45 So then, many of the Jews who had come to [be with] Mary and who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 

John 11:45-46 (AMP)

Possibly the greatest miracle (barring Jesus’ resurrection) of all time was just performed. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave after four days in the tomb – by just speaking a word! Surely this couldn’t be beat. 

Why Mary?

First, let’s explore why John says the Jews went to Mary, and not Martha, or the family of Lazarus? Maybe Mary was the eldest sibling. I think maybe she was the more relational one. In another account, in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus praises Mary’s priorities when addressing Martha’s complaint about Mary. He says, ”Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Planobiblechapel.org suggests it, “may imply that these people had greater affection for Mary. Alternatively, they may have viewed her as needing more emotional support than her sister (cf. v. 19)”. We’ll see her again next chapter in John 12:3.

Two responses

The response of the mourners was divided – which reflected the response of so many other miracles. You’d think that with such a miracle as raising someone who’d been dead 4 days would convince anyone.

• “Many”, actually did believe. They probably believed that no other man could ever do this, not even a prophet like Moses. The depth and quality of their faith, however, we can’t know. Surely it ran the spectrum from “this is amazing, can you do another?” to “Jesus is Lord. I need to worship Him.”

• By way of contrast, we presume that those who went to report to the Pharisees did not believe. They weren’t moved by the miracle. “Astonishing! Some that had seen even this miracle steeled their hearts against it; and not only so, but conspired the destruction of this most humane, amiable, and glorious Saviour!” (Clarke’s commentary)

<- Reflection ->

• How do you respond to God’s revelation? Do you take all the faith He’s given you and place it in Him: Forsaking All I Take Him (FAITH)? Or is your response to put some of your faith in the “Jesus basket” and put some in other places – like money, job, status, doctors, government?