The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back

I’m continuing to follow Jesus during his last 11 days before he was crucified. I am putting myself right there in John 11 witnessing this saga play out.

Lazarus was sick. Lazarus sisters, Mary and Martha, were distraught. They called for Jesus to come.

But he didn’t.

Jesus was a no-show.

Lazarus died.

Mary and Martha were heartbroken. 

Lazarus was buried 4 days.

I want to make note that on :
Day 1 Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus that Lazarus was sick.

Day 2, 3 Jesus stayed right where he was at and continued to teach.

Day 4 Jesus left Bathabara and traveled to Bethany.

Yay! Jesus finally showed up!

But, it was too late!

When Mary heard that Jesus was there she ran to him and fell at his feet.

And here’s a little gem I learned about Mary. Every time Mary is described in the gospels, she is at the feet of Jesus.

Every time!

“If only you had been here, Lord,” she said, “my brother would never have died.”

And look at Jesus response to Mary…

Jesus wept.

God cried.

Did you get that?

Jesus shed hot tears of grief with his beloved friend.

Death is sad. Mary was crying and in pain over the death of her brother.

Jesus cried with her.

And then Jesus did something that shocked everyone.

Remember, Lazarus was dead four days.

Four days after death was significant to the Jews.

Why?

“The rabbis taught that the spirit hovered over the body for three days, and during that time there was always the possibility of resuscitation. But at the end of the third day, they taught that the spirit descended down the sheol, the place of the dead. At that point they taught there there’s no hope of Resurrection. So by delaying his arrival for four days Lazarus was at the stage where no one would be able to explain it away and say he’d been resuscitated.”(Arnold Fruchtenbaum)

Someone rolled the stone away.

Jesus cried out, “Lazarus come out.”

And he did!

Lazarus walked right out of that stinky tomb.

Most of the people in the crowd were thrilled!

Of course, they looked at each other and asked, “Could this man Jesus be the Messiah?

Someone hightailed it to the religious leaders and gave them a heads up that there were problems coming down the pike for them.

This had to end and it had to end immediately.

There was an emergency meeting of the religious leaders of Israel.

Someone leaked what went on at that meeting to John. John wrote about it in John 11 :47 -53 .

That’s our lesson for tomorrow.