The apostle John gives us a beautiful story in the 11th chapter of his inspired writings. It is a story that conveys the real human nature of Jesus while He was on earth.

One of Jesus’ close friends, a man named Lazarus, became ill. The man’s sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. I feel certain that their expectation was that Jesus would drop what He was doing and leave immediately for Bethany where they resided.

When Jesus received the message, this was His response. “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (verse 4, ESV).

John states in verse 5 that Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus; but he delayed where He was for two days. After the two days He told His disciples He was going to Judea.

The disciples didn’t want Him to go because they knew it was dangerous. The Jews were plotting to kill Jesus, and they were afraid for Him and for themselves.

Jesus explained to the disciples that Lazarus had “fallen asleep” and He was going to awaken him. This confused the disciples. They said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover” (Verse 12). John explains this statement in the next verse by saying that Jesus spoke of Lazarus’ death, but the disciples thought Jesus meant Lazarus was resting.

When Jesus and the disciples got close to Bethany, someone went running to tell Martha Jesus was coming. Martha wasted no time in running to meet Jesus, leaving Mary at home.

When Martha reached Jesus, there was no greeting. Her words surely made Jesus sad as she proclaimed, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (verse 21).

You can expect that Martha would say this, but her next words show the deepness of her feelings for the Savior. “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (verse 22).

Do you feel the hope in her words? She is conveying her trust in His judgment. She is now convinced that whatever happens will be what is best for her, her sister, and Lazarus. Even in her sadness she glorified God.

Jesus assured Martha that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha conveyed her belief that he would rise again at the resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (verses 25-26).

Martha then made a statement that glorifies both God and Christ. She said, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (verse 27).

When Mary heard that Jesus was calling for her, she went immediately to the place Martha had met Him. Can you guess what her first words were? She said the same thing Martha said.

Jesus was “…moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” when he saw her crying and the Jews crying over Lazarus. He wanted to know where they had buried him.

Jesus stood before the tomb and wept, displaying a human emotion that drew the attention of the Jews. But they criticized Him saying, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” It didn’t seem to occur to them that just maybe He was about to bring Lazarus back to life!

Jesus then moved toward the tomb and requested that someone remove the stone from in front of the tomb. Martha tried to stop Him. She was concerned because Lazarus had been dead four days, and she knew he would have begun to smell.

Jesus then declared His intentions. “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (verse 40). Look at what followed!

• Jesus prayed, thanking God that He was listening to Him.
• He affirmed that God always heard Him.
• He asked that those standing around would believe that God had sent Him.

Then Jesus called out, “Lazarus, come out.” (verse 43). Lazarus, bound in grave clothes, came out of the tomb. He was alive!

Some of the people believed in Jesus, but the Pharisees were more concerned about their positions. They didn’t want to lose their places to the Romans. From that day on, they planned to put Jesus to death.

Though the Jews plotted Jesus death, and Caiphas, the high priest, prophesied that Jesus would die, God was glorified. Neither the Pharisees, the other Jews, nor Caiphas could explain or change what had just happened.

We have no miracles today because John writes in John 20:30-31,“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Even without miracles, our lives can glorify God. How do we do this? We do it through obedience to His word. We do it by the things we do, the things we say, the acts of kindness we show to others, and through our worship.

May each of us live our lives in such a way that will honor and glorify our heavenly Father.

Sandra Oliver