John 11:38-43: a reflection

38Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” 41So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

At the tomb of Lazarus, dead four days, Jesus shows his authority over death itself, calling the dead man out of the grave, and calling Martha first to believe that she might see God's glory. Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory, Jesus says to Martha, who had objected that by now there would be a stench. Then, after they took away the stone, Jesus cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. At the word of Jesus, the man dead four days came out of the tomb alive. Death, which holds us all and seems final, gave way at the voice of Christ, who has authority over it; and those who believe see the glory of God. This shows Christ's authority over death, and the call to believe that we may see God's glory. Christ has authority over death and calls the dead to life. Believe, and you will see the glory of God. Death is not final before the voice of Christ. Trust Christ, who is stronger than the grave.

Notice what Jesus does and asks here. Lazarus had been dead four days; the tomb was sealed, and Martha objected that by now there would be a stench. Death seemed final, beyond reversal. But Jesus calls for the stone to be taken away, and cries with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out; and the dead man comes out alive. Death itself, which holds us all and seems final, gave way at the voice of Christ, who has authority over it. And before this, Jesus had called Martha to believe: if you believe, you will see God's glory. This reveals who Christ is and calls us to trust him. Christ has authority over death itself; the grave is not beyond his reach; his voice calls even the dead to life. This same Christ, who called Lazarus from the tomb, is the resurrection and the life, who will raise all who trust in him. Death, which we fear as final, is not final before him. And he calls us, as he called Martha, to believe: to trust him even where death and hopelessness seem to have the last word, that we may see the glory of God. We do well to trust Christ, who has authority over death and calls the dead to life, believing him even in the face of what seems final. Trust Christ, who has authority over death and calls the dead to life. Death is not final before the voice of Christ. Believe him even where hopelessness seems to have the last word. Christ is the resurrection and the life; trust him.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ has authority over death itself, calling the dead to life, and he calls us to believe that we may see God's glory, as he called Lazarus from the tomb. We can see death and hopelessness as final, beyond reversal; but at the voice of Christ, Lazarus, dead four days, came out of the grave alive. Death is not final before him. Trust Christ even where death and hopelessness seem to have the last word; he has authority over the grave, and calls us to believe that we may see God's glory. Trust Christ, who has authority over death itself and calls the dead to life, believing him even in the face of what seems final, that you may see the glory of God, as at the tomb of Lazarus, dead four days, Jesus showed his authority over death, calling the dead man out of the grave and calling Martha first to believe, saying, didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see God's glory, and then, after they took away the stone, crying with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out, so that at the word of Jesus the man dead four days came out of the tomb alive; for death, which holds us all and seems final, gave way at the voice of Christ who has authority over it, and those who believe see the glory of God, since Lazarus had been dead four days and the tomb was sealed and death seemed beyond reversal, but Jesus called for the stone to be taken away and cried with a loud voice and the dead man came out alive, revealing who Christ is and calling us to trust him, that he has authority over death itself and the grave is not beyond his reach and his voice calls even the dead to life, this same Christ being the resurrection and the life who will raise all who trust in him, so that death we fear as final is not final before him, and he calls us as he called Martha to believe and trust him even where death and hopelessness seem to have the last word, that we may see the glory of God, so that we do well to trust Christ who has authority over death.

Lord Jesus, at the tomb of Lazarus, dead four days, you show your authority over death itself, calling the dead man out of the grave, and calling Martha first to believe that she might see God's glory. Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory, you say to Martha, who had objected that by now there would be a stench. Then, after they took away the stone, you cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. At your word, the man dead four days came out of the tomb alive. Death, which holds us all and seems final, gave way at your voice, for you have authority over it; and those who believe see the glory of God. Show me what you do and ask here. Lazarus had been dead four days; the tomb was sealed, and Martha objected that by now there would be a stench. Death seemed final, beyond reversal. But you call for the stone to be taken away, and cry with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out; and the dead man comes out alive. Death itself, which holds us all and seems final, gave way at your voice. And before this, you called Martha to believe: if you believe, you will see God's glory. This reveals who you are and calls me to trust you. You have authority over death itself; the grave is not beyond your reach; your voice calls even the dead to life. You, who called Lazarus from the tomb, are the resurrection and the life, who will raise all who trust in you. Death, which I fear as final, is not final before you. And you call me, as you called Martha, to believe: to trust you even where death and hopelessness seem to have the last word, that I may see the glory of God. Take that to my heart. Help me trust you, Lord, who have authority over death and call the dead to life, believing you even in the face of what seems final, for you are the resurrection and the life, stronger than the grave.