Lesson 376: "Take Away The Stone"
We all know the story well of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. But perhaps like me, some of you missed seemingly insignificant parts of the miracle. This climactic miracle was Jesus’ public evidence of the truth of His great claim; “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (Jh. 11:25). The sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus; “Lord, the one you love is sick” (Jh. 11:3). They assumed because of Jesus’ healing power and His love for Lazarus that He would come immediately upon receiving the word that His dear friend was sick. This was not the case but His delay was neither from lack of love or concern nor from fear of the Jews. Jesus the Healer used this opportunity to teach the disciples, once more, about the Resurrection.
Jesus told the disciples Lazarus had “fallen asleep” but as was often the case, Jesus was speaking about one thing and the disciples were thinking about another and they assumed Lazarus was on his way to recovery. Jesus’ “delay” was under God’s direction and in God’s timing. Lazarus’ death was so that everyone might believe; not in the miracle (they had seen miracles) of healing or raising the dead but believe that Jesus Christ Himself would be Resurrected. The fact that Bethany was less than 2 miles from Jerusalem explained why many Jews from Jerusalem (Jh. 11:45) witnessed the miracle and pointed to the coming climax of the ultimate Resurrection in the great city.
I noticed that Mary and Martha both had great but limited faith in Jesus. They believed “IF” He had of come before their brother had died He could have healed him and they believed in the “final resurrection” of Lazarus in the last day but had no concept of the immediate resurrection miracle Jesus was about to perform. I also picked up on the fact that Lazarus came out of the tomb with the grave clothes still on. This tomb was to be the body of Lazarus’ “home” until the end of time. By contrast, Jesus folded the grave clothes showing that His tomb was only a changing room. Another interesting fact was that “they” took away the stone (Jh. 11:41) showing the stone was large and heavy enough to require more than one man to move it unless that “Man” be the Risen Christ (Jh. 20:1).
Lesson for today: Jesus said; “take away the stone”! Martha said; “but Lord, he stinks”!
Do you have some things buried up in the tomb of your mind and heart that have been there so long they stink? (Such as hate, resentment, bitterness and etc.?) Take away the stone! Let the stink out! Resurrect (renew) your spirit (Ps. 51:10).