Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:35-37)

Criticizing Jesus

Jesus proved He was the Son of God through the many miracles He performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. There was no disease Jesus could not heal. Lepers were cleansed, sight was restored to the blind, the lame could walk again, and the possessed were free from their demons. Jesus walked on water, turned water into wine, calmed the sea, and fed more than 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Through His miracles, Jesus proved He was the Son of God.

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany and a dear friend of Jesus. The Lord received news that Lazarus was very sick and near death. When He received the news, Jesus remained where He was for two days. Instead of going to Lazarus immediately, Jesus chose to wait a few days. When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she ran out to greet Him, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” What Martha said was correct. Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus of his disease. He delayed His arrival to show the glory of the resurrection.

When Mary came to where Jesus was, she also complained that if He had arrived sooner, Lazarus would not have died. It grieved Jesus deeply to see Martha and Mary weeping, accompanied by the Jews who had come to comfort the family. Jesus asked where they had buried Lazarus, and when they showed Him, Jesus wept. The Jews saw how much He loved Jesus, but complained that He was able to open the eyes of the blind but could not keep Lazarus from dying. What they failed to understand was that Jesus had demonstrated His power to raise the dead when He raised the daughter of Jairus and the widow of Nain’s son. The Jews believed Jesus had the power to give sight to the blind. They acknowledged His power to perform miracles. Why would it be impossible for someone who can perform all the signs, wonders, and miracles that Jesus did and not have the power to raise the dead?

In a critical time to show the power of God, the Jews complain. Martha and Mary also complained to Jesus, criticizing His delay to come at once. Jesus could have healed Lazarus if He had left when He heard the news. Delaying two days had a greater purpose. Jesus healed many of sicknesses, but to show His power over death, He tarried and allowed Lazarus to die. When Jesus approached the cave with the stone rolled against it, He told the people to take away the stone. Horrified, Martha reminded Jesus that Lazarus had been dead for four days and the body had begun to decay outwardly. The stench of death would have been overwhelming. When Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son, it was the same day he died. Jairus’ daughter was healed the same day she died. Lazarus had been dead for four days.

Jesus delayed His arrival to show the power of God that even when a body has begun the decaying process, God can raise it from the dead. This would foreshadow the resurrection of the dead after Jesus’ resurrection, when many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many. The people criticized Jesus for not healing Lazarus. What Jesus showed them was a greater power than healing. He proclaimed His power over death and the promise of eternal resurrection.