What Jesus Did : John 11:38-40 - Removing the Stench of Death

    by Phil Ware

    Removing the Stench of Death - John 11:38-40

    Again Jesus felt very upset. Jesus came to the tomb {where Lazarus was}. The tomb was a cave with a large stone covering the entrance. Jesus said, "Move the stone away." Martha said, "But Lord, it has been four days since Lazarus died. There will be a bad smell." Martha was the sister of the dead man (Lazarus). Then Jesus said to Martha, "Remember what I told you? I said that if you believed, then you would see the glory of God." (ERV) Full Text

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    Key Thought

    Gritty. The reality of Lazarus' death—the sorrow, disappointment, friendship, finality, cemetery, and stench—is told in plain, straightforward, and gritty truth. Lazarus is long gone. His tomb is shut. His body stinks. His sisters are disappointed by Jesus' absence and tardiness. All those close to Lazarus grieve his passing. All these realities, however, have to give way to one greater reality: Jesus and his glory! Jesus contradicts our mortal reality. At least that is what faith says. So the issue we face in the bitter realities of death when it hits close to our home is this: Do we have faith that Jesus and his glory offer us a greater reality?


    Today's Prayer

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    Holy God, please bless those that I know and love who now grieve because death has hit close to their home. Bless them with faith so they can believe in the greater reality of Jesus' return in glory. Father, I also ask for confident faith in that same greater reality. Give me courage, grace, and faith as I face my own mortality and the mortality of all those I love. In Jesus' glorious name I pray. Amen.


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    Today's Verses in Context


    Again Jesus felt very upset. Jesus came to the tomb {where Lazarus was}. The tomb was a cave with a large stone covering the entrance. Jesus said, "Move the stone away." Martha said, "But Lord, it has been four days since Lazarus died. There will be a bad smell." Martha was the sister of the dead man (Lazarus). Then Jesus said to Martha, "Remember what I told you? I said that if you believed, then you would see the glory of God." So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me. But I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that you sent me." After Jesus said this he called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man (Lazarus) came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with pieces of cloth. He had a handkerchief covering his face. Jesus said to the people, "Take the cloth off of him and let him go."

    -- John 11:38-44 (ERV)

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