When Yeshua was being persecuted by the Jewish religious authorities, and they sought to apprehend him, he crossed the Jordan once again to be in the place where Yohanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) was immersing. While he and his disciples were there, Yeshua received a message from Miryam (Mary) and her sister Martha informing him that their brother El’azar (Lazarus) was sick. El’azar was the disciple that Yeshua loved
Beloved Disciple (so-called John) 1:1-3 1 And there was a certain sick one, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mariam and her sister Martha. 2 And it was Mariam who anointed our Master with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Then the sisters sent to Him, saying, Master, behold, the one whom You love* is sick *(your close friend)
But Yeshua waited two days after receiving the message before he went on his way to Bethany. Why did he do this, knowing that the disciple he loved was ill?
Beloved Disciple (so called John) 11:6
Therefore, when He heard that he is sick, then, indeed, He remained in the place where He was two days.
The answer can be found in Jewish tradition. The rabbis of Yeshua’s time believed and taught, among other things that
- the spirit of a deceased person lingered behind and remained near the dead body for three days desperately trying to re-enter the body again
(Tanhuma, Miqetz 4; Pequdei 3) - after three days, the spirit goes back to the Eternal to await the time of resurrection (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 90b-91a)
This Jewish belief, based on tradition and not on Scripture , could be the very reason why the Eternal waited three days to resurrect His servant Yeshua; this way even the strictest Jewish believers would come to see that Yeshua was indeed the Messiah and that he had power over death.
After Yeshua waited for two days, he arrived in Bethany when El’azar had been dead for four days (11:7) and resurrection was already impossible according to Jewish belief. Then he instructed them to remove the stone from the grave, and he was told that El’azar was in the state of decay and already smelled (11:39). He then went on to revive El’azar (11:43) and many of those that were present believed in Yeshua (11:45). Yeshua timed his arrival so that there would be no doubt that the Eternal had given him power over all things, even over death.
[For more insight into these events, see WHO WAS THE DISCIPLE THAT YESHUA LOVED?]
This is the most important sign that Yeshua performed during his life on earth. The Messiah was glorified by it and ultimately, through him, the Eternal was glorified. Resurrection is not only something that Yeshua executed, Yeshua IS the resurrection.
Beloved Disciple (so-called John) 11:23-25
23 Yahshua said to her, Your brother will arise.
24 Martha said to Him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day.
25 Yahshua said to her, I AM the Resurrection and the Life.
[Yeshua's word in purple]
Sources:
Dr. Eli Lizorkin; Yosef Alvarez
The verses in this article were taken from the Hebraic Roots Bible.
The Hebraic Roots Bible is a literal translation of the Scriptures with the sacred name of Yahweh and Yahshua restored and preserved. Congregation of YHWH, Box 832 Carteret NJ 07008