Lazarus Unbound

April 5, 2003 - Lazarus had lain in the grave as a dead man for four days. This fact is true beyond a shadow of a doubt, by the word of numerous eyewitnesses. It is confirmed to us by the words written by the eyewitness John the Apostle who reminds us of this fact several times in his gospel. Martha, the sister of Lazarus and a second eyewitness of the event, even goes so far as to warn the Lord not to break the seal on the tomb, knowing that his body would have already started its inevitable decay:

“Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” (John 11:39)

To describe the condition of the body, we lean on the words of the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, who described the carcass of Lazarus as “a mass of putridity… a body that has been dead four days, and in which the worms have already held carnival.”

The unanimous opinion of both the worldlings and the religious people, even those who had committed themselves to Jesus, was that the case of Lazarus was a hopeless one. Martha and Mary had exclaimed: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21 & 11:32. Some of the religious Jews on hand said: “Could not this man that opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” (John 11:37) Jesus groaned within Himself, because both the worldlings and the religious men, both supporters and opposition, had come to the conclusion that He had the power to heal the sick and to fix the broken, but He certainly could not give life to the dead.

This is the key element to this lesson that we MUST understand if we are to grasp the fullness of the Gospel. Either wicked sinners are just sick and broken, and they must be “fixed” or healed, or, as the scripture teaches, all the sons of Adam are DEAD in trespasses and sins, in need of life. Which is it? This is the question we face in these last days. It is the battleground of faith, and it is the foundation on which right doctrine must stand or fall.

Jesus told his disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe, nevertheless let us go unto him.” (John 11:14-15) Jesus had delayed his arrival in Bethany for the express purpose of making sure that Lazarus was dead: “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” (John 11:6) Jesus did not hurry along to Bethany, in order to beat death to Lazarus. In order to proclaim his SOVEREIGNTY over death, Jesus allowed death to take Lazarus. Lazarus was not sick… he was dead.

Every miracle that Jesus performed served many purposes. A miracle performed served each different witness according to God’s eternal purpose for that vessel. To the elect, those who had been given the gift of belief (Phil 1:29), the miracles were designed to solidify their belief that Jesus Christ was indeed the messiah, and to sovereignly increase their faith (Luke 17:5). To those who believed not, the miracles served to further harden their unbelieving hearts. This is why Jesus was glad for the disciple’s sakes that he was about to perform this great miracle, but, as he approached the tomb and the Jews who had gathered there to comfort Martha and Mary, scripture says he literally wept at their unbelief (John 11:35).

The disciples were not at all convinced that Jesus had the power over life and death. They were afraid that a return to Judea would get them all killed (John 11:8-9). Neither did they believe that unto Jesus (as God) were ALL the issues concerning death (Psalm 68:20). Time, Place, Manner of death - all these things are in the hand of Almighty God for each man. Note that Jesus rebuked them for this unbelief, and specifically warned that those who did not believe in God’s absolute sovereignty walked “in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him” (John 11:10). To believe and trust in the absolute and total sovereignty of God is a gift, and the faith produced can only have God as its author and proper finisher.

Let us not forget, the story of Lazarus is the story of God’s salvation and His eternal love for His sheep. It is a perfect picture of how God calls and saves His children. Jesus expounds the mystery of this resurrection to Martha.

“Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:23-27)

Note that Jesus says that HE IS THE RESURRECTION, and the life. To be “in Christ” is to participate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As such, the believer is already dead, buried and resurrected WITH CHRIST (Eph. 2:6). These, even though they may be persecuted, afflicted, even martyred for Christ’s sake - are participants in this first resurrection.

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6)

What an awesome picture the Lord has given us! What a blessing to have such wisdom bestowed upon us! It is too high for us!

Let us look at the elements of this story, and how it serves us:

1. Lazarus was sick (John 11:1). His sickness was terminal (in the flesh), and Jesus knew it. Lazarus was sick FOR THE GLORY OF GOD (John 11:4). Please examine this truth in light of the condition of man, and how God is glorified in the redemption, sanctification and justification of sinners.

2. The Lord loved Lazarus. This is not true of everyone Jesus interacted with. Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:3); while He showed no affection at all for hundreds of people that He met. Lazarus was special to Jesus. Examine this in light of the fact that the Bible teaches that God does NOT love everyone (Lev 20:23, Psalm 5:5), but in fact he hates some(Psalm 11:5), despite what lying Arminians teach by twisting John 3:16 out of context.

3. Jesus tarried to make sure that Lazarus would die (John 11:6). In fact, Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. This is the picture of the condition of man, and of God’s sovereign salvation of His elect. All of mankind had been dead for 4000 years, and there was no hope for man outside of the work of the Son of God (Matt. 26:42). God particularly chose Lazarus to resurrect, because He loved him.

4. Lazarus had been buried in the religious manner of the day. He had been anointed with perfumed oils, wrapped in graveclothes with his head wrapped in a napkin. His body had been placed in a grave with a heavy stone placed over the entrance. Why? Why were all of these actions taken? Who benefited from the perfume, graveclothes and napkin? Did Lazarus? No, we know that Lazarus was surely dead (John 11:14). Did the living benefit? No. They had locked Lazarus away from them; he was no good to them at all. Preparing the body of the dead is an act of Religious tradition. It serves neither the dead, nor those who themselves speed towards death.

5. The Lord commanded those who surrounded the grave of his beloved to remove the stone. They didn’t want to, but they all obeyed the order. Some of these people belonged to Jesus, but most did not. The world obeys the decree of God whether they know it or not, and whether they want to or not. His commands concerning His sheep WILL BE CARRIED OUT. All obstructions to their salvation will be removed, even when religious people strive against it.

6. The Lord commanded Lazarus to come out. Note: It was not a suggestion, or an “invitation”. Contrary to popular religious dogma, He did not say, “Lazarus, I have provided a way for you to come forth, but for me to actually CAUSE it to happen would violate your precious will. I want you to WANT to come out. If you don’t WANT to come out, you can stay in there. I won’t mind if my will is overturned, or if my glory is diminished and if I end up looking foolish. My love is such that I want you to love me. Even if you are a dead and stinking mass of putridity, incapable of hearing me or doing what I ask.” Jesus commanded a dead, rotting corpse to come forth. He did not beg or plead. He demanded obedience. Lazarus was incapable of raising himself. He had to be HEALED FIRST, in order to respond to the command. Life had to have entered him FIRST. God is sovereign over life. Never let some religious pimp tell you differently.

7. The fact that Lazarus was resurrected was EVIDENCED by His obedience to the command of God. God healed him and gave him life. Lazarus could do nothing but respond. His will was in bondage to the Son of God. God expected obedience, and He decreed it. He ordained that there would be fruit born of His decree, AND that that fruit would remain (John 15:16). To God alone belongs the glory. Of what can Lazarus boast?

8. God’s command was to “…loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:44). Loose him from what? Let him go from what? The command from God was that they would loose him from RELIGIOUS TRADITION that bound him head and foot. The command went forth to UNBIND his head that he might see and hear. God commanded that those around Lazarus TEAR OFF those religious rags, so that the one who had been set free would be free indeed. Religious systems grab their victims and indoctrinate them with foolish and evil traditions. Religious systems immediately bind their victims. They are not in the business of setting people free, and if they are not, then they are not of God.

9. Jesus was author and finisher of the resurrection of Lazarus. He shares His glory with NO ONE (John 11:4). He saves His elect so that His purpose will be fulfilled, so that He alone will be glorified, and to the intent that those OTHERS whom He loves will believe (John 11:15).

10. Lazarus was the EVIDENCE of God’s sovereign power (John 12:9). The next time we see Lazarus, he is supping with the Lord and the RELIGIOUS WORLD is seeking to put him to death (John 12:10). It is evident that the Priests (and the wicked world) hated Jesus because He was the Messiah and the Saviour that it was prophesied should come. It is also evident that the Priests and the wicked world hated Lazarus, because he was the evidence that Jesus is God. If the Lord has saved you, the world should hate you. It must be so (1 John 3:13). If the world does not hate you, if the religious world does not seek to silence you, if the priests do not wish you were dead - then you might not be living. Check your clothing. Either you are still bound up, or you are still dead.

The religious world has gone to great lengths to create analogies for salvation. They have painted simplistic pictures with broad brush strokes, and elaborate artful concoctions with multitudes of brilliant contrivances. But the analogy chosen by God remains the most incisive and conclusive. Lazarus is a picture. If the Lord has shown this special love towards you, if the Lord has raised you from the dead, then Lazarus is you. Lazarus is me.

When Jesus walked the planet and approached the tomb of Lazarus, the putrefied body of Adam’s fallen race had lain in ruin for 4 days (4000 years, 2 Peter 3:8). The worms of sin and decay had indeed held carnival. The dictates of the law and the demands of justice had brought about perfect death in man, and the corrosive effects of man-made religion and superstition had caused the body to be perfumed, mummified and sealed away from those who also travel that way, and who will also soon become the food of worms.

The religious man seeks to avoid the facts of this God-given analogy, because he cannot bear the truths it reveals 

Life is given to Lazarus particularly and specially.

It is certain that multitudes of the dead of Bethany and of that region lay in similar tombs that honeycombed the area. In fact if we were to look at all of Israel, or if we were to expand our view to examine the entire world, it is evident that millions (even billions) of people had gone to the grave without the Lord paying any special heed. But God loved Lazarus. Universalists and Free-will worshippers will kick and scream at that idea. They never have liked Lazarus, and they never will. It has not been given unto them to believe (Phil. 1:29). Pride reigns in their hearts. The story of Lazarus, witnessed by multitudes, is proof that they have believed a false gospel, and that they serve a “different Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4). They have so hated the truth, that they spend their lives seeking out the evidence of God’s sovereignty with the intent of destroying it. They hope that the elect of God might suffer on in ignorance and religious tradition. But the story of Lazarus is the story of you, and it is the story of me. But, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Let us go and sup with the Lord, and let the religious men do what they will. My God is sovereign, and I can plainly declare, HIS WILL BE DONE.

I am your servant in Christ Jesus,

Michael Bunker