Beacon Hill Church

BEFORE THE EMPTY TOMB
BEFORE THE CROSS ON GOLGOTHA'S HILL
BEFORE THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD


This miracle served as a pivotal event in the ministry of Jesus before his passion and suffering:

· It was THE event which provoked the Sanhedrin into plotting the arrest and death of Jesus.

· Moreover, most importantly it truly identified Jesus as the resurrection and the life, the one who is to conquer death, hell and the grave.

When Jesus finally reaches Bethany, he finds that Lazarus has already been dead for four days. The rabbis believed that the soul hovered near the body for three days, but after that there was no hope of resuscitation. The resurrection of Lazarus, therefore, represents a miracle so great, a sign so wondrous, that only God, the giver of life could accomplish

In verse 4 we are told that the miracle would be for God’s glory and the glorification of the Son.

· The relation and impact of the resurrection miracle upon the life of the disciples is mentioned in verse 15: So that you may believe.

QUESTION POSED TO MARTHA: DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life?


YES! OF COURSE, YES! Martha replied in the affirmative in v. 27:
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (NIV)


Martha believes in Jesus. She says all the right things; yet her actions reveal the inadequacy of her faith:

Martha was living in the reality of death. The finality of death. The stench of death. Martha does not yet believe in Jesus’ power to give LIFE.


In this narrative, Jesus is depicted three times as expressing or experiencing deep inner emotions.

· In verse 33: When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

· In verse 34-35: “Where have you laid him?” he asked. Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.

· In verse 38: Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.


The Greek word, embrimasthai, which is translated “deeply moved” in verses 33 and 38 may give us further insight into this text:
The basic meaning of embrimasthai seems to imply an articulate expression of anger.

It is used in the Greek translation of the OT to describe a display in INDIGNATION.

· Was Jesus angry with Mary and Martha? Or with the mourners? Or with his disciples?

· Jesus was moved with deep indignation and anger as he confronted the realm of Satan

· 1 John 3:8b For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (KJV)

JESUS STOOD AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE OPEN TOMB AND CRIED:

“LAZARUS, COME FORTH!”

This wondrous event not only points to Jesus as the author and giver of life, but this wondrous miracle also served to solidify the opposition of Jesus’ enemies against Him.


The verb translated ‘plotted’ is better translated ‘resolved’, thus it was an official decision of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body, to kill Jesus.


This is the turning point: the moment Jesus begins his journey to the cross.

We too have been called on a journey of following Jesus.

We have been commissioned by the Holy Spirit to call out to those who are dead in sin, without hope in this world. To call them forth into new life in Christ Jesus