John 11:21

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

From Background Notes [BN] for July 21^st & 22^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Jewish authorities at the time of Jesus believed that the soul lingered for three days after death, with the possibility of returning to the body. However, on the fourth day, the soul witnesses the disintegration of the body and knows that it must finally leave.

If there is to be any hope for Lazarus, therefore, God must intervene with an act of creative power. We might say that Jewish theology has no more to offer Lazarus after three days, and no doubt John knows this, and that is why this note about the four days appears immediately upon Jesus’ arrival. We might also say that religious belief can only carry its adherents so far before it, too, runs out of answers. Jesus goes and does where technology or theology or therapy cannot come. What a mighty barrier the fourth day erects on the Resurrection Road, standing like a fortress against any who would assail the final word of death! Everybody standing around mourning Lazarus’ death knew this, believed this, and this belief held them captive until Jesus arrived to set them free. [BN, 2-3]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm