The Resurrection of Lazarus

https://odb.org/MY/2023/01/17/never-late

The resurrection of Lazarus recorded in John 11:17-27 is significant in proving the deity of Jesus in that, like the ancient prophets of Elijah and Elisha, He had raised the dead, not once but a few times in the course of His ministry. But the resurrection of Lazarus was extra ordinary and supernatural as he had died for 4 days, well past the traditional belief that a spirit still lingers near the body for 3 days. We, however, know that decomposition starts immediately after death, and thus, unless artificially preserved, a 4-day-old corpse is already in the advanced stage of decomposition. Thus, a person who is raised from the dead after 4 days will be a zombie as the brain and other internal organs had decayed and the walking dead will not be the same person as the person who died. Of course, that is all medically impossible and is only the stuff of movies!

But Jesus did it! He raised Lazarus from the dead, notwithstanding that he was long dead. Thus, it was asked why He didn’t rush to Bethany immediately upon hearing about the death of Lazarus when Bethany was just 2 miles from Jerusalem, probably just an hour walk away? Instead, Jesus delayed the journey, so as to quash all doubts of the magnitude of the miracle! This is to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that this was a true reversal of a decomposed body bringing back the soul and spirit that originally dwelled in that body. Only Creator God could do that, and Jesus was precisely that!

As much as the resurrection of Lazarus was a true and true miracle, an even more significant miracle awaits us as His saints in that one day we will all be raised from death in a glorified body like the body Jesus was resurrected in after His death on the cross. That will be the ultimate defeat of sin and death as conquered by Christ through his crucifixion and resurrection, for all mankind who believe in Him and call upon His name. Lazarus was resurrected, but he eventually died because his was still a broken human body, unlike the glorified body. Also, at the end of times at the new Jerusalem, we will have access to the tree of life. Thus, we will live for all eternity.

The lesson today remains that God’s timing is perfect. Martha said to Jesus, “If You had been here earlier, my brother would still be alive.” Yet as we can see, he still lived although Jesus was 4 days late! If we are waiting for Jesus to come through for us and we know it is God’s will, continue to pray and believe and wait. He will be there for us in His perfect timing. He makes all things beautiful in His time.