The word for moved is not that He had was moved by heartache or feeling the loss of Lazarus’ life. There is an interesting Greek word where Jesus said in verse 33 that He was deeply moved. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Jesus’ Anger for Disbelief John 11:33-37 “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. Jesus said that He is “the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live again.” Martha even goes further and says that “Yes Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Martha knows more theology than do the religious leaders like the Pharisees and certainly more that the Sadducees, who didn’t even believe in the resurrection. Martha believed in the resurrection and so she knew that he would live again indicating that she believe that Lazarus would be in the Kingdom of Heaven. Martha seems to rebuke Jesus by saying “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus tells Martha that “Your brother will rise again” and Martha replies “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” The “last day” is a reference to the day when all will be raised from their graves some to eternal life and some to everlasting destruction. Being dead for four days makes the possibility of Lazarus living again humanly impossible. Lazarus was not only dead but dead for four days which means that his body had begun to undergo deterioration or decay. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. Why then does Jesus say that “for your sake I am glad that I was not there?” It is so “that may believe.” Believe what? Dead for four Days John 11:17-27 “Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. The disciples didn’t understand because they said that if Lazarus is sleeping, he’ll get better but Jesus plainly said that Lazarus is dead. Jesus says that Lazarus has fallen asleep, a frequent use of the Jewish vernacular meaning death. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. Lazarus’ Death John 11:11-15 “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Why did He say this? He answers this in the next statement, “It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Martha and Mary must have wondered why Jesus didn’t come immediately to heal Lazarus but instead Jesus stayed “two days longer in the place where he was.” To find out why He waited we read on in John’s gospel. The interesting fact is that Jesus said that “This illness does not lead to death” but Lazarus would die and Jesus knew this. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Lazarus’ Illness John 11:4-6 “But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. The example of Lazarus’ being raised from the dead has important truths that the believer can learn about the plan of salvation but also has applications for the unbeliever. Some will be raised to eternal life while others will be raised to eternal judgment (Rev 20:11-15). Lazarus’ name is Hebrew in origin and interestingly means “God is my help.” The account of Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead is not just symbolic of Jesus being God and having within Himself the power to resurrect the dead…it is a story that we will all be raised someday.

Bible story lazarus rising dead