February 8, 1987
Standing outside the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus faced more than a large stone, a rotting corpse, and a mourning family. Some misunderstood His tears, assuming they were tears of frustration or mourning. Alistair Begg helps us grasp the deeper meaning behind the events of Lazarus’ resurrection. From Mary bowing at Jesus’ feet to Jesus’ tears and the demonstration of His glory, the details of this story remain significant for us today.
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, r“The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews swho were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, t“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he uwas deeply moved5 in his spirit and vgreatly troubled. 34And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35wJesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “See xhow he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he ywho opened the eyes of the blind man zalso have kept this man from dying?”
38Then Jesus, adeeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was ba cave, and ca stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for dhe has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, e“Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see fthe glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus glifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42hI knew that you always hear me, but I said this ion account of the people standing around, jthat they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44kThe man who had died came out, lhis hands and feet bound with linen strips, and mhis face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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