John 11

Read John 11

Verses chosen for meditation: 11: 21 - 22, 35 - 36, 43 - 44 ESV

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Reflect

Was Lazarus the first person to be raised from the dead?

What's the difference between Lazarus' case and the others that Jesus raised from the dead?

Why did Jesus delay himself from coming to Lazarus' aid? Were there other times that he 'delayed' himself?

What's the difference between the resurrection of Lazarus and all the others and that of Jesus' resurrection?

What are your thoughts on the following two - word phrases in the passage, one of which is actually a verse by itself?

i) even now (v 22)

ii) Jesus wept (v 35)

Relate

From Scripture, we learn that Lazarus was not the first person nor only person to be raised from the dead in biblical times. Elijah and Elisha both had a hand in raising someone  from the dead in the Old Testament. Peter and Paul, similarly, had their own share of experience in the New Testament. 

Lazarus was also not the first person to be raised from the dead by Jesus. He was, in fact, the third person to be raised from the dead. The first was the son of a widow in Nain and the second, the 12 - year - old daughter of a synagogue leader.

In any case, Lazarus remains the most talked about of them all to this day. There’s even a sign or reflex named after him in clinical practice, which is observed not too frequently in patients who are declared brain dead. The reason behind the name is that it mimics a 'waking up' even though the patient is clinically as good as dead.

The miracle itself was unique in the sense that Jesus was as affected and moved as the sisters and friends of Lazarus. Also, it was performed on someone who was already clearly dead as it took place some four days later, the longest ever in the bible.

What it shows is that timing is of great importance to Jesus in his ministry. On two other occasions, he was heard, too, saying that his time had not yet come despite the insistence of those around him. One of those times was the incident of turning water into wine, the first of many miracles he would perform. The other was about him attending the festival of tabernacles. 

Admittedly, we're the ones who like to see results straightaway. Any unforeseen delay would cause a downward spiral of hope and expectation and a manifold increase in anxiety and frustration. For we're creatures of instant results and rewards while God values substance and character as the Creator. While we seek to impress, God seeks to impact. While we hold short - term views, God looks at things from a long - term perspective. For these reasons, God will not be dictated by us. However delayed it all may seem, he is still in control and calling the shots. 

There is absolutely nothing that can limit him, not even time. That's precisely what 'even now', the phrase, implies. It means that although his actions may be time – dependent, they're not time - limited. And since he also transcends time, nothing is ever the end until he says it is. In the same vein, there're no unanswered prayers. Only prayers that have yet to be answered at the right time. 

As we come now to the part on the comparison of resurrections of all those mentioned in the bible, including the resurrection of Jesus, the greatest difference lies in the permanence of their lives after the resurrection. All of them were miraculously awakened from 'sleep' or death, but all of them eventually succumbed to death yet again except for Jesus. It, therefore, rightfully makes him the first fruits of all those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15: 20).

On another note, some of the most cogent inspirations come from the bible in the form of verses such as this one in John 11: 35, considered the shortest verse in the whole English bible with just two words: Jesus wept. Belying the brevity of the verse is the deeply affecting message it sends out.

The simple meaning is that Jesus shed tears like you and me. The deeper meaning shows the dichotomy of Jesus being fully God and still fully man. On the one hand, he had the full power to restore his friend to life. On the other, he was visibly moved by the sorrow of those he loved as he cried alongside them. It was for this reason, and others, that Isaiah called him a 'man of sorrows' (Isaiah 53: 4). Surely, he bears our griefs and carries our sorrows. What consolation it is to know that Jesus shares our grief and our pain. 

Some of us may be suppressing our emotions with the mistaken understanding that it is not right to weep or cry. For crying is not consistent with faith we're told. So, we fake joy during moments when we're really feeling low or down. But Jesus openly demonstrates that it is alright to shed tears and not keep it all inside. 

Being found in human form, Jesus also humbled himself by becoming obedient to death. He was also humble to shed his glory. He was even humble to shed tears with those in mourning.

So that, with each passing day, it may become more and more natural for us to say like the Psalmist: '"You turned my mourning into dancing." And echo as well the words of Isaiah 61: 3.

For this is faith. Knowing him for who he is and what he has done. Knowing that he will do what he is meant to do. In his time.

Rest

Lord, they say that time and tide wait for no man, but all things wait for you. For you alone know when is the right time. You alone are in full control of the time and season. With you, there is nothing impossible. Herein lie our faith and hope, our blessed assurance. More than that, you feel what we feel. You even agonise over our pain and grief. So, may we experience your deep comfort and know how much you love us through it all.

Naville Chia