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.”
John 11:39 (ESV)
Here is Jesus at the tomb, preparing the people for the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. It is a very emotional moment in the life of Jesus as John tells us he is deeply moved twice in this one scene. Jesus is even brought to tears as we weeps with the people. This is one of the most rich texts of the Gospels that gives us a deep insight into the heart of Jesus as it delves into his emotions and motivations. There is a lot going on in this passage. In this verse, after hearing from Jesus that they are to take away the stone covering the cave, Martha confirms for us that Lazarus has not just recently passed away but has been dead for four days. He is not just dead, but he is dead dead. He has been dead long enough for the decomposition of his body to begin and the putrid stink of death to be pervasive. Martha is concerned that this is not just some recently deceased person, but is a person who is way past the point of return. This is why when Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer where he was. Why? Because he loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He loved them and knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead and make him whole again. All for the glory of God that they might believe.
This is one of the two key passages that the Lord has used over the last few years to work on my hard and stubborn heart. Typically, what strikes me in this story of Lazarus is the emotional engagement of Jesus with the people. The connection and emotional attachment that Jesus has with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus encourages me greatly in my own walk with Christ as I reflect on this same depth of love and emotional engagement in my own life. Recently, I had used this passage in a teaching lesson on the power of God’s spoken word in the act of creation. The reflection here is that when Jesus calls for Lazarus to arise from the tomb and come out, I tend to think of the image of Lazarus awakening from his “sleep” and walking out of the tomb in his grave clothes. This is true, but there is much more to the story.
Jesus didn’t just restart his heart and give his brain an electrical kickstart. The word of Christ spoken to this dead man not only awakened and revived him from death, but completely healed and reversed the effects of death. Jesus, by the power of his spoken word, truly healed and made new the body of Lazarus. He arrested the decomposition and restored what had been lost. He removed the decay and gave new flesh. The odor and stink of death was done away with completely. In a sense, Lazarus is now a new creation.
This is what he does for me each and every day through his mercy and grace. Each morning as I awaken, it’s as though the words of Christ speak life into me. In my repentance, there is forgiveness through the blood of Christ. I tend to think of this forgiveness almost like a fresh coat of paint on the wall. When I paint a wall in my house, I will look it over and give it a good inspection. I will find any flaws and patch them up with spackle. I will sand down any rough edges. I will wipe away any dirt and grime. I will prep the area to receive the paint. Then I will apply the fresh coat of paint to cover over these imperfections. Now, when I look at the wall I only see the newness of the paint making the wall look fresh.
The forgiveness and healing power of Christ in my life is not like this. He doesn’t just patch me up and cover over my failures. He removes them and makes me brand new all over again. He takes my broken life and makes it new again. He washes me in the blood of His forgiveness. He removes my filthy garment and clothes me in the bright white robe of his righteousness. Each and every day he does this. Not just seven times but seventy times seven times. He never tires of bringing renewal to my life.
This is the beauty of the picture of Lazarus rising from the dead. Yes, it shows me that death has no hold on us. It shows me that Christ has the power to bring resurrection and will in the last day. This is what Martha acknowledged and confessed to Jesus. Jesus responds to her by saying, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (11:25) Meaning that each and every time I come to Christ in repentance and faith, he brings resurrection and life to me. He doesn’t just patch me up with spackle and duct tape then slap me on the back and wish me luck out there in the world. No… He heals me. Truly heals me. He refreshes me. Truly refreshes me. He makes me whole and new.
The world, the flesh, and the devil never stop attacking. Every day I am dirtied, broken, and exhausted from the battle. I come to Jesus because he is gentle and lowly. He encourages me to come to him. He is always there for me. He is always ready for me to come out of the battle and be refreshed and renewed in the forgiveness, mercy, and grace that are always available. This is why he came… He came to bring healing. He came to make us new. He came that through my life of repentance and faith that the world will see the power, the majesty, and the glory of my risen Savior. The One who takes away the sin of the world and makes all things new by the power of his word.