POST 11 - This Death Was Planned

by William W. Orr, A.B., M.A., Th.B., D.D.. Pastor and Teacher.

     The small village of Bethany, a short mile or so over the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem, was notable because Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived there.  The Lord Jesus Christ frequently went to their home to rest and to refresh Himself during His strenuous ministry.  Christ dearly loved these three friends (John 11:1-46).

     While the Lord was ministering far away from Bethny in Perea, Across the Jordan, Lazarus was taken seriously ill.  The  sisters sent word to Christ, notifying Him of the plight of their beloved brother.  In those ancient times, people dispatched a runner to cover the distance on foot.  When Christ received the news, He remained in Perea.  He did not rush to Bethany.  In the meantime, His dear friend Lazarus died.

     Our Lord discussed the condition of Lazarus with His disciples.  He told them plainly that his sickness was not actually for death, but for the glory of God.  Describing the death of Lazarus as "sleep,"  He promised He would awaken him from that sleep.  Of course it was a real death.  In a few days the Lord fulfilled His promised by standing at the grave of Lazarus, and imperiously calling him back to life.

     How is death a sleep?  Lacking the modern technique of embalming, the body of Lazarus was place in the tomb quickly.  Did the spirit and soul sleep, too, with the body?  No, for the Bible explicitly states that to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord"  (II Cor. 5:8;  Phil 1:23).  The word  "sleep" concerns only the physical body.  The real being of Lazarus instantly entered the place of the righteous dead, from which he returned when was raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus Christ.

     As our Lord indicates, Lazarus' death was extraordinary (John 11:4).   The body of Lazarus apparently remained in a state of arrest decomposition.  Later Christ said,  "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).    We know now that even though a believer may die physically, he will share the resurrection glory of  Christ.

     Eventually Lazarus died again.  But in this first death, Christ demonstrates His authority over death.  To be sure, death is an enemy; death is the sure result of sin.  Death is a cruel, stinging serpent, but Christ is death's Conqueror.  The same Lord who called back Lazarus from his grave will one glorious day call forth from the graves all that are His (John 5:28,29;  I Thess. 4:13-18).

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