The seventh Sign... part 3...

We have seen the Lord, the Messiah, moved to tears for us.  We have seen Him literally cry for the power that death holds over us, and the power that sin holds over us.  He stood and shed tears for our lack of understanding, and for us, as well.  Now we get to see something that shows His power that He holds over death, displayed before us all!

"'Remove the stone,' Jesus said. 

Martha, the dead man's sister, told Him, 'Lord, he already stinks.  It's been four days.'

Jesus said to her, 'Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'"

John 11:39-40, HCSB

In my profession, I can tell you that four days without an embalming procedure is not a pleasant thing.  No amount of aloe or fragrant oil can cover the odor, and there is nothing like it.  Therefore, to keep it at bay, this tomb must have been pretty well closed up, so that it wouldn't emanate from the body of Lazarus.  And all the people present would have had that concern, as well.

Also, in the tradition of the "wake," a three day time period was generally accepted as the time by which people could measure whether someone was actually dead or not.  Therefore, to exceed this by a full day is to clearly state that Jesus Christ is Lord over all life... and all death, as well.

This moment... this one right here... this is what we have waited to see.

"So they removed the stone.  Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, 'Father, I thank You that You heard Me.  I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me.'  After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'"

John 11:41-43, HCSB

The stone was rolled away, and I picture the people gasping in fear of what might happen, as well as covering their faces for the fear of the smell.  And then Christ thanks the Father openly, stating that He came from the Father, so that the crowd amassed would be able to know the Truth about His power over all things, including death, once and for all.

And then He does it... He calls Lazarus forth.  I imagine that, for the Word of God in flesh (that'd be Jesus), to shout in a loud voice is probably something that is capable of shaking the entire universe.  So when it says here that He did just that, I cannot help but think that the people around Him were almost shaken to the ground.  I mean, He always spoke with Heavenly authority... but now He is adding volume to that authority, and from the same place, and that had to be just ear-splitting!

We'll look at what happened in our final portion of this Sign, but please spend a moment today in thanks for the power that Christ has... not just over your life, but over your death, as well!

God bless you all!!!