This is Part 6 of a 6-Part Series on Illness, Healing, and Death
To simply say that the miracle that had occured had been life-changing would be a gross understatement. ... It changed history and, ultimately, eternity.
Because Jesus had waited ... because he had allowed Lazarus' illness and physical death, the world, as we know it, changed forever.
You see, if Jesus had chosen to prevent Lazarus' illness or to heal Lazarus, the effect would have been a virtual "drop" in the eternal bucket (relatively speaking). Mary and Martha would have known no more about Jesus than they already did. I'm sure they would have been deeply grateful and appreciative, but their faith, as great as it was, would have remained relatively stagnant.
Jesus' disciples would not have grown in their relationship with Jesus either. He wouldn't have done anything they hadn't already seen Him do before - many times.
There would have been very few actual witnesses. Even though word probably would have gotten around, that would have had the same effect as many of the other miracles Jesus had already performed. ... Some may have believed because of word of mouth, but it is not the same as experiencing Jesus personally.
On the contrary, days had passed, Lazarus had been buried. Not only had word gotten around that he had died, but many people had traveled to Bethany to pay their respects and comfort Mary and Martha. By the time Jesus finally arrived, a crowd of mourners had gathered; they had been grieving for days ... there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Lazarus was physically dead.
To say that waiting caused quite a stir ... well, it's more like waiting caused a hurricane. It set a chain of events in motion that changed history ... and eternity.
"Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him." - John 11:45
And, let me tell you, WORD GOT AROUND!
Some believed. ... "But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done." - John 11:46
Isn't that so typical? ... They "told on" Jesus! ... I think there are many today who, instead of appreciating and experiencing God at work all around us, feel more safe and comfortable putting their faith in religion and doctrine; whatever their current understanding of it may be.
The religious leaders also reacted in a very typical (and human) fashion; they felt threatened and territorial. "If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation." - John 11:48 They were more interested in protecting themselves - their status, their position in the community ... their "status quo" - then experiencing God.
"So from that day on they plotted to take His life." - John 11:53
Did you catch that?!?! ... People's reactions to Lazarus' miracle is what led to Jesus being crucified.
" ... Jesus would die for the entire nation, and not only for that nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one." - John 11:51-52 (i.e. - not just for Jerusalem or for Jewish people, but to unite people of all faiths ... anyone who believes in Jesus, whether you were born Jewish [as Jesus was] or Gentile [meaning anyone not of the Jewish faith - Muslim, Buddhist, anyone] could receive eternal life in heaven).
Lazarus' illness wasn't just about Mary, Martha, and Lazarus ... it was a pebble that started a ripple effect the size of a monsoon. The "big picture" was far beyond anything Mary, Martha, or Lazarus could have comprehended.
"for on account of him [Lazarus] many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him." - John 12:11
© I Lift My Voice, 2015.