"Divine Compassion: Exploring the Humanity and Authority of Jesus in John 11:35-45"
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone [a]from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.
In John 11:35-45, we are presented with a profound manifestation of Jesus' humanity and divinity. Verse 35, in particular, is a poignant illustration of this duality. Here, we see that despite being God, Jesus willingly embraced human nature and shed tears for His friend Lazarus. This act of weeping reveals His deep compassion and empathy for the sorrows of humanity but also serves as a powerful reminder of His humanity, a trait that we, as humans, can readily identify with.
As the narrative unfolds, we are privy to the growth of Martha's faith. However, her struggle to fully comprehend Christ's will and power (vv. 39-40) introduces complexity to the story. This struggle, far from being a sign of weakness, underscores the depth of her faith and The profound nature of Christ's teachings, piquing the reader's curiosity and encouraging further exploration.
In verse 43, Jesus calls Lazarus forth with His divine authority, distinct from the Father's, revealing His divine power inherent within Himself, underscoring that while Jesus came from the Father, He possesses divine authority independently.
The imagery of Lazarus emerging from the tomb, still bound in graveclothes (v. 44), starkly contrasts Jesus' resurrection, which transcends human nature. Jesus' resurrection symbolizes the triumph over death, a stark contrast to Lazarus, whose earthly life will eventually come to an end again. This stark contrast underscores the unique and unparalleled power of Jesus' resurrection, leaving us in awe of His divine authority.
This passage poignantly reminds us that it's natural to mourn the loss of loved ones, as even Jesus wept. Yet, through His example, we find solace in the understanding that our human nature should embody love, humility, compassion, and mercy. Jesus gives us a perfect model of navigating grief while affirming the hope and power of His resurrection, inspiring us with the promise of eternal life.
In Christ, love Jared W Campbell