One of the most powerful examples of the Savior's love is that of the raising of Lazarus from
the grave after four days. The event took place just before the triumphant entry into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem for the last time
when a messenger was sent to them with word that Lazarus was sick. Jesus, however, tarried
for several days, instead of rushing to heal Lazarus. When Jesus and the disciples arrived,
Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days.
Often the first question that is asked is why Jesus waited to come heal Lazarus. Why
would he prolong his coming when he knew that the hearts of Mary and Martha would both be
broken. First, by raising Lazarus from the dead after four days, Jesus demonstrated his
true power over even the worse enemy, death. Up to this point Jesus had raised several
from the dead, however, in each case, they had only been dead for a few hours. Dissenters
could easily claim that those who had been raised, had only been sleeping. Yet in the
case of Lazarus, there was no question as to the magnitude of Jesus' power.
Second, it taught of Jesus' pure love for others, despite his omniscience. The shortest
verse in scripture simply states "Jesus wept." Volumes could be written about these simple,
yet powerful two words. Jesus knew that he could raise Lazarus, he also knew that in
only moments the two sisters, Mary and Martha would again be embracing their brother. Yet
Jesus was in the moment, and felt their pain, even though he knew the power of the future.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, Jesus performed this miracle to help prepare his
followers for his own death (an even more tragic death than Lazarus). One of the reasons
Jesus may have wept is because he knew of the sorrow that they soon would feel when
they saw their Lord and Savior nailed to the cross. Just as Jesus knew that Lazarus would
live again, Jesus also knew that he himself would be resurrected. Yet for a short time,
his followers would weep and not fully understand why their Savior had died. It seems to me
that the most powerful message of his love was that he allowed this event to happen (the
death and raising of Lazarus) so it could give them hope. Hope for the impossible. Hope,
when all was lost. He raised Lazarus to instill faith. He raised Lazarus because he loved them.
He could have just as easily come and healed Lazarus as soon as he heard of his sickness.
After all, in only about a week they
would see the most powerful sign of his divinity, when Jesus would be resurrected from the dead.
There would be no question of his power then, yet Jesus decided to instill in his disciples
a belief beforehand that truly nothing is impossible for the Lord. He gave them hope,
even though he knew what the future held.
I have seen this time and time again in my life. Despite the fact that the Lord knows
how things will turn out in the end, he still provides tender mercies to buoy me up. To
instill in me faith. To give me hope when all is dark.