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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
In the beginning, the Triune God breathed life into us all. Then sin entered, and our relationship with God was broken. Enslaved to sin, we were hopeless…dead in our transgressions. Reconciliation to God, something we could never have accomplished, came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. In His life, death, resurrection, and return to the Father in Heaven, He paved the way for the Spirit of Life (The Holy Spirit) to seal us in relationship with God forever. Those who believe in Christ are now sealed in that love relationship, and have gained eternal life.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.
Jesus is addressing the disciples about how he must return to His Father in Heaven. His hope for them is that they have peace knowing that He is not abandoning them. Jesus was returning to the Father to allow the Holy Spirit to come upon the disciples at Pentecost. Trouble came to many of the disciples after that, and most were persecuted and killed because of their faith in Him. Like the disciples, trouble will come our way. Because Christ has overcome the world, we do not have to fear those troubles. We have an inheritance in Christ Jesus who reigns victorious forever!
So they took away the stone. Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you that you have listened to me. I knew that you always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Confirming that the process here is for others benefit, Jesus prays to the Father after the stone is taken away. Jesus wants people there to believe that the Father has sent Him, and acts accordingly to engage all of their hearts and press into them great faith! Just as our grave clothes were taken off when we were saved by Christ, Lazarus rises from the dead and the instructions are to remove his grave clothes. Lazarus has been set free from death just as we all have been set free from eternal death through Christ Jesus. Even more, we have gained eternal life in its place! Amen!
Jesus, intensely moved again, came to the tomb. (Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed across it.) Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?”
Martha’s response is understandable, and it’s what I would have done in this situation. Lord, help our unbelief! Again, Jesus plans a divine setup. He tells Martha to take away the stone to incite her response. This response gives Him this great opportunity to remind everyone of what he says in vs. 40, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Believing in Jesus reveals the glory of God and creates the miraculous in our lives.
The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
There is only Jesus, and He is everything. According to John, the Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Everything: you, me, this world, authority, power…everything. It is because of the magnificent love relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that we see this transition of everything from Father to Son. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have eternal life. If you reject Jesus Christ as the Son of God, God’s wrath remains on you, and eternal death remains your future. God’s hope is that you would believe in the one He sent. Believe!