The Truly Dead

John 11:38-44
This is a story we are all familiar with, but I fear we may have missed the actual truths contained in the story.  Word is sent to Jesus that one whom Jesus loves is ill (vs. 3).  But instead of leaving to go to them, Jesus delays and remains where he is for two more days (vs. 6).  Eventually Jesus arrives where Lazarus is, only after he has died and been buried in a tomb.  He reassures the family, as well as his disciples, that this is only temporary and that Lazarus will rise again (vs. 23).  But when we intently look at Jesus' words and the interactions we see a whole new perspective open up.  It really comes to light best when he tells Martha that he, Jesus, is the resurrection and the life, and that all who believe in him will live, though they die, in fact, they will never die (vs. 25-26).  An interesting statement since Lazarus has just died.  But how can Jesus say he is, current tense, the resurrection when the resurrection does not exist yet?  As Martha equates it, the resurrection is not now, but yet to come, future tense (vs. 24).  And this is when it all begins to make sense.  It is not Lazarus that needs resurrecting, that will be resurrected in this instance, but those around him.  Jesus said that the illness that Lazarus has does not lead to death (vs. 4).  When referring to the passing on of Lazarus, Jesus simply calls it falling asleep, only changing his language when the disciples fail to comprehend what he is saying (vs. 11, 14).  Death is referring here to spiritual death, separation from God, not physical death, which is only falling asleep.  The type illness Lazarus had does not spiritually kill anyone, it simply destroys the physical body.  Since Lazarus is referred to as "the one whom you love", we can assume there was a relationship there, and that he knew Jesus.  It was not Lazarus who was dead, but those around them.  The illness he suffered does not lead to death, the illness those around him had does: unbelief.  Look at Jesus' words to his sisters (vs. 25-26): He tells them that he is the resurrection, and the life and that those who believe in him will never die but live.  It now makes sense in light of Lazarus' condition.  He is not dead, merely asleep.  He knows Jesus, so although he has died, truly he lives.  It is his family and the witnesses around them that need resurrecting.  They are the ones who need life, and Jesus is going to wake Lazarus in order that they may believe and therefore live, not so Lazarus will live.  He tells his disciples this (vs. 15), he tells this to Martha (vs. 40), and this is the reason why he prays out loud, that the people may believe (vs. 42).  Perhaps this is why it says that Jesus was deeply moved and troubled and weeps when he sees the tomb (vs. 33-35).  Their weeping demonstrate their unbelief, and he is troubled by their spiritual darkness.  But we know that they pass from death to life, that in this instance it is not Lazarus who is resurrected, but those around him who have witnessed this happening.  We assume this because Jesus says in vs. 40 that if they believed they would see the glory of God.  Indeed they see the glory of God, therefore they must have believed.  Lazarus is not the one who has died.  Lazarus is not the one who is raised, or in need of raising.  Lazarus actually had been resurrected long ago, whenever he had first met Jesus and became known as the one whom Jesus loved (vs. 3).  This is why Jesus can say he is, currently, right now, the resurrection and the life.  He is spiritually raising these people from the dead as this episode takes place.  We read about and witness, not Lazarus, but the Jews around him being resurrected and given life.  What an amazing God.  However, they almost missed it.  These women and Jews were so overcome when Lazarus died that it led some to become indignant towards Jesus (vs. 37).  But Jesus was using "tragedy" to raise people to life, true life.  What they considered a grievous loss, a monumental devastation, was nothing of the sort (Luke 12:4-5).  The real tragedy was their lack of belief.  Lazarus dying was nothing more than falling asleep.  Can we not take heart in this?  What we consider tragedy or great loss, could in actuality be God using our circumstances to raise others to life and show forth his glory.  Therefore we can give thanks in all circumstances,which is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us (I Thessalonians 5:18).