Re-read John 11:1-44, out loud, if you can.
The story of Lazarus is more than a miracle—it’s a window into the heart of Jesus and a preview of Easter. From the moment the sisters send word, “Lord, the one You love is sick,” to the climactic shout, “Lazarus, come out!”, we see a Savior who moves with purpose, weeps with compassion, and wields power over death itself.
Every moment in this chapter leads us somewhere deeper. Jesus waits—not out of indifference, but to reveal a glory greater than healing. He comforts and challenges Martha. He weeps with Mary. He commands life where death had already taken hold. He unwinds us from the trappings of a corpse. And in doing so, He shows that resurrection isn’t just a future hope—it’s a present reality, because He is the Resurrection and the Life.
But this story also sets the stage for another: the raising of Lazarus ignites the plot to kill Jesus (John 11:45-57). In giving life to His friend, Jesus takes one step closer to laying down His own. He knows what it will cost—and He goes anyway. The empty tomb in Bethany points forward to another tomb that will soon be empty: His own. Easter is the fulfillment of what we see in John 11—the death of death, through the love and power of Christ.
Something to prayerfully consider: How does the resurrection of Lazarus deepen my understanding of what Jesus accomplished at Easter?
