The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 11:38-42, “So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Did you ever say or do something with the purpose of obtaining a crowd reaction? I’m sure we all have at some point in time. Well, Jesus did the same thing, except His was for a very different reason. Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, had died four days previously. Jesus was a dear and close friend of Lazarus and his sisters; and it was His intention to use the raising of Lazarus to convince the multitude that God the Father had indeed sent His Son, Jesus, that the Jewish people might believe in Him.

Common caves were often used as burial grounds, and a cave was used for the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus Himself was deeply moved by Lazarus’s death; and He reverently said, “Remove the stone.” Lazarus’ sister, Martha, objected; yet, Jesus reminded her that He had previously said that she would indeed witness the power of God.

Jesus then cried aloud, “Lazarus, come forth!” And “the man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings…” Then Jesus said, “Unbind him, and let him go… Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”

The miracles Jesus performed were as much for us as they were for the Jews of Jesus’ day. He went to the cross to cover our sins with His blood. Then, He arose that we, too, might believe in Him and receive everlasting life. Have you received His Life? He is available to you when you confess your sin and believe in Him as your personal Savior.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America