There is an old story that I love about someone named Lazarus, his two sisters, and a Man.
Lazarus died, and was buried in a tomb. His sisters were distraught. They couldn’t understand what was happening. Wouldn’t their brother’s death have been prevented if only things had been different?
The Man appears, but he’s too late. Lazarus has been dead in the tomb for four days. The Man tells Martha, the sister: Your brother will rise again. She, reaching deep into her theological toolkit, responds: Yes, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The Man said, in a response that the world had been waiting for: 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?
“She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’”
What a beautiful response to Jesus.
Then, they head to the tomb with the other sister. When Jesus saw the two sisters, and those who were with them weeping, He also wept.
And then, the Bible says, Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit.” My Bible notes that this phrase also means “indignant.” Picture this: Jesus standing at the tomb of Lazarus, indignant — that means to “feel or show anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment”.
Who is he indignant towards? Who else but Satan, sin and death? Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, ever-practical, notes: “Lord, by this time there will be an oder, for he has been dead 4 days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” They take away the stone.
And Jesus prays, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I thank you that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you have sent me.”
When he had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to those standing there, and to Satan, sin and death: “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Jesus, staring down the tomb, a picture of death, refused to let Lazarus be stolen by death. And because of Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Father, up to the point of dying a horrible death on a cross that He did not deserve, death and sin no longer have the final say in any of our lives. For His precious children, all of our sins are forgiven. Jesus came to bring life, that we may have it abundantly (John 10:10).
For Lazarus, and for us, death does not have the final say. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Will we trust Him today?