Archive for May, 2009
The Death of Lazarus and Jesus Compared
Posted by L.G. Parkhurst in Christianity, Church, Jesus on May 21, 2009
We read about the death of Lazarus and Jesus resuscitating him in John 11. We can make these comparisons and contrasts. Perhaps you can think of others.
1. Jesus asked that the stone be rolled away from the tomb of Lazarus so Lazarus could walk out of the tomb. The women wondered who would roll the stone away for them, for it must have been quite heavy, on their way to Jesus’ tomb. They found the stone rolled away, not to let Jesus out, but to let the women and Jesus’ disciples into the tomb. In His resurrected body, Jesus could pass through walls. See John 20:26, “A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”
2. Lazarus would die again, for Lazarus was resuscitated from the dead, not resurrected. Later, after he died a second time, Lazarus would be resurrected at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
3. Lazarus’ dead body decayed, for his family was concerned about the stench of his body after four days. Jesus died, but even after three days in the tomb, Jesus’ body did not decay. See Acts 13:34-35 in reference to Jesus’ death and burial: “The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: ”I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’” Perhaps even more clear, see “Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay” (Acts 2:31).
4. Lazarus had to be unwrapped from the grave clothes; whereas, Jesus passed through His. The fact that Jesus’ body did not decay and He passed through His wrappings give good reasons (among others) for why the Shroud of Turin is probably authentic.
5. Jesus told those present that if they believed they would see God’s glory. They believed, and Jesus acted because they believed, and they saw Lazarus raised from the dead by Jesus. After Jesus died, they doubted. Seeing Jesus’ glory as raised from the dead, they came to believe in Him and His resurrection. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He acted because they did not believe.
6. Jesus prayed and knew that His Father would raise Lazarus from the dead. The Father and the Son worked together in raising Lazarus from the dead and defeating death. It was not the case that the Father wanted Lazarus to die and Jesus wanted Lazarus to live. The Father sent Jesus to die in our behalf, and Jesus was willing to die in our behalf. Then, the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus said that He would lay down His life and then take it up again. The Father and the Son worked together in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
7. Lazarus’ death demonstrated the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Because Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead, many believed; while some wanted to murder Lazarus because Jesus had raised him from the dead. Jesus’ death was a substitutionary death for our sins, so God could be just and merciful in forgiving those who repent and believe in Jesus.
Can you think of other comparisons and contrasts?
Thoughts on the Death of Lazarus
Posted by L.G. Parkhurst in Christianity, Church on May 21, 2009
In John 11, Martha and Mary both tell Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw Mary and the Jews weeping, John reports that Jesus “was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved;” also, Jesus wept. Reflecting on this event in Jesus’ life and ministry influenced me to think of “Seven Things About Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead.”
1. Though Jesus was the Creator of all, and though all things were made through Him, Jesus was greatly disturbed and wept over the death of Lazarus (see John 1:10).
2. Though Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead before He even left for Bethany, and even though He knew the moment Lazarus died; four days after Lazarus died, Jesus wept publicly with Mary, Martha, and the Jews.
3. Was Jesus thinking of His own death when He contemplated the death of Lazarus, and so He wept?
4. Was Jesus thinking of now Lazarus might feel, being brought back from Paradise, and so Jesus wept?
5. Was Jesus thinking about all who must die before the work of His Church was finished on the Earth and He returned from heaven? Was Jesus thinking of the future death of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, His disciples, and others? Was Jesus thinking about the martyr’s death; such as the deaths of Stephen and James in the Book of Acts?
6. Did Jesus weep because He knew that death was an enemy? Even though Jesus wept, Jesus could also rejoice knowing that by His death He would take away the sting and victory of death over all who followed Him. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57).
7. Did Jesus weep because, as the Apostle Paul later wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15)?
Why do you think Jesus wept? What reasons seem to be the best in your mind?