Lazarus and Thomas

March 20 Lazarus and Thomas John 11:1-16

“Now Christ commands His power when He says that He will come to waken Lazarus. For though, as has been said, the easiness of the resurrection is not expressed in the word “sleep”, Christ shows that He is the Lord of death by saying that He wakens those whom He restores to life.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:5

Bethany, in Judea, lies a mere two miles from Jerusalem, well within the reach of those who wanted to harm Jesus. So, when He was called to return to the village, on account of the serious illness of an old friend, Jesus’ disciples were understandably nervous. The last time they had been in Jerusalem, Jesus had almost been stoned to death. To return would be a great risk. In point of fact, Jesus did not return immediately. Despite the entreaty He received from Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, the man who had been taken gravely ill, Jesus remained where He was, presumably still in Perea, for two more days.

As a result of the delay, Lazarus (whose name was a familial form of Eleazar, meaning “God helps”) was already dead and in his tomb by the time Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany. The sisters were, understandably, distraught; even the disciples seemed not to understand Him. Jesus had assured them that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in his death; but they were not to know that He spoke of Lazarus’ resurrection. When He used the metaphor of sleep, they continued to misunderstand. Death was often spoken of as sleep, so the disciples ought to have understood, but they assumed He meant that Lazarus was not going to die. He had to spell it out for them: the sleep of which He spoke was not natural sleep. Lazarus would die. But that was not to be the end of the story. As a result of His falling asleep, their faith would be increased. They must have wondered, “How?”

That Jesus returned to Bethany, despite the danger, is an indication of His love for Lazarus and his sisters. That they accompanied Him tells us that the disciples had developed a deep loyalty that was about to be tested. Yet they went with Him, many would not have done so.

The darkness was beginning to fall, but it was not yet night. The daylight of God’s protection still held. While it was still day, Jesus had to do the work that had been committed to Him. There would be time enough for stumbling when night came. In the meantime, they would return to Judea, even if it meant drawing closer to Jesus’ own death. The hour had not yet come, but it was close.

Thomas spoke; for the first time, his words are recorded for us. They were brave words, from the one whom history has cruelly dubbed “the Doubter.” If Jesus was determined to travel to Judea, then the disciples should go with Him, even if it meant that they were going to their death. This brave man was a twin, though we know nothing of his sibling. Both “Thomas” and “Didymus” are derived from words that mean, “the Twin.” In one sense, Thomas is our twin, since we are often torn between confident faith and withering doubt. Though he demanded evidence, Thomas eventually moved beyond doubt, but not until he had seen his Master victorious over death. This makes his courage here even more striking. Here, Thomas did not see. Lazarus had not yet been raised from death to life, and yet he believed.

For further reading: Psalm 111