BIBLE STORIES # 42 - Jesus Raises Lazarus
In the small town of Bethany lived two sisters and a brother - Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Jesus loved them, and they were his true friends.
Once, when Jesus was staying with them, Martha decided to make a delicious treat. While she was busy, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him carefully. Seeing this, Martha became angry with her sister and exclaimed:
- Teacher! Look: I'm already off my feet, and she's messing around! Tell her to help me!
But Jesus answered:
- Martha, Martha! You're all fussing, but Maria chose what is much more valuable: what will remain with her forever!
And one day a misfortune happened: Lazar fell seriously ill. Jesus was told about this, and He went with the disciples to Bethany. But when He came there, it turned out that Lazarus had already died for several days and was buried. The sisters were very sad, a lot of friends and neighbors came to console them. When Jesus saw this, he was sad, wept and asked to be led to the grave. But to the sisters, He said:
"He who believes in Me will come to life after death, because I myself am a resurrection and a life."
In those days in Palestine, the dead were often buried not in the ground, but in stone caves, the entrance to which was then filled up with stones. And then Jesus was led to such a cave, and He asked to move the stone away. All were very surprised, but they fulfilled the request. Then Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed to the Father, and then exclaimed:
"Lazarus, come out!"
And so, to the amazement of all those gathered, Lazarus came to life from the grave! Seeing this, many believed in Jesus.
Jesus said. "I am THE resurrection, and THE life." (John 11:25). By changing the definite article "the" to the indefinite article "a" you suggest he is just one of a group. He is not. Jesus is the only one who has life within himself, because he is God manifested in the form of a man.
" For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:26-29).
"Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16).