John 11:38-46

HE THAT WAS DEAD CAME FORTH

Text 11:38-46

38

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

39

Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time, the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.

40

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.

42

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.

43

And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44

He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45

Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him.

46

But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Queries

a.

Why did Jesus continue to groan?

b.

Why did Jesus say Martha would see the glory of God?

c.

What was the purpose of the loud cry, John 11:43?

Paraphrase

Upon hearing these expressions of grief and doubt Jesus again groaned deeply within Himself as He approached the tomb. Now the tomb of Lazarus was a cave-type tomb hewn out of the rock of the hillside and a huge round stone was rolled against its opening. Jesus then commanded some of the people, Roll away the stone from the tomb! But Martha, sister of the dead man, said, Lord, by now there will be the stench of decomposition for he has been in the tomb four days! Jesus replied, Did I not say to you, Martha, that if you have faith in Me you will see the glory of God manifested? While some were rolling the stone away from the tomb Jesus looked toward the heavens and prayed, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I know that You always hear Me, but I have prayed this especially for the sake of these people standing here in order that they may believe that You have sent Me. And when He had prayed, Jesus called with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! Then out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet bound with burial linen and with a burial napkin bound around his face. Jesus then commanded, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.
Upon seeing what Jesus had done, many of the Jews who had accompanied Mary to the tomb believed on Him. But some of them hurried off to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Summary

Jesus performs one of His greatest miracles. Both friends and enemies witness it. In many, faith in Jesus as the Son of God is strengthened. In others the miracle becomes an occasion for betraying Him to those who have vowed to kill Him.

Comment

After hearing the doubt expressed by the bystanders (John 11:37) and coming to the tomb, the agitation of spirit that gripped His soul before (John 11:33) caused Him to groan within again. Our Lord was deeply moved during this experience with His beloved friends of Bethany.

John inserts another of his incidental, but graphic, notes which helps to familiarize us with this family. The family burial place (Lazarus-' tomb) was one probably hewn out of stone. It was cave-likein the side of a hill, not a hole in the ground. The cave-type tombs were usually available only to the rich for only the rich could afford to have them hewn out of the rock. There are other indications that this family was one of above average financial means (cf. John 12:1-3). These tombs cut into the side of a hill were usually sealed off with a huge circular (but flat) stone which rested in a sort of troughalong which it was rolled back and forth as necessary to gain entrance.

Jesus had no more than finished commanding, Remove the stone from the entrance, when Martha, in a moment of mixed emotions, protested. No doubt the impropriety of opening the tomb allowing curious eyes to look upon the already decaying body, prompted, in part, her protest. But the reply of Jesus indicates that her faith was also wavering. In the Palestinian climate, and in view of the mechanics of burial in that day, it did not take long for decomposition to set in upon dead bodies. The dead were buried almost immediately upon death. Of course, the Hebrews (and all other peoples since) were never able to duplicate the embalming arts of the Egyptians. Egyptians knew a secret method of preserving bodies for centuries (even for millenniums) that has eluded man ever since their civilization melted into the dust.

According to Lenski, The Egyptians disemboweled the body and removed the brain and then soaked the body in a chemical solution for seventy days and thus prevented decay. The Hebrews merely anointed the body, wrapped it in linen strips with fragrant spices sprinkled in the folds (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:14).

However, the primary purpose behind John's recording Martha's statement is to increase for his readers the magnificence of the miracle that is about to take place. The resurrection of one who has been dead four dayseven after decomposition has set inprecludes any possibility of enemies claiming that Lazarus was not really dead! Lazarus had not merely lapsed into a coma. The reader will please take careful notice that when the enemies of Jesus counseled about their strategy in answer to this miracle, not one minute inference can be found that Lazarus was not really deadnor indeed, that the miracle had not really happened (cf. John 11:47-53; John 12:9-10; John 12:17-19)!

So the Lord turns to Martha rebuking her mildly for her wavering faith after she had so positively expressed her confession of Him (John 11:27).

As the stone was being rolled away, Jesus looked toward the heavens reverently and prayed. There is a noticeable contrast between our Lord's public prayers and the public prayers of many religious men today. His were brief; theirs long and extended. His were simple and conversationalthough not at all disrespectful; theirs filled with impressive vocabulary and oratorical eloquence; (cf. Matthew 11:25-26; Luke 10:21; Luke 24:30; John 12:27-28). The absolute and perfect faith Jesus has in His Father is shown in His prayer. He thanks the Father for answering Him through the miracle even before the miracle takes place. The prayer also shows the perfect oneness of Son and Father. But again, the prayer was not necessarily for Christ's benefit, but for the people standing there in His presence. He made sure that they would recognize His unique relationship to Jehovah by praying to Him just before the miracle. The emphasis is that He is working the miracle in complete harmony with GodHe has been given a unique commission from the Father (cf. John 5:19-36).

When He had thus prayed, He cried with a loud voice. He did not merely speak loudly, but, as the Greek verb ekraugasen indicates, He cried loudly. Again, the loud cry was for the benefit of the many people present. Jesus needed no loud cry to bring back the dead. just a touch or thought would have done. But to insure that all present would know Him as the source of the miracle He cried loudly.

He that was dead came forth! How cryptic! How our hearts burn within us for more detail concerning this great miraclebut nothing more is said. We are not even told how Lazarus was able to come out of the tomb bound, as he was, hand and foot with grave wrappings! Did he hop out? Did he float out? Where was he while his body lay decomposing in the tomb? What did he experience in the world of the spirits? Did he feeldid he know? How was his spirit united again with his body? BUT WE ARE NOT INDULGED IN OUR IDLE CURIOSITIES! As John so emphatically saysthese things are written that we might believe (John 20:30-31), not that we might theorize or theologize. How differently did the Holy Spirit inspired apostles record the gospel story than finite eloquence-minded and curiosity-minded man would have recorded it! The brevity of the gospel accounts testify to their God-breathed origin!

Not even any vividness in reporting the reaction of the crowds is indulged in! Surely they must have gasped, stared with mouths agape.
As we have stated before, the reaction of the Lord's enemies to this miracle establishes its authenticity. We cannot allegorize or spiritualize the account of this miracle and sidestep the implications of its attestation to His deity. The account of his miracle is plain and forthright enough in its claim to be a historical even that we must accept it as historical fact or reject it, the consequence being that Jesus and His disciples are the most demonical liars that ever lived.
The evidence was and is sufficient that rejection of this miracle cannot be intellectual. The only other reason for denial is moral! The Pharisees admitted the historicity of it, but denied it because they simply did not want to surrender to its implicationJesus Christ, Divine Son of God, King and Commander of man's entire beingso men deny it today from the same motive.

Quiz

1.

What does the mention of Lazarus-' tomb being cave tell us about his financial status?

2.

Why did Martha object to having the stone taken away from the opening of the tomb?

3.

What is the primary purpose of mentioning of Lazarus being dead four days and his body beginning to decompose?

4.

How does the reaction of the enemies of Jesus to this miracle help prove its historicity?

5.

What does the prayer of Jesus teach concerning His relationship to the Father? Why did He pray at this time?

6.

Is there any significance to the brevity of the account of this stupendous miracle?

7.

If the evidence for the miracle is historically undeniable, why do men seek to explain away its historicity?