Women of Note in the New Testament
53
Together they all proceeded to the grave of Lazarus, which was a cave
with a stone upon it.—
The Spirit of Prophecy 2:362, 363 (1877)
.
In all that He did, Christ was cooperating with His Father. Ever He
had been careful to make it evident that He did not work independently;
it was by faith and prayer that He wrought His miracles. Christ desired
all to know His relationship with His Father. “Father,” He said, “I
thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest
me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that
they may believe that thou hast sent me.” Here the disciples and the
people were to be given the most convincing evidence in regard to the
relationship existing between Christ and God. They were to be shown
that Christ’s claim was not a deception.
“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth.” His voice, clear and penetrating, pierces the ear of the
dead. As He speaks, divinity flashes through humanity. In His face,
which is lighted up by the glory of God, the people see the assurance of
His power. Every eye is fastened on the entrance to the cave. Every ear
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is bent to catch the slightest sound. With intense and painful interest all
wait for the test of Christ’s divinity, the evidence that is to substantiate
His claim to be the Son of God, or to extinguish the hope forever.
There is a stir in the silent tomb, and he who was dead stands at
the door of the sepulcher. His movements are impeded by the grave-
clothes in which he was laid away, and Christ says to the astonished
spectators, “Loose him, and let him go.” Again they are shown that
the human worker is to cooperate with God. Humanity is to work for
humanity. Lazarus is set free, and stands before the company, not as
one emaciated from disease, and with feeble, tottering limbs, but as
a man in the prime of life, and in the vigor of a noble manhood. His
eyes beam with intelligence and with love for his Saviour. He casts
himself in adoration at the feet of Jesus.—
The Desire of Ages, 536
(1898)
.
By the raising of Lazarus, many were led to believe in Jesus. It was
God’s plan that Lazarus should die and be laid in the tomb before the
Saviour should arrive. The raising of Lazarus was Christ’s crowning
miracle, and because of it many glorified God.—
Manuscript Releases
21:111 (1892)
.
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