The time has come at last when Christ is to die for the sins of the world. The time has come when the true passover Lamb is to be slain, when the true blood of the atonement is to be shed, when the Messiah is to be cut off, when the way into the holiest is to be opened by

We read of a supper at Bethany where Lazarus sits among the guests - Lazarus, who has been publicly raised from the dead, after lying four days in the grave. Here is the same Lazarus, after several weeks, sitting among men with a real body and eating and drinking real food. This is a proof of Christ’s power that even

A mighty miracle is done within an easy walk of Jerusalem. A man four days dead is raised to life, in the sight of many witnesses. The fact is unmistakable, and can’t be denied; and yet the chief priests and Pharisees will not believe that He who does this miracle is the Messiah. In the face of overwhelming evidence, they

Why does Jesus tell them to move the stone? It’s as easy for Him to command the stone to roll away untouched as to call a dead body from the tomb. But He chooses to give man something to do. He is teaching the lesson that His almighty power is not meant to destroy man’s responsibility. In doing good to

The house of Mary and Martha at Bethany is filled with mourners when Jesus arrives. Many of them, no doubt, know nothing of the faith, the hope, the love of Christ, or the discipleship of these women. But they feel for them in their great sorrow and kindly come to offer what comfort they can. By so doing they reap

The hearts of true believers are filled with a lot of grace and a lot of weakness. Martha and Mary are perfect examples. Both of these women believe that Jesus has the power to stop their brother from dying. But neither of them understand that Christ does not have to be physically present in order to help. Jesus can prevent

The disciples don’t understand why Jesus wants to walk back into danger in Judea. We are often put in circumstances just as puzzling to us as this is to the disciples. We are led in ways we don’t understand, and asked to do things we would never have chosen to do. At times we cannot see the usefulness or wisdom

There is so much we can get out of this passage that we are going to look at it again today. These verses teach us that Christ loves all who are true Christians. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are very different people. Elsewhere in the Bible we are told that Martha is a worrier and that Mary sits at Jesus’ feet

True Christians can suffer from sickness as much as unbelievers. Lazarus of Bethany is one whom Jesus loves, and a brother of two well-known holy women. But Lazarus is dying. The Lord Jesus, who has power over all diseases, can prevent this illness if He wants. But He doesn’t. He allows Lazarus to be sick, and in pain, and tired,

The unbelieving Jews at Jerusalem are not impressed by Jesus’ miracles or His teaching. They are determined not to receive Him as their Messiah, and they try to kill Him. Our Lord has done nothing wrong. He is no robber, murderer, or rebel against the law. He goes about doing good. There is no fault or inconsistency in His character.