“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha to Jesus, John 11.21.
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary to Jesus, John 11.32.
The raising of Lazarus in John 11 represents the climax of Jesus’ public ministry. It is the seventh “sign” Jesus performs in John’s gospel, the first being turning water to wine at the marriage in Cana of Galilee. As a miracle, it is unparalleled. There are only seven resurrection stories in this category in the Bible (Jesus own resurrection is in its own category): Elijah, Elisha, Peter, and Paul perform one each. Jesus performs three. We notice that, other than the three Jesus performed, two are performed in the Old Testament, and two in the New Testament. We also notice that two happen before the ministry of Jesus, and two happen after. The number 3 is as significant a number in the Bible as the number 7. 3 is the number of divinity, and Jesus performs three resurrections: the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9.23-26, Mark 5.35-43, and Luke 8.49-56), the raising of the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7.11-17), and raising Lazarus (John11.38-44). What sets this resurrection event apart from all the others is the time Lazarus is in the grave. He has been in the grave for four days, and his body is already decomposing.
This detail is important. Jesus, when he hears that Lazarus is terminally ill waits for days to visit, because He intends to leave no doubt about his unique power over death (vv.11-15). Lazarus is in the grave for four days because Jesus intends him to be.
The lengthy account of these events begins by reminding the reader of the deep bond of love that exists between Jesus and the Lazarus family: “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus,” (v.5). So we understand that when Lazarus fell seriously ill, his sisters would expect Jesus to come quickly. He didn’t. Neither did he heal Lazarus across the distance, which he is capable of doing (Matthew 8.5-13, Luke 7.1-10). Jesus lets Lazarus linger, suffer, and die. Jesus allows his sisters to watch, wait, worry, and wonder why Jesus didn’t come.
Then there are three days of grief. There are all the details that attend a death. The sisters must prepare their brother’s body for burial, and then bury him. They must arrange for mourners. They must welcome and attend to guests who come to mourn with them. Each responsibility is fatiguing and stressful. Worst of all is the feeling that Jesus has neglected them. And so when Jesus arrives four days late, the first thing both sisters say to Jesus is: “Lord, if you had been here our brother would not have died.” It is the only thing Mary ever says in scripture. This stings so much when Mary says it that Jesus weeps (v.35).
The raising of Lazarus is an event brimming with meaning. One of the lessons we learn is that in this sinful world, even when you love, and do everything according to God’s plan, you might still hurt people you care about. This is true even if you are Jesus. Jesus is perfect (Hebrews 4.15), and still His actions in John 11 cause people He loves to hurt, and to hurt badly.
The great lesson we learn from both Martha and Mary is that the hurt and disappointment they feel does not lessen their faith. Martha says to Jesus: “Yes Lord, I have believed (and will believe) that you are the Christ, the Son of God, He who comes into the world,” (v.27). Mary, who says nothing with words, but whose brave deeds trumpet forth, still falls at his feet. He is still her Lord.
Let us be as wise, and as full of faith as they are. Let us never accept a mathematics which equates difficulty and pain with neglect and heartlessness. The math does not necessarily follow – even if we are speaking of Jesus.
