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Raising of Lazarus
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Those standing near obeyed Jesus’ command and rolled away
the stone. Everything was done openly and deliberately. Everyone
saw that there was no deception. They saw the body of Lazarus,
cold and silent in death. Surprised and expectant, the people stood
around the tomb, waiting to see what would happen.
A sacred solemnity came over everyone there. Christ stepped
closer to the tomb. Lifting His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, I
thank You that You have heard Me.” Christ’s enemies had accused
Him of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. But
here, with perfect confidence, Christ declared that He was the Son
of God.
Christ was careful to make it clear that He did not work inde-
pendently of His Father. It was by faith and prayer that He worked
His miracles. Christ wanted everyone to know His relationship with
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His Father. “Father,” He said, “I thank You that You have heard Me.
And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who
are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
Here the disciples and the people would see that Christ’s claim was
not a deception.
“Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice,
‘Lazarus, come forth!’” Divinity flashed through humanity. In His
face, which was lighted up by the glory of God, the people saw the
assurance of His power. Every eye was fastened on the cave, every
ear listening to catch the slightest sound. With intense interest all
waited for the evidence that was to prove Christ’s claim to be the
Son of God or to extinguish the hope forever.
There was a stir in the silent tomb, then he who was dead stood at
the door of the sepulchre. The graveclothes restricted his movements,
so Christ said to the astonished spectators, “Loose him, and let him
go.” Again they were shown that humanity is to work for humanity.
They set Lazarus free, and he stood before the crowd, not as someone
wasted by disease but as a man in the prime of life. His eyes beamed
with intelligence and love for His Savior. In adoration he threw
himself at Jesus’ feet.
At first the onlookers were speechless with amazement; then
indescribable rejoicing followed. The sisters received their brother
back to life as the gift of God, and then brokenly, with joyful tears,
they expressed their thanks to the Savior. But while everyone was