If you believe you will see the glory of God.

In John 11:38-44 Jesus is at Lazarus’ grave and Lazarus is dead and Lazarus has been dead for four days. They have buried him and had the funeral and everyone who knew him is weeping, even Jesus is at the place where Lazarus is buried and is deeply moved, but instead of being overcome by grief he demands that they “take away the stone” that had been laid across the entrance to the cave where Lazarus was buried (John 11:38-39). 

Jesus knew more than the people present knew about the power of God, that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him by God and that it was within the power of God to remove all barriers that stand between humanity and God; all barriers that stand between humanity and connection to God. 

The people present did not know what Jesus knew and Martha spoke up on their behalf when he ordered them to “take away the stone”, Martha said, “but Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days” (John 11:39). 

Lazarus was in a position where it appeared impossible to change his fate; and we as believers are constantly faced with situations that challenge our faith in the power of God and the authority he has given to Jesus over everything in heaven and on earth including grave situations, including death. 

When Martha said to Jesus, “there is a bad odor” she was also saying you do not want to see how horrible Lazarus’ condition is, it is irreversible, it is bad. He is no longer able to be in the presence of the living, he has been taken to a cave and we have covered him up, he is dead to us. But Jesus responds that Lazarus is not dead to him, he is not beyond the reach of the power of God and “if you believe you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40). 

John 11:41 says, so they took away the stone. Meaning that they exposed the horror to Jesus, they exposed the decay, the rot, the bad situation in its entirety to Jesus. They chose to uncover what was previously hidden. 

Then Jesus speaks to God and says, I know who I am, but these who are here do not know who I am and cannot know you unless I roll away the stone of disbelief that has been placed over their hearts and expose you to them, your power and your glory so “that they may believe that you sent me” for this purpose, to speak your word of life in this place (John 11:41). Jesus says to God I know that you have heard me, and you always hear me, what I am about to say I am saying for them to hear and believe. Then John 11:43 says that Jesus said in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 

Jesus is the word of God made flesh so when Jesus speaks it is with all authority in heaven and on earth that has been given to him. When Jesus yelled, “come out!” He was calling the dead man, and he was also speaking to the crowd of people who had gathered and saying, listen, whoever hears this believe that I am able to resurrect even the dead, through my word. I am able to remove the horror, the decay, the rot, the bad situation. I am able to reverse the irreversible, to remove the stigma, the odor and everything that is placed in the way between you and connection back to God, which is connection back to life. 

John 11:44 says that when Jesus said, “come out!” the dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth was around his face (John 11:44). Jesus spoke again and said, “take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Meaning release him from everything associated with his former situation. Take off the grief, take off the sorrow, take off the hopelessness, take off the disbelief, take off the impossibilities, remove the barriers that have bound him to his situation and let him go. Go where? To the one who is calling him back to life, back to connection to God. To Jesus, the one who is able to reveal the glory of God to everyone who believes that even though they die, they will live (John 11:25-26).