Article February 5, 1955 Issue

"LAZARUS, COME FORTH"

ERIC W. CARR

That tremendous event, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, when Jesus commanded him, "Come forth," is recorded in the eleventh chapter of John's Gospel. A study of this chapter reveals that although he was aware of the serious condition of his friend, Jesus evidently waited deliberately until Lazarus had died before going into Judea to the place where Lazarus and his sisters were living. This could only mean that Jesus intended to prove beyond any shadow of doubt the mighty power of the Christ to raise Lazarus from the dead. Moreover, he may have intended to prepare his disciples' thought for the further and even mightier demonstration of his own resurrection from the grave.

A study of some of the Greek words used in the original text will prove most illuminating in understanding the moving account of the raising of Lazarus. When Mary and Martha sent to Jesus saying (verse 3), "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick," the Greek word phileis, which means "lovest humanly," is used, whereas in verse 5 where we read, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," the Greek word for "loved" is agapa, meaning "loved divinely," thus showing that Jesus' love for the family transcended mere human affection.

In verse 33 we read that when Jesus saw Mary and the Jews weeping "he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." The Greek word rendered "groaned," as also in verse 38, is embrim, which means literally "deeply moved." In most other references to groaning in the New Testament the Greek word is stenazo, which means "to murmur or sigh."