I have often heard, ” Seeing is believing.” Never have I heard anyone say, “Seeing is not believing.” However, today we will look at an event where people saw but refused to believe what was before their eyes. It is amazing to me how the heart can harden to a truth, so much so that it causes one to not believe what clear evidence is in front of them.
In John chapter 11, we have the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. At the beginning of the chapter, Mary and Martha summon Jesus to come because their brother Lazarus is sick. In John 11:5, we find the statement “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” He had been at their house many times, and they were dear friends. They had sent for him to come, but in verse 6, we find that He waited two days before going to their house. “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.”
When Jesus arrived, Lazarus was already dead. In verse 21, Jesus is outside the city where Martha, Mary, and Lazarus lived. Martha hears of it and goes to meet Jesus before he enters that town. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” It has always amazed me that Martha speaks to Jesus as if she blamed Him for her brother’s death. She proclaims that she believed Jesus could heal him, but why did she not see that Jesus could raise him? Mary did exactly the same thing when she heard that Jesus was near. After talking with Jesus, Martha goes to tell Mary, and she immediately runs to Jesus. “Then when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Both sisters knew of Jesus’ miracles, and I am sure in their minds they believed them to be true. I can imagine Jesus sitting in their house, them asking Him questions about certain miracles, and rejoicing over the outcome, but now, when it is personal, they cannot see anything but their grief.
Jesus and the family go to the tomb, and they still do not believe that Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead. In John 11:39, “Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinks: for he hath been dead four days.” They still doubt His power. They would not say that, but their words show they do not expect a miracle.
Jesus goes to the tomb and raises Lazarus from the dead. All the family and friends rejoice! They have been eyewitnesses to the power that Jesus has over life and death. Most of those present were now believers in this man who could raise the dead. Yet, as with most truths about God, there were skeptics.
In John 11:45, many believed in Jesus after seeing His power, but in verses 46 through 53, we find those who doubted that Jesus was the Messiah. Instead of embracing Him and following Him, they start a plot to discredit Him and have Him killed.
John 11:45-53“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”
It is no different today. Many seek to kill those who are teaching the truth of the gospel. They have yielded to the power of the flesh and allowed themselves to be deceived by Satan. There are also those who proclaim Christ but do not believe in miracles. They still do not understand that our God has the power to heal or calm the storms of our lives. If you tell them of a miracle where God healed someone, they play it off as the wrong reading on a medical test. While that may be true in some cases, we should not discount God’s power. When we do, we are no different than those who did not believe when Jesus walked the earth.
Where are you in believing that Jesus can do all things? Is it just words you say, or is your heart engaged to believe? The greatest miracle that has ever occurred is when a person prays, repents, and trusts Jesus as their Savior. This is a transformation that takes them from death to eternal life! While doctors and prayers heal a person’s physical needs, only Jesus can grant them eternal life in Heaven with Him. Make sure you know the truth of God’s word. See it and believe it in your words and in your actions!
