Faith
The story of Lazarus and how he was raised from the dead is well read and many are conversant with this story in John 11. Jesus had known that Lazarus had died and indeed his intention was that this would happen so that the disciples would believe. Could you think that despite all the miracles, signs and wonders that the disciples had witnessed, Jesus was still having to work on their belief. Thomas had it real bad because he actually said in verse 16 that they would go to die with Lazarus. Jesus ignored this.
Martha was the next, she fared better than Thomas, ……she rose to meet Jesus, she felt Jesus could have healed him just before he died and even dared say whatever Jesus would ask of God would be given to Him. But it became clear in verse 24 that she was referring to the last day resurrection.
Jesus tried to help her faith by proclaiming he was the resurrection and the life but it didn’t improve the faith levels. Her response was Yes you are the son of God who was to come into the world. It’s almost as if she was avoiding to think Lazarus could be raised from the dead.
Jesus continued on to the house and Mary this time came out to meet Him weeping that had He come earlier Lazarus would have been alive. By now Jesus was getting upset by their lack of faith despite his proven track record of miracle working.
What affected Jesus the most is what they had done to Lazarus. For His faith He would’ve expected Lazarus to be perhaps lying in state waiting for the master. Instead they took him to a tomb. Jesus must’ve felt like……Where is everyone’s faith??. No wonder the next He did was to weep!!!. Many have thought Jesus wept becuse He was sad…but somehow I’ve always thought he wept because He was sad. I drew this conclusion knowing Jesus was not taken by surprise at the death of Lazarus, in fact he had waited for Lazarus to die first. Think about it.
Think about it….Jesus marveled at the centurion, the woman with the issue of blood, the woman with the bread crumbs, then what do we think He would do at the extent of the lack of faith of his close friends the Lazarus family??. That’s right ….He cried.He expected them to have more faith. This is how heaven feels when we lack faith. Heaven weeps.
…To be continued…..