Many people have asked me this question over the years, often with a sense of wonder mixed with confusion. If Jesus knew Lazarus would die, and if He had the power to prevent it, why did He allow the sorrow to unfold? This question usually rises from our own experiences of loss. We want to understand where God is when death and grief enter the room—and whether He truly sees our tears.
In the Gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus after four days in the tomb. This detail matters. Death is complete, undeniable. There is no illusion, no room for doubt. When Jesus stands before the tomb and calls Lazarus by name, He reveals something essential about Himself: He is not only a healer or teacher, but the Lord of life itself. This miracle was meant to show that God’s power reaches even into the darkest finality we know.
Yet this moment is not only about power—it is deeply about love. Before acting, Jesus weeps. He allows Himself to feel the pain of Martha and Mary, to stand in solidarity with human sorrow. Here we see the heart of God laid bare. Jesus raises Lazarus not to impress the crowds, but to show that divine love does not remain distant from human suffering. God enters our grief before He transforms it.
Finally, this miracle points beyond itself. Lazarus will one day die again, but what Jesus reveals is greater than a single restored life. He is preparing us to understand His own death and resurrection—and the promise made to all who trust in Him. When Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He invites us to believe that death is not the end. Even now, He calls each of us by name, inviting us out of fear, despair, and spiritual death into the light of new life.
Reflection – A Closing Thought
When we stand before our own sealed tombs—loss, fear, or hopelessness—may we remember that Christ still speaks life.
May we trust that even in silence and sorrow, God is already preparing resurrection.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
