Around Jerusalem, people would bury their dead in a room hewn from rock, and place a large circular stone at the narrow opening. It was possible to roll that stone to left or right, if they wanted to open or shut the tomb.
There lay Lazarus, buried in the rock-hewn grave. Jesus approached, and noted the terror of death on all. He saw in death God’s wrath poured on all sinners, as if God had delivered the living into the hands of the destroyer. But the Creator does not desire the death of the living, but their repentance and conversion to life.
Jesus ordered the lifting of the stone blocking the tomb. People were shocked, because touching the dead was pollution for some days. Decomposition would have begun to set in after four days. Martha protested indirectly, saying, "Lord, it is not right to disturb the rest of the dead, he stinks." Martha where is your faith? You had just confessed that Jesus is God’s Son and Messiah, able to raise the dead. The fact of death and the image of the tomb had dimmed her eyes, and she did not know what her Lord wanted.
However, he strengthened her faith and exhorted her confidence surpassing man’s abilities. He demanded total reliance that merit the vision of God’s glory. Jesus did not say, "Believe, and you will see me performing a great miracle." He had earlier foretold his disciples that Lazarus’ sickness was not unto death, but to God’s glory (John 11:4). Jesus knew what he had to do owing to his harmony with his Father’s will. He sought to draw her attention from the dread fact of death to God’s glory, revealed to faith. Not his own honor but his Father’s majesty and glory was his aim.
Likewise, Christ says to you, "If you believe, you will see God’s glory." Turn your eyes away from your problems and trials. Do not be obsessed by your guilt and maladies, and look to Jesus, believe in his presence, yield yourself to him as a child embracing his mother. Let his will be done; he loves you.