lyrics of the Tim Hughes' song 'Never lose the wonder'. What do the words sayto you?