[Biblemat] S) WHAT JESUS TAUGHT AT LAZARUS' TOMB

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

WHAT JESUS TAUGHT AT LAZARUS' TOMB

     When Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry
the word came to Him that His good friend Lazarus of Bethan-
y was sick (Jno. 11).  The message came from Lazarus' sisters, Martha and 
Mary, in expectation that Jesus would 
hasten to Lazarus' bedside and make him well.  But Jesus
waited -- one, even two days -- and then announced to His
disciples that Lazarus had died and that they should depart
for Bethany immediately.  The behavior of Jesus at the tomb
of His friend is instructive for all of us who grieve.  Jesus Who taught us 
about life and living was not remiss in teach-
ing us about death and dying.

     Jesus Taught Us That Death Is No Respecter Of Persons:-
"The sisters, Mary and Martha, therefore sent to Jesus, say-
ing, Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (Jno. 11:3).
Death is so bold as to visit even those whom the Lord loves.
Death was not deferential to the Lord's friends.  He was not
considerate of His affections.  He is not considerate of our
affections either.  Death plays no favorites.  He comes and 
goes as he pleases.  He will come again.  And we must pre-
pare for his return.  Death is a monster adn like all monsters
he cannot be tamed.  But he can be conquered.

     Jesus Taught Us That Death Is Not Beholden to Our Schedule: -- "So when 
Jesus came, He found tht Lazarus had
already been in the tomb four days" (vs. 17).  The first words
of Martha and Mary upon seeing Jesus were identical.  "Lord,
if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (vss.
21,32).  Death would not even wait on Jesus.  There is no con-
venient season for death.  We are foolish to presume that 
death will give us time to get our house in order.  He may come before the 
tidying is complete or he may even delay 
until we allow our affairs to lapse into disarray again.  He would not wait 
on Jesus.  (Actually, Jesus waited on him on
this occasion, JWS).  He will not wait on us.  We must be pre-
pared at all times.  Death is a monster and like all monsters he cannot be 
tamed.  But he can be conquered.

     Jesus Taught Us That It Is Fitting To Anoint The Tombs
Of The Departed With Our Tears: -- Arriving at Lazarus' tomb,
"Jesus wept" (vss. 34,35).  Witness responded, "Behold how
He loved him!" (vs. 36).  The shortest verse in all the English
Bible is not short on instruction.  It teaches us that Jesus
sympathizes with our weaknesses and shares our sorrows.
It was four days after Lazarus had died, and there were still
tears being shed, and every tear was a tribute to the man in
the tomb.  The death of a loved one does not escape heaven'
s notice.  Whether we cry today or four days from today, or
forty days from today, the Lord shares our grief.  He did at 
Lazarus' grave.  He does today.  Death is a monster and like
all monsters he is not moved with compassion.  But Jesus is.
When we weep, we don't weep alone.

     Jesus Taught Us That The Loss Of Our Loved One Ought
To Be The Occasion For Our Instruction: --  Whether we come to the graveside 
as family, friends, or neighbors, we
ought to all come as students.  When Jesus arrived at Betha-
ny, He met Martha first.  She then sent for her sister, Mary.
The response of Mary bears imitation.  Hearing that the Teacher had come, 
"she arose quickly, and was coming to
Him" (vs. 29).  People avoid cemeteries.  They hurry from
funeral parlors as if not thinking of death discourage his com-
ing.  Death is a monster and like all monsters, he would not
have us wise to his schemes.  Death would have us run from
the grave in terror, rather than learn of his devices.  Jesus
would have us come and be reminded of our own mortality
and find that He "is the resurrection and the life" for those who believe in 
Him (vs. 25).

     Jesus Taught Us That The One Who Recognizes His Voice
In Life Will Recognize His Voice In Death: --"Lazarus, come
forth," said Jesus at the tomb of the one He loved (vs. 43).  
And Lazarus, who had know Jesus' voice when he lived, heard Jesus' voice 
though he lay in the tomb.  And he came
forth.  "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which
all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come
forth; those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who 
committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judg-
ment" (Jno. 5:28,29).  One day, Jesus will say to His saints, "Come forth."  
And they will awake to claim their reward. Death is a monster and like all 
monsters cannot be tamed.
But he can be conquered.  For the one who heeds the voice
of Jesus, death's rule is vanquished.

     May God help us to heed the voice of Jesus in life, so that
we might hear His voice in death and claim our victory in Him!
---------- Jason Moore in Biblical Insights, Vol. 6, No. 9, Sept.
2006.
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