“Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” (John 11:39 NKJV)
Lazarus was already dead and buried in a cave four days before the Lord Jesus eventually showed up at Bethany to raise him. At the tomb of Lazarus, when Jesus commanded that the stone be rolled away from the cave, Lazarus’ sister, Martha, protested.
John 11:38-40 – NKJV
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
Martha wanted the stone left alone to contain within the cave the repulsive stench from the decomposing body of Lazarus, and thus away from the people.
Like Martha, some people today strive to carefully conceal or keep away the stench of their dead and rotten, sinful lives from people and even from Jesus Christ.
Some people today who are hurting, dying, decaying, and stinking inwardly employ “diverse and colorful stones” to seal their caves and hide their hurts, pains, sufferings, distresses, or anguish from people’s sight.
Many good, charitable, or religious deeds and activities of people in public are mere religious masks or camouflage to contain or conceal their sinfulness, rottenness, stench, depression, or emptiness from the public eye.
Today, some people who are guilt-ridden, sorrowful, bitter, angry, and depressed are trying hard but in vain to hide or suppress their negative feelings by taking drugs, drinking, smoking, and clubbing.
Some celebrities or superstars who always wear a good smile in public and appear calm, happy, or fulfilled are often troubled, restless, hurting, and stinking inwardly. Likewise, many wealthy and influential people who laugh heartily in public wept bitterly in their closets.
Martha would not want Jesus and other guests who had gathered to sympathize with them to be offended, disgusted, and repelled by the repulsive stench of Lazarus’ decomposing body in the cave, so she wanted the stone left alone.
Nevertheless, at Jesus’ insistence, the stone was taken away. Instead of the people being offended, disgusted, or repelled by any stench, they glorified the Lord Jesus Christ when they saw Lazarus rise from the dead at Jesus’ command (John 11:39-45). Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus commanded that the stone laid against Lazarus’ cave to contain his stench be removed before raising Lazarus back to life. Why?
Because God hates hypocrisy!
Jesus decries the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.
Matthew 23:27-28 – NKJV
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Although the Lord Jesus came to raise Lazarus from the dead, He didn’t do anything until the stone that had been rolled against the entrance to Lazarus’ cave was removed.
Similarly, although the grace of God is available to all men today through Christ Jesus, it is only those who are willing to take away their “stones of hypocrisy” or take off their “religious masks or camouflages” and humbly turn to Christ and put their trust in Him that will experience God’s mercy and grace.
The Scripture amply states this truth.
1 John 1:8-9 – NKJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Beloved, it is sheer foolishness to seek to hide your sinfulness or rottenness from the Lord, for He knows you inside out. Quit striving to conceal or keep Christ from your stench. No stench can repel Christ from you; only your hypocrisy and unbelief can repel Him.
Indeed, the stench from your rotten past or present sinful life may be such that people cannot stand or endure it, but Jesus Christ will never find your stink repulsive. No matter how rotten and stinking your life is, Jesus loves you and will never turn His back on you.
Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ is by your cave today, waiting for you to take away your stone or mask of pretense, hypocrisy, or deception, acknowledge your sinfulness and helplessness, and put your trust humbly and wholly in Him for your salvation or restoration.
Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life, and He still heals, saves, revives, and restores dead and rotten souls today (John 10:10).
Take away your “stone” and receive from Jesus Christ today the gift of supernatural, everlasting, and abundant life. Don’t worry about the stench; remove the stone and leave the rest to Jesus Christ, the Resurrection, and Life.
Why not do it now?
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, I take off my mask of hypocrisy and take away my stone of deception today, and I open the door of my heart and welcome Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, in Jesus’ name. Amen.