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Like Davy Crockett at the Alamo, Jesus metaphorically drew a line in the sand at the village of Bethany and called those who believe in Him to cross over it. At the quarried tomb of Lazarus, Jesus’ ministry climbed to a pinnacle. As the stone is rolled away, the crowds were compelled to reach a verdict regarding the deity of Christ. Would they side with the modern religious leaders, or with the One who taught and manifested signs only from God? The Apostle John emphasizes the principle of belief versus unbelief as the drive and destiny of his Gospel (John 20:31). After every miracle, there is a reaction among the people. John records six different miracles before Jesus arrives at Bethany: turning the water into wine (2:1-11), healing the official’s son (4:43-54), healing the crippled man (5:1-9), feeding the crowd of 5,000 (6:1-15), walking on water (6:16-21), and giving sight to the man born blind (9:1-12). It is with this background that Mary and Martha send for Jesus to come up and heal their sick brother, Lazarus. Although Jesus had a close friendship with Lazarus, Jesus decided to stay in Jericho two more days before responding to the call of Lazarus’ sisters. Yet, as Leon Morris comments, "Jesus waited for the proper moment…[and] acted in accordance with the will of God rather than in accordance with the suggestions people might make" (405). Going against all human rationale, He prophesied that Lazarus’s sickness was for God’s glory to be made known to man (11:4). With anxiety in their hearts, the disciples admonished Jesus not to go up to Bethany and Jerusalem because the Jews were ready to kill Him. Nevertheless, Jesus responded with a parable about the twelve hours in a Jewish workday. Just as there is light for work, so Jesus will safely complete God’s work while in the Father’s will. There was no recounting the will of God. Intending to bring him back, Jesus mentioned that Lazarus fell asleep and was separated from this world. He later clarified this fact with his incompetent disciples by plainly stating, "Lazarus is dead" (v.14). Jesus consoled the disciples by informing them that "what is to happen will enable them to grow in faith, to believe more fully and firmly" in the deity and Messiahship of Jesus Christ (Morris 407). Yet, in every group there is a curmudgeon. Thomas piped up and assured his comrades to expect the worse. The Jews were issuing pickets, and four days after Lazarus died Jesus arrives. As Christ drew near the village, Martha abandoned the hired wailers and ran to Jesus. With a tone of remorse, Martha expressed her trust in Jesus; not that Jesus would bring Lazarus back, but that "His prayers could bring some good from this sad event" (MacArthur 1606). After rebuking Martha’s abstract faith, Jesus revealed one of His greatest attributes: the ability to give life. His life-giving ability is not restricted to the last day, but is available to all who live for and believe in Him (vv.25-26). Confronting her faith, Jesus asked Martha to respond. In belief, her heart began to grow in faith. In haste, a slew of mourners followed Mary as she bowed before Jesus. Mary echoed Martha’s trust in Christ and sorrow for their brother. Christ did not take this lightly. He empathized with the multitudes and their situation. Jesus quietly wept over the tragic consequence of sin: death. On the other hand, Dr. John MacArthur comments that Jesus was also frustrated with the crowd’s lack of belief in the resurrection and forgetfulness about the temporality of death (1607). While sorrow was reasonable, the mob was "acting like pagans with no hope" (MacArthur 1607). To counter this thinking, Jesus asked where they have laid Lazarus. Instead of being freshly decorated like Rose Hills sarcophagi, tombs of the Roman era in Israel scatter themselves among the barren hills. For paupers, graves in the ground are common about fifty yards outside of cities. For the middle class, individual rock-hewn or natural tombs house the remains of the deceased. Contrary to the embalming of the Egyptians, Alfred Edersheim notes how the Hebrews wrap the corpse in loose cloths with herbs and spices (318). After the body decomposes, the bones are collected into an ossuary, or coffin box, about the size of large shoeshine box. Like a bank vault, the stone doors covering the entrance to many ancient tombs weigh about 2,000 pounds each (Freeman 858). Martha hesitated at the command of Jesus to remove the stone. It had been four days since Lazarus died. C.K. Barrett writes, "A state of death beyond the third day meant, from the popular Jewish point of view, an absolute dissolution of life. At this time the face cannot be recognized with certainty; the body bursts…" (335). To remove the stone would risk defilement according to Jewish law. To remove the stone would release an unbearable stench from the putrefaction. To remove the stone would imply trust and belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that by rolling it away, they would see the glory of God. Instead of imitating Superman, Jesus humbly thanked his Father for hearing and working through Him. Jesus was not a maverick, but obeyed the Father’s will. Through undeniable miracles, the Father authenticated Christ’s claim to be the Messiah. His work is open for all to see and believe. "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43). With three words, Christ called back the dead from the grave. Immediately, Lazarus arose and came to the entrance of the tomb, bound hand, head, and foot with the grave cloths. Aghast, the mesmerized crowd witnessed the supernatural taking place before their eyes. Lazarus was alive! Jesus Christ has the power to give life to the dead. Seeing Lazarus alive and well, the crowds came to a crossroads: what are they going to say about Christ? There is no middle road. How are they going to answer Jesus’ question, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). Like many times before, the crowd split in two (John 6:14-15; 7:10-13; 45-52). The purpose of the miracle was fulfilled by "many of the Jews" who believed (11:45). On the other hand, some ran to tell the Pharisees. Not wanting to believe, they tried to discount even the strongest evidence (Morris 420). The Pharisees gathered a council to ponder the news of Lazarus’ resurrection. Instead of focusing the miracle, they pondered how would it effect their power. Their inward focus blinded them to the truth regarding the deity of Christ. They clearly fulfilled God’s Word in Luke 16:31 "But [Abraham] said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead’" (NASB). Claiming to have the corner on Scripture, the Pharisees rejected any who dared to go against their grain. As Ronald Beers comments, "They were so hardened that they preferred to reject God’s Son rather than admit they were wrong" (Beers 1845). To combat the truth of Christ, the Pharisees fueled an intense media campaign. Yet, even "official disapproval, excommunication, and counter teaching were not stopping Jesus’ influence" (Blum 315). The core of concern was about power. Advancing Messianic hopes would mean loosing political prestige with the Roman governor. Nearly every miracle of Christ evoked a reaction among the people. Pairing up with the high priest, the Pharisees sought to consolidate opposition to Christ. According to ancient Jewish law, the position of a high priest was a lifetime appointment. However, the Romans designated and dethroned the high priest as they pleased. Loosing face with the Romans would mean loosing your livelihood and possibly your neck. Caiaphas, the high priest during the miracle of Lazarus, was appointed by the Romans in A.D. 14. As chairman of the Sanhedrin of Jewish elders, Caiaphas pompously took the reigns in deliberating about what to do with Jesus Christ. Caiaphas’ verdict is summed up in this verse: "…it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." (John 11:50). Seeking to extinguish the testimony of Christ’s work, Caiaphas unconsciously prophesied the purpose and plan of God for Jesus Christ. As MacArthur notes, "While he uttered blasphemy against Christ, God parodied his statement into truth" (1608). It was through Jesus’ substitutionary death for sin that mankind can come before the throne of grace and be saved eternally. With Caiaphas’ verdict, the sentence of death was placed upon Jesus Christ. From that time on, the Pharisees were fixed in their determination to kill him. As Tenney comments, "The enmity which had made previous sporadic attempts to trap Him in speech or to capture Him now settled upon a policy of exterminating Him" (178). Forgoing truth, the Pharisees embraced fanatical expediency in condemning Christ. The resurrection of Lazarus compelled the crowds to make a decision regarding Jesus Christ. If they believed, they needed to leave their self-sufficiency and commit to following Him. If they did not believe, they were forced to reject and impede the work of Christ. During the next Passover, many Jews believed in Christ when they saw Lazarus alive, while others sought to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. Neutrality regarding the deity of Christ is impossible. How will you respond to the call of Christ to come forth from sin and live for Him?
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