Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary to comfort her and had seen the things Jesus did at the tomb, including raising Lazarus, believed on him. The same believing response is seen in those who witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus and considered what He had done.
Lazarus stood before them not emaciated from disease with feeble, tottering limbs but as a man in the prime of life and in the vigor of noble manhood, his eyes beaming with intelligence and love for his Saviour. His sisters received their brother back to life as the gift of God.
Those who saw what Jesus did first stood in dumb surprise and then broke into inexpressible rejoicing and thanksgiving. With joyful tears they brokenly expressed thanks and praise, with adoration bowing at Jesus' feet and glorifying Him. Amid the rejoicing of brother, sisters, and friends over the reunion Jesus quietly retired from the exciting scene until the Lifegiver could nowhere be found.
The raising of Lazarus was Christ's crowning miracle and sign, a decisive, clear, and powerful proof that Jesus is the Son of God sent by God to save humanity, with power over death and the grave. It brought glory to God and led people to glorify Him. The miracle convinced those who considered it with reason and an enlightened conscience. It drew crowds and stirred deep interest in Jesus.
The same evidence did not persuade everyone: some who saw and heard it hardened their hearts and refused to believe. This was especially true of those who had repeatedly rejected light, showing that even mighty evidence does not compel belief in a heart set against it and that no further display of divine power can overcome deliberate unbelief. The unbelieving witnesses reported what Jesus had done to His enemies, increasing their hatred and jealousy. The Pharisees, chief priests, and elders grew more determined and strengthened their resolve to kill Jesus because His works were winning people and they feared everyone would believe, they would lose their position, and their influence would weaken. They also planned to kill Lazarus because his life testified to Jesus' power, while some rulers who believed feared to confess Him because they might be put out of the synagogue.
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary to comfort her and had seen the things Jesus did at the tomb, including raising Lazarus, believed on him. The same believing response is seen in those who witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus and considered what He had done.
Lazarus stood before them not emaciated from disease with feeble, tottering limbs but as a man in the prime of life and in the vigor of noble manhood, his eyes beaming with intelligence and love for his Saviour. His sisters received their brother back to life as the gift of God.
Those who saw what Jesus did first stood in dumb surprise and then broke into inexpressible rejoicing and thanksgiving. With joyful tears they brokenly expressed thanks and praise, with adoration bowing at Jesus' feet and glorifying Him. Amid the rejoicing of brother, sisters, and friends over the reunion Jesus quietly retired from the exciting scene until the Lifegiver could nowhere be found.
The raising of Lazarus was Christ's crowning miracle and sign, a decisive, clear, and powerful proof that Jesus is the Son of God sent by God to save humanity, with power over death and the grave. It brought glory to God and led people to glorify Him. The miracle convinced those who considered it with reason and an enlightened conscience. It drew crowds and stirred deep interest in Jesus.
The same evidence did not persuade everyone: some who saw and heard it hardened their hearts and refused to believe. This was especially true of those who had repeatedly rejected light, showing that even mighty evidence does not compel belief in a heart set against it and that no further display of divine power can overcome deliberate unbelief. The unbelieving witnesses reported what Jesus had done to His enemies, increasing their hatred and jealousy. The Pharisees, chief priests, and elders grew more determined and strengthened their resolve to kill Jesus because His works were winning people and they feared everyone would believe, they would lose their position, and their influence would weaken. They also planned to kill Lazarus because his life testified to Jesus' power, while some rulers who believed feared to confess Him because they might be put out of the synagogue.