Martha, Jesus and Lazarus....

Wow – how the Lord leads us down paths we don't always expect.

A friend of mine today asked me to read John 11:1-26 – essentially to find out if I believed what Jesus said in those verses, along with everything else in this passage. Yes I do, believe what Jesus said – so my friend then asked me:

“So, how would you explain that Martha said she knew Lazarus would be raised on the last day and when Jesus explained to the disciples that Lazarus is asleep which means death. If he was heaven he would have been upset to be taken out.”

So a little bit of insight on this – I do believe in a Second Coming(Parousia) of Jesus. I just believe this event happened in 70 A.D. at the destruction of the Jewish Temple which is when Jesus said He would return(see Matthew 24) and not in a Future coming. Now – to try and understand, this would mean to stop asking Biblical questions based on a Future return – but ask the Biblical questions based on if He has already returned.

So – Martha said she knew Lazarus would be raised on the last day. Well – when is the last day? The New Testament makes note of the “last days” as people refer to it and Simon Peter makes note at Pentecost that they were in the “last days” fulfilling the prophecy from Joel(see Acts 2:17).

So – we know those were the last days - BUT what is the LAST DAY that Martha was referring to? This last day was the referral of the coming judgment onto the Nation of Israel – this is also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (see Joel Chapter 2 for more info).

Now – Martha knew this, and it's nice to see Jesus didn't correct her on this teaching – but rather pointed out something else.

 I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:   26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus clearly states – that whoever believes in him – even though they are dead – they shall live again. I think this clearly points out that Lazarus was not in Heaven.

Why wouldn't Lazarus have been in Heaven? Well what's something Jesus also teaches?

John 14:1-4 1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.   2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.   3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, thereye may be also.   4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Jesus had to die – in order to be able to go and prepare a place for them. I think for one to really understand this – they need to understand the 2 deaths that Revelation makes mention of to know what happens.

Now – I'd just like to mention something. Even if Lazarus was in Heaven – why would he have been upset to have left, if he was in the presence of the Holy of Holies Himself – Jesus?

I believe that in itself would've been a blessing. Why be upset with God's plan? Aren't we to submit to God and appreciate His will? If Lazarus was indeed in Heaven – would he not better understand what Jesus taught when He taught us to pray?

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Now – Jesus does say that Lazarus was asleep to his disciples – and later has to explain it as Lazarus was dead. Could it be Jesus understood what asleep meant but we couldn't understand such a Heavenly concept that Jesus had to explain it in SIMPLE terms and say “look – he's dead ok?” I believe Lazarus was asleep in the sense that his spirit was resting and was asleep – waiting for the Resurrection – which is on the LAST DAY.

I don't believe thousands or millions of souls are waiting for the last day to be raised up that we who remain shall be raised up with them. I believe that those souls are in heaven and with Jesus. Those of us who remain, upon physical death – if we are believers shall be raised up with them.

This is it for now – if I get more questions based on these topics – I'll definitely do a part II.