Jesus' Power over Death

Jesus demonstrated His power over nature, demons, and physical infirmities, but perhaps His greatest miracle was bringing a dead man, who had been in the grave for four days, back to life.

Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, a brother and sisters living in Bethany, were good friends of Jesus whom He loved very much. Lazarus became ill, so his sisters sent a message to Jesus: “Lord, one whom you love is sick.” Jesus told the messenger, “Don’t worry, this illness will not leave Lazarus dead but will glorify God as He glorifies His Son through this event.” So Jesus stayed where He was two more days after He received the message. Then He said to the disciples, “It’s time to go to Judea. Our friend Lazarus sleeps now but I will wake him up.”

“Lord, if he is able to rest, he must be getting better!” His disciples responded. But Jesus had used the word “sleep” figuratively of his death. Now He explained: “Lazarus is dead. For your sake, I am glad I was not there, so you may believe. Let’s go to him now.”

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried four days and many Jews from Jerusalem (only about two miles away) were present trying to console the sisters. When Martha heard Jesus was close, she ran to Him and said, “Master, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I am convinced that whatever you ask of God, He will grant it.”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

“I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day,” Martha replied.

Jesus stated, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even if he dies. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe?”

Martha responded, “Yes, Master; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, sent into the world.” Then she left to get Mary. “The Teacher has arrived and is asking for you.” Mary came and fell at Jesus’ feet and also said, “Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus was quite disturbed when he saw her crying and the Jews with her crying, too. “Where have you laid him?”

“Master, come and see,” they replied.

Jesus was deeply affected and cried with them. When He reached the tomb, Jesus said, “Move the stone.”

Martha interjected, “But Master, it’s been four days; I’m sure there will be a strong odor.”

But Jesus insisted, “Didn’t I tell your messenger that if you believed, you would see God glorified in this?”

So they moved the stone. Then Jesus looked to Heaven and said, “Father, thank You for hearing me as you always do. I am speaking aloud so that those standing here might believe that You sent me.” Then, focusing on the tomb, Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out here.”

With hands and feet still bound in linen burial strips and face wrapped in a cloth, the one who had died came out!

Jesus told them, “Free him from those grave clothes.”

When they saw what Jesus did, many Jews who had accompanied Mary believed in Jesus, but others went and told the Pharisees. So, the leading priests and the Pharisees called the Council together. “What can we do now? Since this man performs notable miracles, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will take away our position as leaders of the nation.” From then on, they made plans to kill Him.

But Jesus continued to travel about. Six days before the Passover, He returned to Bethany. Martha served a dinner, and Lazarus, along with others, ate with Him. A large crowd came, not only to see Jesus, but Lazarus, too, since he had died and now lived. Now, the leading priests planned to kill Lazarus also because many Jews believed in Jesus after seeing and talking with Lazarus.