03.26. In Bethany again

In Bethany again

During his time in the Jordan Valley, Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus of Bethany was seriously ill. Jesus knew that Lazarus was in fact dead, and therefore he did not hurry to Bethany immediately. He would go in due course, in spite of the efforts of his disciples to stop him because of the trouble they saw ahead. Jesus would raise Lazarus to life, and thereby strengthen the faith of the disciples and of Lazarus’ sisters.¹

Jesus saw death as an enemy, a weapon of Satan. He was grieved at the sorrow it brought his friends, and he showed his power over it by raising Lazarus to life. His power over death, however, goes much further. All who are spiritually dead because of sin can have eternal life through him, so that the life of the kingdom of God istheirs for ever.² In the normal course of events, physical death comes to all, but it cannot destroy the eternal life that Jesus gives. The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection set in motion the sequence of events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion. As Jesus’ fame spread, the Sanhedrin feared the people might accept him as leader of a messianic uprising, and bring upon the nation a crushing Roman intervention. The simple solution was to kill Jesus and save the nation.³

Passover was approaching, and as people arrived in Jerusalem for the festival, the atmosphere grew tense. Jesus and the disciples escaped attention for a while by retreating to a quiet village, but when they returned to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, news spread and a crowd gathered.⁴

Some of these people were merely curious, but others were genuine believers. The Jewish leaders were right in thinking that the raising of Lazarus would attract a following for Jesus.⁵ They therefore became more determined to kill him – and to kill Lazarus as well.

1. John 11:1-44 2. John 11:25-26 3. John 11:45-53 4. John 11:54-57; John 12:1; John 12:9 5. John 12:10-11; cf. John 11:47-48

Token of life and hope