DEMONSTRATING STRONG FAITH

John 11:39-44
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Raising of Lazarus

39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”


Martha was there, as was Mary and the crowd of mourners. They had followed Jesus and the mourning sisters to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier. When they arrived, for the benefit of the crowd present, Jesus spoke to His Father. He could have simply called Lazarus from the dead. Instead, Jesus demonstrated dependence on God.

“Father, thank you for hearing me.”

In our faith walk, as believers, it is important to demonstrate our faith that others may see and also believe.