Jesus continues dealing with limited understanding of His life-giving power. Martha quietly told Mary of His wish to see her. Mary’s private thoughts in grief quickly looked to Jesus (11:28-30). He showed no hesitation to meet with the sisters, but perhaps encountering a boisterous crowd of consolers was not what He wanted (11:30). Even well-meaning people can upset the wishes of the grieving (11:31).
How a person grieves often reveals his or her understanding of Jesus (11:32). Mary spoke the same words to Jesus as had Martha. Clearly, they had talked over the matter together. Mary shares Martha’s misunderstanding: Jesus was limited in the exercise of His power. Yet her faith was not silent; she was a doer. Her actions of faith spoke well of her witness of Jesus (12:1-8; Luke 10:42). Clarifying Mary’s faith would come shortly through Jesus’ action.
Emotions affected Jesus but did not sway Him from His purpose (11:33-35). The word “troubled” in the New Testament includes some degree of anger, so to say Jesus was indignant is justified (11:33). Jesus was the most understanding person ever. He took people where they were and sought to move them to a higher plane of knowledge and faith. In this scene, however, His frustration shows. He had regularly and often demonstrated the power of God to restore a quality of life, and even life itself, yet here before Him was yet another instance of incorrect assumptions.
The time to fulfill His purpose for coming was at hand (11:34). The death of His friend touched Him deeply (11:35). When in grief of this depth, the slightest word or movement can cause a sudden expression of emotion. Such was the case here. The Bible affirms: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15). He who never lost a battle has a heart for all who are on a grief journey.
Jesus’ love for Lazarus was manifest in this episode, a fact recognized, yet incomplete (11:36-37). They still held that Jesus could only work before the fact (prevention), but not after the fact (restoration) until the Last Day. Jerusalem knew Jesus had given sight to a man (John 9). However, they had not grasped the significance of that event, which was Jesus’ bringing Light into the world (9:5, 11). Jesus’ power was available to Him whenever He chose. That moment had now arrived.
Dr. David Moore can be contacted at dm5867se@outlook.com
