Jesus is annoyed by what death brings, angry at how death rules humanity, and recognizes that he opened the door for this grief in the case of Lazarus.ĭeath deserves our anger. Whatever the case, Jesus is angry about the situation. More likely, he is angered by the reality of death itself. He is not annoyed by the grief of Lazarus’s family and friends. Jesus is on the verge of rage he is upset, emotionally disturbed. The point is not sentimentality but emotional irritation.
The word is about anger rather than compassion. …or a personal scolding (Mark 14:5), as well as stern rebukes (Matthew 9:30 Mark 1:43). It describes the snorting of a horse in battle… The Greek term embrimaomai is an intense one. Jesus is greatly disturbed in his spirit. They are wailing their grief is visible and loud. He walks into a funeral home where grieving family and friends have gathered. Jesus sees Mary’s grief, and he hears the communal lament that surrounds her. “Could not this man who healed a blind man also have kept Lazarus from dying?” As a result, the people present said, “See how much he loved him!” But some of them complained. When Jesus saw Mary wailing in grief and saw the men and women with her visibly sobbing, a deep anger welled up within his spirit, and he roused himself and asked them, “Where have you laid him?” Rather, he points them to the reality he will soon revealed, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus does not dismiss it, and neither does he rebuke their confusion. The disciples wondered about it, Martha expressed it, Mary confronted Jesus with it, and bystanders complained about it. We can hear it in her voice when she says, “Why didn’t you come? Why weren’t you here to heal my brother and your friend?” Some of the bystanders also felt this, “Could not this man who healed a blind man also have kept Lazarus from dying?” It is confusion, bewilderment, and disappointment. Martha retrieves Mary, and Mary expresses the same sentiment as the disciples and her sister: “If only you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.”įor the third time Jesus hears the misgiving, even an implied complaint. This is the greater truth this is the truth God will announce when resurrection and life dawn on the tomb of Lazarus. He is the great liberator who frees us from the bondage of death. But Jesus is the “resurrection and the life.” Such healings, wondrous as they are, do not threaten death.ĭeath still reigns, and death still enslaves. He had healed the blind, the lame, and the diseased. This is why Jesus did not rush to heal Lazarus. “Martha,” Jesus asks, “do you believe this?” Then we hear the profound truth Jesus wants his disciples and Martha to believe: Why did you not come sooner, why did you not heal, and why weren’t you here when I needed you? We can hear the questions, the ones we all ask: If he had arrived earlier, Martha says, Lazarus would not have died. She voices what Jesus has already discussed with his disciples. He wants them to believe something much deeper and more profound something that, in fact, breaks through the bonds of suffering into a new day.Īs Jesus arrives in Bethany, Martha runs out to meet him. Jesus wants them to see something more he wants his disciples to believe something more.īut believe what? Not that Jesus is a miracle-worker-they already believe that.
He already had that reputation, which is why Mary and Martha send for him. If Jesus had arrived earlier to heal the sickness, he would have only confirmed his reputation as a healer. The death of Lazarus, it seems, may serve a greater purpose. However, rather than rushing to his aid as one might expect and for which Mary and Martha hoped, Jesus lingers for several days and arrives four days after Lazarus has died. They have every reason to believe Jesus will come quickly because Lazarus is a dear friend whom Jesus loved. The sisters, Mary and Martha, send for Jesus because they know Jesus can heal their brother. “Lazarus is sick” is the way the story opens. John 11:33–37 (my translation) The Death of Lazarus When Jesus saw Mary wailing in grief and saw the men and women with her visibly sobbing, a deep anger welled up within his spirit, and he roused himself and asked them, “Where have you laid him?” They responded, “Come and see.” Then Jesus burst into tears. These feelings filled his heart when he faced the reality of his friend’s death. Jesus felt all those emotions when he encountered the deep grief some of his closest friends were experiencing. This video is part of John Mark’s Anchors for the Soul Video Course, which includes 10 videos like this on suffering.
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