In the town of Bethany, Lazarus was very sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother’s health was failing, and asked him to come. But instead of rushing to the town and helping Lazarus, Jesus took his time in getting there. He knew there was to be a great miracle, and he didn’t have to rush.
When he did arrive at the gates of the town, Jesus was met by Martha, who told him that Lazarus had already died, four days earlier. She asked him why he had not come? If he had been there, Lazarus would still be alive. “Your brother will rise again,” he told her, but she assumed Jesus meant he would go on to eternal life.
Jesus went on: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Grieved, Martha went back home.
Mary was the next to come, and she asked the same questions. She was weeping and terribly upset over her brother’s death. Those who were with her were weeping as well, and Jesus cried with them. He asked to see the tomb of Lazarus, and all the mourners led him there. Then he asked them to remove the stone that covered the hillside tomb. The sisters protested, but Jesus was adamant that the tomb be opened.
Jesus prayed to His Father, and when he was finished, he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus came out of the tomb, and as he did so, Jesus simply asked the shocked mourners to remove the grave clothes. The shock of seeing a man rise from the dead was more than enough to turn everyone into believers that day.
The important message in the rising of Lazarus is the simple belief that Jesus will do what he says he will do. Sometimes a situation will go from bad to worse, and you might wonder why Jesus hasn’t responded to your prayers. But the answer will come, and at a time that will bring the greatest glory to God. We must simply be patient and wait for the moment when it is all made right.