Jesus Raises Lazarus

John 11

And Jesus, the grave robber raised Lazarus from the dead with a loud call, “Lazarus, come forth!”    

John devoted almost half of his Gospel to the last week of Jesus’s life on earth.  Only in his Gospel is the miracle of Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead recorded.  

Soon after His miracle in Bethany and the anointing of His feet by Lazarus sister Mary, Jesus called His disciples to the Passover table. 

As Mary had lavished her love on Him, washing His feet with costly ointment, Jesus now washed the feet of his disciples, setting in motion the extravagance of love and service His followers are called to.

Grave Robber

There's a step that we all take alone,
an appointment we have with the great unknown.

Like a vapor this life is just waiting to pass,
like the flowers that fade, like the withering grass.

But life seems so long and death so complete,
and the grave an impossible potion to cheat.

But there's One who has been there and still lives to tell,
there is one who has been through both heaven and hell.

And the grave will come up empty-handed that day
Jesus will come and steal us away.

Many still mourn, many still weep,
for those that they love who have fallen asleep.

But we have this hope though our hearts may still ache,
Just one shout from above and they all will awake!

And in the reunion of joy we will see,
Death will be swallowed in sweet victory.

When the last enemy is done, from the dust will come a song,
those asleep will be awakened, not a one will be forsaken.

He shall wipe away our tears, He will steal away our fears.
There will be no sad tomorrow, there will be no pain and sorrow.

Where is the victory, where is the prize?
When the grave robber comes and death finally dies.

Petra, 1995