“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” (John 11:39-42 NLT)

What is one of the worst things you have ever smelled? A rotten egg? A pair of sweaty socks? A skunk on the side of the road? Whatever it may be, you likely don’t want to get anywhere close to it. I mean, if you get too close, the odor might seep into your clothes, and you’ll end up being the stinky one! And no one wants that.

So, then we have to wonder, why on earth would Jesus willingly open up the tomb of a deceased man? Martha herself (Lazarus’ sister) even asks Jesus this (vs. 39b). It seems crazy that the King of the universe, the Messiah, would want to be around anyone/anything that could repel others from his presence. 

But Jesus had other ideas in mind. Jesus ordered the stone to be rolled away, and then he stood at the edge of the tomb, right where he would be able to smell all the nasty things. Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And out walked the once-dead man named Lazarus.

Whether we literally smell or not, we all have something (a.k.a. our sins) that should be repulsive to the King of the world. Jesus doesn’t care about that. He loves us through all of our stinky sins and faults, so much that he died on the cross for us! And by loving us (the “stinky people”), Jesus shows us how we should love each other. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son down as an example of how to love. Help us to constantly remember how to love each other. Help us to be reminded that Jesus loved everyone, even the smelliest of people and that we can love the same way he did.

In Jesus’ holy and perfect name, 

Amen