The Ancient Word...

John 11 recounts how Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. In the past, Jesus had revived others who were dead for only a few hours, such as Jairus' daughter and the widow's son (see Luke 7:11-15; 8:40-56). Lazarus, however, had lay dead in the tomb for four days, so that the stench of decay was on him (see John 11:17, 39).

John identifies this extraordinary miracle as a "sign" (semeion, v. 47) that points beyond itself to a deeper truth -- the truth that Jesus gives new life, both in the present and at the future Resurrection and Final Judgment. Jesus articulates this truth in his conversation with Lazarus' sister Martha:

I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live (future), even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me (present) will never die. (John 11:25-26, NIV)

The Lord explains himself more fully earlier in the Gospel:

Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life (present) and will not be condemned (future); he has crossed over from death to life (present). I tell you the truth, a time is coming (future) and has now come (present) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (future). For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out (future) -- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:21-29)

... for Today

We're not told how Lazarus felt about his recall to life. His resurrection surely thrilled Mary, Martha, and many others. However, it alarmed the chief priests and the Pharisees as they considered the political consequences (see John 11:47-53).

Most of us would love to see such a miracle today. A loved one dies. A friend lies comatose on life support. We yearn for their healing. Resurrection or restoration -- we'd happily take it all.

But the raising of Lazarus was not only about Christ's capacity to regenerate a decaying body. It also highlights his extraordinary capacity to regenerate the spiritually dead.

Jesus says that, if we believe in the Father, we have crossed over from death to life already!

It seems so much less spectacular. Local newspapers don't make headlines out of spiritual renewal. A physical revival? Yes. A spiritual revival? Ho-hum.

But for Christ, the miracle to beat them all is not calling forth a dead body from the tomb after four days. The greatest miracle occurs when Light breaks through to the deepest darkness of the soul, when Living Water softens a parched and shriveled heart, when the Bread of Life gives hope to a desperately malnourished spirit.

And souls that have lived for years in darkness and death are called forth to life through faith.

You were dead in your transgressions and sins...But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions...And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.... (Ephesians 2:1-7)

Discuss...

1. Why do you think spiritual renewal receives so little attention, even among believers?
   
2. What does "crossing over from death to life" mean for us here and now?

Chris Davis, PhD & David Timms, PhD
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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