JESUS’ FRIEND

“Jesus loved Martha, her sister (Mary), and Lazarus” (John 11:5). That’s where the story starts.

Apparently, there was a special friendship between Jesus and this family. Maybe their relationship started when Jesus healed their daddy, Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 12:1). Regardless of its beginning, when Lazarus got sick, the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). Jesus understood the cryptic message.

It's one of the best-known stories in the New Testament. Before Jesus arrived at their home in Bethany, Lazarus had been entombed for four long days. Welcomed by the grieving sisters, Jesus was rushed to the graveyard.

“Open the tomb!” “Take away the stone” (John 11:39, ESV). Though they knew that the body was already beginning to decay, they obeyed the Master’s command.

“Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). Somebody has rightly suggested that if Jesus hadn’t specified that He was speaking directly to Lazarus, if He’d just said, “Come out!”, then the whole graveyard would have been emptied. But, because He commanded Lazarus to be alive, Lazarus, wrapped like a mummy, awakened, rose, and wiggled his way to the cave’s opening.

“Unwrap him and let him go” (John 11:44).

John’s next chapter details the banquet held in honor of the restored Lazarus, and the Restorer of Life, Jesus. They marveled! They rejoiced! They celebrated! They worshipped!

Surely that’s not all! Tell me more! What’s the rest of the story?

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).