Also, Jesus was raised after Lazarus, but only Jesus is called the first-fruits and first-born from the dead (Rom. Remember, Lazarus had been raised from the dead by Jesus (John 11:43 12:1) and is presumed to have died since the chief priests plotted to kill him (John 12:10). Jesus retained the crucifixion wounds (John 20:27) and was able to appear in rooms (John 20:26) – demonstrating that he was in his resurrected, glorified body. 1:5) – meaning he was the first raised in a glorified body (1 Cor. Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. No one can escape the truth about Jesus.Lazarus was not resurrected in his glorified body. Additionally, by their behavior they were bringing on themselves the very destruction they sought to avert. Ironically, these enemies of Jesus were setting the stage for His greatest miracle. Caiaphas, the high priest, put it bluntly: Jesus had to die. Never mind that they unmistakably verified His identity. 47), and the rulers would lose their place. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him” (v. In their own words the Jewish rulers’ dilemma was, “This man is performing many signs. And with that He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” He did, still bound in his burial wrappings. He wanted all present to know that what was about to happen was done in conjunction with the Father, “so that they may believe that You sent Me” (v. Jesus ordered, “Remove the stone.” Martha, evidently thinking Jesus only wished to see the body, objected. Together they all made their way to the tomb. Lazarus’s other sister, Mary, then came out to meet Jesus, accompanied by a crowd of mourners. Martha readily confessed her faith in Him as the Son of God, yet she was slow to see these implications of His identity. Earlier He affirmed that the Father had entrusted to Him life and judgment (John 5:21-29), prerogatives He possessed because of who He was. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v. Martha believed that but thought only of the final resurrection. Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again. Lazarus’s sister Martha went out to meet Jesus, opining that had the Lord been there Lazarus would not have died. That had the effect of ensuring Lazarus’s death (he had been dead four days by the time Jesus arrived). Jesus delayed two days before leaving to go to Bethany where Lazarus lived. That, along with His subsequent resurrection and ascension, was Jesus’ crowning glory (cf. Second, this incident would trigger the official plotting of His own death. How so? First, raising Lazarus would be a dramatic proof of Jesus’ deity. Lazarus would indeed die, but his death would not be the primary result of this sickness Jesus’ glorification would be. He responded, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified by it” (vs. Jesus was in Perea when He received word that Lazarus was sick. No miracle better made the point than the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-53). He said to skeptics, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father” (John 10:37-38). Jesus’ miracles were signs, indicators of who He was.
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