Jesus' Divinity. Man's Humanity (John 11:1-16)

Today's scripture: John 11:1-16

We're going to spend the next three days focusing on a story that is probably very familiar. Each section of the story illustrates an aspect of who Jesus is ... and who we are.

Today's verses focus on Jesus' divinity and on man's humanity.

Jesus was fully man, yet fully God. While this is a mystery to us, it actually makes sense. If Jesus is God—and He is—He can do and be anything He chooses. So often, He proved His divinity by working miracles that people could see: healing, walking on water, raising people from the dead. Every so often, He did so very subtly.

In the familiar story of Lazarus, Jesus did the latter by knowing what was happening with Lazarus without being told. The only thing Jesus was told was that His friend was sick. Because He didn't rush—and because He said Lazarus was "asleep"—His disciples assumed Lazarus would be fine.

Jesus demonstrated His divinity when He knew that Lazarus was dead without being told.

These verses also illustrate man's humanity. Even after following Jesus for a significant period of time and watching Him prove His divinity time and time again, they still demonstrated their humanity when they fretted about Jesus' wanting to return to Judea. He'd left when the Pharisees and company wanted to "seize" Him. His disciples worried they'd return, and Jesus would be stoned. And they might be too. Note Thomas' words: “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

The disciples knew Jesus had divine attributes. He could do anything, yet they didn't believe He could save Himself—and them.

Jesus still proves His divinity with modern-day miracles and changed lives. We still show our humanity when we doubt Him even after seeing His work.

Just as Jesus had patience with and compassion for His disciples' lack of faith, so He has patience with and compassion for us. We'll see this as we meditate on the rest of the story over the next two days.