John 11:40 is a pivotal verse in the story of Lazarus's resurrection. To understand its meaning, let's break it down in context:
Context: Martha, Lazarus's sister, objects to Jesus opening Lazarus's tomb because Lazarus has been dead for four days and she fears the smell. This shows her doubt and lack of faith in Jesus's power to do anything about the situation at that point.
Jesus's Statement: "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?" This is a reminder of a previous conversation, likely implied but not explicitly recorded in the text.
Meaning:
Belief is a Prerequisite: Jesus emphasizes that belief is crucial to witnessing God's power. He isn't asking for blind faith, but a faith that acknowledges his divine ability.
"God's Glory": This phrase signifies the manifestation of God's power, presence, and character. In this specific instance, it refers to the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus.
Seeing is Believing (Sometimes Requires Believing First): While the saying "seeing is believing" is common, Jesus suggests a different perspective here. He implies that sometimes, belief is necessary to be able to truly see and understand God's work. Martha's lack of faith was hindering her ability to recognize the potential for a miracle.
In essence, the verse means: Jesus is challenging Martha's limited understanding and reminding her that if she had faith in him, she would witness a powerful demonstration of God's glory through the resurrection of her brother. It's a call to trust in Jesus's divine power, even when the situation seems hopeless.
Broader Implications: The verse has broader implications for Christians:
Faith precedes miracles: It encourages faith in God's power and ability to act in our lives.
Glory through faith: It suggests that we can experience God's glory (manifestations of His character and power) through faith in Jesus.
Trusting the Impossible: It highlights the importance of trusting in God's power even when circumstances seem impossible.
In short, John 11:40 is a powerful statement about the importance of faith in witnessing God's power and glory. It's a call to overcome doubt and trust in Jesus's ability to perform miracles, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
John 11:40 is a pivotal verse in the story of Lazarus's resurrection. To understand its meaning, let's break it down in context:
Context: Martha, Lazarus's sister, objects to Jesus opening Lazarus's tomb because Lazarus has been dead for four days and she fears the smell. This shows her doubt and lack of faith in Jesus's power to do anything about the situation at that point.
Jesus's Statement: "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?" This is a reminder of a previous conversation, likely implied but not explicitly recorded in the text.
Meaning:
Belief is a Prerequisite: Jesus emphasizes that belief is crucial to witnessing God's power. He isn't asking for blind faith, but a faith that acknowledges his divine ability.
"God's Glory": This phrase signifies the manifestation of God's power, presence, and character. In this specific instance, it refers to the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus.
Seeing is Believing (Sometimes Requires Believing First): While the saying "seeing is believing" is common, Jesus suggests a different perspective here. He implies that sometimes, belief is necessary to be able to truly see and understand God's work. Martha's lack of faith was hindering her ability to recognize the potential for a miracle.
In essence, the verse means: Jesus is challenging Martha's limited understanding and reminding her that if she had faith in him, she would witness a powerful demonstration of God's glory through the resurrection of her brother. It's a call to trust in Jesus's divine power, even when the situation seems hopeless.
Broader Implications: The verse has broader implications for Christians:
Faith precedes miracles: It encourages faith in God's power and ability to act in our lives.
Glory through faith: It suggests that we can experience God's glory (manifestations of His character and power) through faith in Jesus.
Trusting the Impossible: It highlights the importance of trusting in God's power even when circumstances seem impossible.
In short, John 11:40 is a powerful statement about the importance of faith in witnessing God's power and glory. It's a call to overcome doubt and trust in Jesus's ability to perform miracles, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.