Resurrection of Lazarus
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Jesus, at the end of the two days, proposed to go to Judea, but his
disciples endeavored to prevent him from doing so. They reminded
him of the hatred manifested toward him when he was last there. Said
they, “The Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither
again?” Jesus then explained to them that he must go, for Lazarus was
dead, adding, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to
the intent ye may believe.” Jesus did not delay going to the relief of
Lazarus through want of interest in the stricken family; but he designed
to make the sorrowful event of the death of Lazarus an occasion to
give undoubted proof of his divine power, and unite his disciples to
him in a faith that could not be broken. Already some among them
were questioning in their minds if they had not been deceived in the
evidences of his divine power; if he was really the Christ would he
not have saved Lazarus whom he loved? Jesus designed to work a
crowning miracle that would convince all who would by any means be
convinced that he was the Saviour of the world.
The danger attaching to this expedition into Judea was great, since
the Jews were determined to kill Jesus. Finding it was impossible to
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dissuade him from going, Thomas proposed to the disciples that they
should all accompany their Master, saying, “Let us also go, that we
may die with him.” Therefore the twelve accompanied the Saviour.
On the way, Jesus labored for the needy, relieving the suffering and
healing the sick as was his custom. When he reached Bethany he heard
from several persons that Lazarus was dead, and had been buried four
days. While still at a distance from the house, he heard the wailing of
the mourners. When a Hebrew died it was customary for the relatives
to give up all business for several days, and live on the coarsest food
while they mourned for the dead. Professional mourners were also
hired, and it was they whom Jesus heard wailing and shrieking in that
house which had once been his quiet, pleasant resting place.
Jesus did not desire to meet the afflicted sisters in such a scene
of confusion as their home then presented, so he stopped at a quiet
place by the road-side, and sent a messenger to inform them where
they could find him. Martha hastened to meet him; she told him of her
brother’s death, saying, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had
not died.” In her disappointment and grief she had not lost confidence
in Jesus, and added, “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt
ask of God, God will give it unto thee.”