The apostle John wrote how Martha the sister of Lazarus left Jesus and, “went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calls for you. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goes unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have you laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him. And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-eight of his book John shared how Jesus, “again groaning in himself came to the grave” where we read:
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
The verse reads, “Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came to the grave.” John began with the word, “Jesus therefore” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation then, wherefore and these things being so” “again groaning in himself” or “another time sternly enjoined within His own self” “came to the grave” which means “arose and appeared at the sepulcher or tomb” where Lazarus was laid. John shared how Jesus responded to the “questioning” of the Jewish people by “groaning” within Himself as He appeared at the tomb where Lazarus was buried.
The verse goes on to say, “It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.” John added the words, “It was a cave” or “the sepulcher or tomb existed as a cavern, hiding place, resort or den”, “and a stone” which means “and a large rock or building stone” “lay upon it” or “lie in place or rested upon the tomb entryway”. John shared how the “sepulcher” in which “Lazarus' body” lie was a “cavern” which had a large “stone” lain upon the entrance.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn about the “tomb” where the body of Lazarus was laid. This “cavern”, which was more than likely dug out of a huge rock or mountainside, was to be the final resting place of Lazarus, and because there needed to be a protective covering over the entry, a “stone” was put in place there. Jesus had a plan, and He was to perform one of the greatest miracles people would ever see. His demonstration of power over “death” would allow people to observe His ability to be their “Savior and Lord” to whom nothing was impossible. Jesus would show the world that they should receive Him into their lives so He can forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise yield themselves to Him.
Next time John shares how Jesus says, “take away the stone”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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