Jesus lifted up His eyes and said
The words of Christ at the grave of Lazarus
I. THOSE HE ADDRESSED TO HEAVEN (John 11:41-42). In these we have
1. His recognition of God as His Father. He was the Son of God in a higher sense than any other has been or will be.
(1) In mutual resemblance. “The express image of His Person.”
(2) In mutual love. “This is my beloved Son.”
2. His consciousness of the Father’s regard. Ever in close communion with the Father, to every aspiration He felt the Father’s response “always.” No true word of prayer is ever lost.
3. His consideration of the people in His devotions. “Because of the people.” Audible words, though not essential, and having no influence on God, are often useful to our fellow men.
II. THOSE HE ADDRESSED TO THE DEAD (John 11:43). These were
1. Personal. “Lazarus.”
2. Earnest. He could have done it by a whisper or volition, but He raised His voice to the highest pitch to startle bystanders into solemn thought.
3. Mighty. They struck life into the dead.
III. THOSE HE ADDRESSED TO THE LIVING (John 11:44). Here again is the human cooperating with the Divine. Conclusion: This resurrection is an illustration of that of a dead soul which can be effected only by Christ, may still be entangled with old associations, habits, etc., and requires in order to its freedom the help of the living. The work of a living church and ministry is to loose encumbered souls. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Christ’s prayer and thanksgiving
I. THE PRAYER WHICH JESUS HAD EVIDENTLY OFFERED. It is unrecorded, doubtless because silent.
1. Probably His first feeling on hearing of the sickness of Lazarus was one of sadness (John 11:5).
2. This sadness it would seem soon relieved itself through prayer. By a natural filial instinct His heart rose out of its depression into confident communion with His Father.
3. The practical lesson for us is not to measure the force of prayer by its elaborateness or audibleness. The most effective are frequently unuttered. This should not discourage public, but encourage private devotion.
II. CHRIST’S ASSURANCE THAT HIS PRAYER WAS ANSWERED.
1. To “hear” prayer in Scripture means to answer, he miracle was not wrought, but the Saviour was conscious of His own adequacy and its accomplishment.
2. This hearing was no rare favour. “Always” (Hebrews 5:7).
3. The secret of this was the perfect oneness of Christ’s will with the Father’s. Many of our prayers are unanswered for the opposite reason 1 John 5:14).
III. CHRIST’S THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S RESPONSE. Nothing is more noticeable in Christ’s prayers than His sense of filial obligation. Although not inferior to the Father He will not stand on His prerogatives, but as man’s representative shows His sense of need and His trustful dependence.
1. Let us rejoice in this proof of Christ’s complete assumption of our humanity.
2. Let us learn to gratefully acknowledge God’s goodness in answering our prayers (Psalms 116:1-2).
IV. CHRIST’S PURPOSE IN THIS THANKSGIVING. Had Christ wished simply to thank God audible words would have been unnecessary. That were as pleasing to God as the unspoken prayer. But Christ wanted to show others that His claim to be the Son of God was no arrogant assumption, and that His works were wrought by no diabolical aid. In this also Jesus is our exemplar. We must not only have the thankful feeling, but express it Psalms 66:16-17). We should be careful as to
1. The sincerity of our praises.
2. Their propriety.
3. Their earnestness. (B. Wilkinson.)
The force of the prayer and thanksgiving
By addressing His Father Christ put God into the position of either granting or withholding His cooperation. If Lazarus remained in the tomb let Jesus be acknowledged an impostor, and all His other miracles be attributed to Beelzebub! If God, who was thus solemnly invoked, should manifest His arm, let Jesus be acknowledged as sent by Him! Thus this act before the still occupied sepulchre made this moment one of solemn ordeal, like that of Elijah on Carmel, and imparted to this miracle a supreme and unique character in the life of Jesus. (F. Godet, D. D.)
Because of the people which stand by
The folly of merely “standing by”
It would seem to all who knew you a very odd thing if you were seen loafing about a certain shop for an hour and a half one day in the week for twenty years, and yet you never bought a pennyworth of goods. Why do you hang about the gospel shop and yet purchase nothing? On your own showing you are a fool. I do not like using a hard word, still it is used in Scripture for such as you are. He who believes a thing to be so important that he spends one day in the week in hearing about it, and yet does not think it important enough to accept it as a gift, stultifies himself by his own actions. How will you answer for it at the last great day when the Judge shall say, “You believed enough to go and hear about salvation; why did you not believe enough to accept it?” (C. H.Spurgeon.)