John 11:38-44 (ESV)

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” ⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Jesus saw the pain and suffering that his enemy, death, created for his friends. Verse 38 declares that Jesus became angry, or deeply moved, a second time. So he went to the tomb where Lazarus lay and asked those present to take the stone away from the entrance. Martha intervened, “Umm. Wait a minute! It’s been four days since my brother died, and it’s going to smell really badly in there.” Jesus responded, “Martha, I told you, if you would believe, you would see the glory of God.” Jesus then prayed out loud to the Father for the sake of those around him. Jesus did exactly what God called him to do, but so that others would know the unique relationship between the Father and the Son, he prayed again. Then Jesus cried with a loud voice. He literally yelled out loud, “Lazarus, come out of there!!” And Lazarus came out wrapped up in his burial clothes. Those standing around must have been absolutely shocked. Jesus ordered that Lazarus be unbound and let go. Jesus called a dead body, allowed it to hear, and the corpse returned to life.

The return of Lazarus from the dead has to be one of the most dramatic of all Jesus’ miracles. From the moment Jesus heard Lazarus was ill, he knew what he was going to do. He spoke with Martha and addressed her concerns. And he spoke with Mary to address her concerns as well. And he wept with those around them. The whole time, he knew what would happen next. What a portrait of the compassion and kindness of our Lord Jesus. It is really worth noting what Jesus said to Martha according to verse 40: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Stop and think. How many times do you think Jesus could say to us, “Did I not tell you?” He has promised us so much in and through his word, yet we doubt and don’t believe. May this glimpse into the heart of Jesus cause you to turn from doubt and unbelief. Jesus told us so much. He will do as he promised. May he grace us with new trust and hope as we cling to him again today.