In John chapter 11 we are told our Lord knew Lazarus was very ill but purposely allowed him to die in order to provide a preview of His own resurrection. This account is full of the richness of God’s plan and power. The many who saw firsthand the power of Christ over the death of Lazarus would only days later strangely lose all hope when the Lord Himself was crucified and died. But just as the grave could not hold Lazarus, neither could the grave hold our Lord. God did not just give an announcement of what He would do in conquering death, but He also provided a preview lesson to prepare and lead the way for the greatest event of history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lessons from the preview event leading to His own resurrection continue for us today.

Lazarus, a friend of the Lord Jesus, had been dead four days when the Lord arrived in Bethany. They did not embalm their bodies in those days but wrapped them in cloth that was soaked in spices. Bodily deterioration began immediately.  Because of this bodies were buried quickly upon death. After four days Lazarus’ body was in a physical state of decomposition, meaning that all ideas of somehow resuscitating him were impossible. His physical life was over and thus the grief and great sadness had overtaken those who loved him. But God mapped this out even for us today. Bethany was just over the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem so that many witnesses were purposed by God to be at this graveyard scene. It was sovereignly orchestrated by the Lord so that what would take place could not be denied. Our Lord stated to His disciples before arriving, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it” (John 11:4).  At the arrival of Jesus, Martha has a revealing private encounter with Him. Her first words demonstrate her grief and her resignation of her brother’s death. She says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). This is much like all of us, a sense of faith, but a limiting faith. Then she adds, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (John 11:22).  

Does she have some confidence or even hope that Jesus is about to resurrect Lazarus? The continuing dialogue would indicate that she did not. In her mind the situation had gone too far and she is so deep in her grief that she does not fully understand who is in her presence (John 11:39). Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23), of which she replies, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). This leads to one of the most wonderful and powerful statements and promises found in all Scripture. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Please note that if any other person other than our Lord made such a claim, he would need to be placed in an asylum. Because Christ is God, He by His power is the perfect antidote to grief, trials, immeasurable sorrows and impossible situations. Nothing is more difficult to face in this life than death, but here is Jesus, our God and King and He says I have all of it under complete control. His words are the only answer and the perfect answer. He has the power and authority over death. He holds the eternal future in His hands. We may say, “How do we know this?” He will show us the power of His words by raising Lazarus from the dead. This is our preview for His own resurrection, and also our later resurrection.

At this same event we have something else remarkable occur. Jesus Himself seeing the grief and the weeping, He also weeps and does so even knowing what He is about to do in raising Lazarus. This must be seen and understood in the richness of His love. What our God does on our behalf is not merely mechanical but is from a true heart of love and compassion that cannot be measured.  Our Lord then moves swiftly to the tomb and here is the preview of what Christ will ultimately do for all who have a relationship with Him by faith. He prays and cries to the Father and then commands, “Lazarus come forth” (John 11:43). And Lazarus came forth because just as Christ stated, “He is the resurrection and the life.” This is our preview. After the Lord had told Martha that He had the power over death, and before He raised Lazarus, He had asked, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Even after this incredible preview event, the disciples of our Lord were unprepared for His death and resurrection. That is why this same question is so important to ask ourselves today. Do we believe and rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord? We know that soon after this preview Jesus would rise from the dead showing His defeat of death after bearing all the sins of those who would believe. The preview was glorious, but His resurrection is by far the greatest event of all time. By His defeat of death, we in Christ will live even when we die, and we will never face separation from our God. As He said to Martha, the sobering question is at issue for all of us, and if we believe we have a glorious future in Him. It is a future of life eternal and abundant beyond measure. Reflecting on all of this we have the great privilege to meet and worship this coming Lord’s Day in joyful thanksgiving because He lives.