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Thoughts on John 11:43 Elder Philip N. Conley

The first word of Christ's sentence is "Lazarus." We have often heard it said, "Had
Christ not spoken Lazarus' name, all the graves would have opened and come forth."
While that statement sounds good and comforting superficially (i.e. it seems to lend
strength to the power of Christ's voice), it actually diminishes the power and might of

God's purpose. Had Christ only purposed to raise Lazarus and not spoken his name,
only Lazarus' body would have been raised due to the purpose of Christ Jesus the
Lord. Christ could have said nothing at all, "come forth," etc. and only Lazarus would
have been raised if that was Christ's purpose.

However, by utilizing the name Lazarus in His address, Christ gives us insight into
the effectual call. First of all, it is personal. We oftentimes hear people talk about a
"personal Saviour." According to Biblical theology - characterized by Christ's
address here - the Saviour must be personal. He came on this occasion for the raising

of a particular man, and His work in the great economy of salvation is not for the gen-
eral saving of an indiscriminate mass of humanity. As Paul describes it, Christ did it
for "me" out of love for "me." (Galatians 2:20) Doubtless, Lazarus could say that
Christ came that day for him personally. While I have no recollection of the exact
moment of my regeneration, I like to think that His voice spoke the word "Philip" into
my heart.

Since the call in the resurrection is similar to regeneration (see correlation between
John 5:25 and 5:28-29), the same personal aspect holds true when He comes to call
our old bodies out to be fashioned like unto His glorious body. While countless mil-
lions will be raised in a moment, we will all be visited personally by Christ. What He

did He did for us personally, and all aspects of that work will be seen to in a personal
fashion on a personal basis. Some might say, "How would millions of people simulta-

neously hear their own individual names at that moment?" Nothing is too hard for the
Lord, and we will be able to not only say, "He loved me and gave Himself for me, but
He came and got me personally." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The second word of Christ's sentence is "come." If the first word denoted the personal

nature of the call, this word denotes the authority and power of the call. Notice that
this word has no qualifiers, additions, etc. to go with the command. It is simple.
Come. Now, looking at this naturally, I tell my children to come quite often on a daily

basis. Sometimes, my voice is successful, and sometimes it is not. While the children
deal with the consequences of willfully avoiding and not heeding my voice, such is

not the circumstance with God. When He speaks, it is done. (Psalm 33:9) Consider
also that I am telling living children to come with fair to moderate success.