The apostle John wrote after Martha and Mary the sisters of Lazarus plead to Jesus, He asked, “ 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? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take you away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said unto him, Lord, by this time he stinks: for he has been dead four days. Jesus said unto her, Said I not unto you, that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?”, and in chapter eleven and verse forty-one of his book John shared how how Jesus prayed, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” where we read:
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
The verse reads, “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.” John began with the word, “then they took away the stone” which means “at that time the people who were at the gravesite of Lazarus removed the large rock or stone” “from the place” or “apart from the entrance of the sepulcher or tomb” “where the dead was laid” which means “where the lifeless and inanimate body of Lazarus was set and buried”. John shared how the people at the tomb of Lazarus removed the “stone” which covered the opening where his “dead body” was buried.
The verse continues, “And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” John added the words, “and Jesus” or “and the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “lifted up his eyes” which means “raised his physical eyes”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Father” which means “Heavenly Father God”, “I thank you that you have heard me” or “I, Jesus, am feeling thankful and grateful that you, Father God, have understood, perceived and discerned me, Jesus”. John shared how Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father and gave Him “thanks” for “hearing” Him.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how the people obeyed Jesus' directive to remove the “stone” from the entrance of the tomb where Lazarus' dead body was placed. Then Jesus raised His eyes toward the Heavens, and expressed to His “Father God” His gratefulness that He “heard” Him. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, and God the Father was observing all these things because His intention was for Jesus to be the “Savior and Lord” of all mankind. Everyone is in need to be “saved” from “spiritual death” which is separation from God because of sin. Jesus came to die for the sins of all mankind, and He was raised three days later to demonstrate His power over death, hell and the grave. Those who believe and trust in Him will be “saved” and “raised” from the power of death, and this invitation is to extended everyone who will surrender to Him.
Next time John shares how Jesus says to His Father, “I knew that you hear me always”, 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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