John 11:20–27, 32–36, 43–44

Bible Studies for Life
Assistant Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Balance Grief With Hope
John 11:20–27, 32–36, 43–44
To experience death is to be human. And knowing grief in the face of death is also a natural human experience that often leads to depression, anger, hopelessness and psychological paralysis. While the Christian faith is not an anesthetic for grief, faith in Jesus Christ places grief in the proper context of hope, that our lives are not meaningless but serve a greater purpose of glorifying God and that there is life after death.

An Intellectual Approach to Grief (20–27)
One critical point in the account of Lazarus’ death is found in verse 4; his death serves as an occasion for God’s glory as His Son, Jesus, is glorified. Although Lazarus’ resurrection is unique and does not set a pattern of similar expectations for believers, our grief can be a vehicle for God’s glory.

Digging further into the narrative, we find Lazarus’ two sisters, Martha and Mary, in mourning. And as depicted in Luke 10:38–42, the two sisters are distinct not only in their understanding of how best to serve Jesus but also in their response to Lazarus’ death. Martha first approached Jesus as He drew near to their home. She expressed firm belief in Jesus’ healing powers; had He been there, Lazarus would have been healed. Indeed she was aware that Lazarus would rise from the dead in the final resurrection and that those who believe in Christ will never die. What is notable in Martha’s interaction with Jesus is the lack of emotion in the face of grief. Possibly, for Martha, the best way to manage this crisis was to grasp tightly to what she knew to be true intellectually. For many, their grief is so profound the outward display of emotions becomes impossible. Jesus did not chastise Martha but redirected her attention to His identity as the Resurrection and the Life for her faith in Him was the anchor she needed in her grief.

An Emotional Approach to Grief (32–36)
In contrast to Martha, Mary responded to grief with unhindered emotions. Yet, given her emotional display, she mirrored Martha’s words of faith; Jesus’ presence would have saved Lazarus from death. Both sisters acknowledged faith in Jesus in their grief. The emotive response or lack thereof is not the critical point; both are legitimate. The non-negotiable matter is faith in Jesus. And here we have a unique portrait of God the Creator in Jesus. He wept upon seeing sin’s devastating effects, namely, death and its destructive effects on those remaining. Humans are helpless in the face of death (cf Rom. 5:12–14). God is the only solution and hope (cf Rom. 5:15–21). And God is neither distant nor uncaring but ultimately self-sacrificing in His compassion (cf Mark 10:45). In view of this portrait of Jesus, our grief is not endless and all-consuming. God is responsive to our suffering.

The Supernatural Approach to Grief (43–44)
For Martha and Mary, Jesus’ compassion had an immediate and unique effect; He called their brother back to life. The meaning of Jesus’ words “I am the resurrection and the life” (25) comes to an unexpected culmination. The Creator of life itself (John 1:3–4) commanded the dead Lazarus to live again. And without hesitation, Lazarus obeyed. For Martha and Mary, the belief that Jesus is the Christ led them to witness Him as He really is — God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Lazarus’ death was the occasion when both sisters witnessed the full meaning of Jesus’ identity as God’s Son. It was also the occasion for all those present to observe God’s glory at work even in death. Lazarus’ death becomes the means by which God is glorified so that many might come to faith. Although Lazarus’ resurrection is unique, it does set a precedent for all believers in that God is able to bring glory to Himself in the midst of grief as believers press in to hold on to their faith in Jesus as His Son and Savior. Lazarus’ resurrection serves to remind us that there is life beyond death for those who believe that Jesus indeed conquered death (2 Tim. 1:10).