Meaning of John 11:39

Jesus' command to remove the stone from Lazarus' tomb in John 11:39, met with Martha's protest about the stench of decomposition, highlights a pivotal moment where faith confronts the reality of death and the limits of human perception. Martha's objection, grounded in the undeniable physical evidence of her brother's four-day-old corpse, represents the natural, rational response to a seemingly insurmountable situation. She is focused on the present, visible, and decaying state of Lazarus, a state that logically precludes any possibility of his return to life. Jesus, however, is operating on a divine plane, intending to reveal His power over death itself, a power that transcends physical decay and the limitations of human understanding. His instruction is not an oversight of the obvious but a deliberate challenge to Martha's (and the onlookers') limited perspective, setting the stage for a miracle that will profoundly demonstrate His identity as the resurrection and the life.

Context and Background

This verse occurs in the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died and been buried for four days. The delay was significant because, in Jewish tradition, it was believed that the soul lingered near the body for three days, and by the fourth day, decomposition was well underway, making resurrection or recovery virtually impossible and the body no longer presentable. Jesus had deliberately delayed His arrival, knowing of Lazarus' illness and death, so that the miracle would serve as a powerful testament to His divine authority and glory. Martha's statement reflects the collective grief and despair of those present, who have accepted Lazarus' death as final.

Key Themes and Messages

• Faith Versus Sight: Martha's objection is based on empirical evidence – the smell of decay. Jesus' command challenges her to move beyond what she can see and smell, to trust in His word and His power, even when it seems impossible.
• The Power of God Over Death: The removal of the stone is a necessary step in the process of resurrection, but it is Jesus' divine power that will ultimately overcome death. The stench is a symbol of death's dominion, which Jesus is about to break.
• The Nature of Resurrection: Jesus is not merely reviving Lazarus from a coma; He is bringing him back from a state of complete death and decomposition, demonstrating a resurrection that is beyond natural explanation.
• Obedience to Divine Instruction: Jesus' command, though seemingly counterintuitive to Martha, is an act of faith for her to perform, setting the stage for the miraculous.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This event serves as a profound metaphor for spiritual resurrection. Just as Lazarus was dead in his tomb, so too can humanity be spiritually dead in sin, buried under the weight of its transgressions. The "stone" can represent the obstacles to our spiritual awakening – our doubts, fears, ingrained habits, or the perceived finality of our sinful state. Jesus' command to "take away the stone" is an invitation for us to remove these barriers, to allow His life-giving power to enter into the stagnant areas of our lives. Martha's hesitation, though natural, can mirror our own reluctance to confront the "bad odor" of our past sins or the perceived impossibility of genuine transformation. The miracle underscores that with God, nothing is impossible, and He can bring life where there is only death and decay.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The raising of Lazarus is one of Jesus' most significant miracles, explicitly recorded in the Gospel of John to prove Jesus' divine identity. It directly supports Jesus' claims in John 11:25: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." This event is a precursor to Jesus' own resurrection, demonstrating that He has the power to conquer death, not just for others, but for Himself. It reinforces the New Testament message of salvation through faith in Christ, leading to spiritual life and ultimately, eternal life.

Analogies

• Clearing the Way for a Miracle: Imagine a blocked drain. The water (life) cannot flow because of the blockage (the stone and the stench). Removing the blockage allows the water to flow freely again.
• Unveiling the Truth: The stone can be likened to a veil of ignorance or disbelief that obscures the truth of God's power and love. Jesus calls for this veil to be removed so that His glory can be revealed.
• Opening a Sealed Tomb of Sin: Our sins can feel like a sealed tomb from which there is no escape. Jesus' command is the call to break open that tomb, to allow His forgiveness and new life to permeate our being.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 11:25: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.'" This verse directly foreshadows and explains the significance of the Lazarus miracle.
• John 11:40: "Then Jesus told her, 'Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'" This highlights the theme of faith being rewarded with divine revelation.
• Romans 6:4: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This verse connects the concept of resurrection and new life to believers.
• Ezekiel 37:1-14: The vision of the valley of dry bones, where God breathes life back into them, serves as an Old Testament parallel to God's power to bring life from absolute desolation.