The 4th Day Miracle
The story of Lazarus is one of the most profound revelations of Christ’s authority, timing, and glory. It is the story of a God who is never late, even when circumstances appear dead. In John 11, Jesus intentionally delays His arrival for four days—not out of neglect, but out of divine purpose. What everyone else saw as the end, Jesus saw as the beginning of a miracle that would redefine faith itself. The “4th Day Miracle” is a revelation of what God does when the situation has gone beyond human help, beyond natural repair, and beyond logical recovery.
By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus was not just sick—he was dead. Not just dead—he was buried. Not just buried—he had begun to decay. Human hope had expired. The community had mourned. Martha and Mary had accepted the loss. But divine timing does not bow to human deadlines. Jesus said plainly, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:4). What they called a tragedy, Jesus called a stage. What they viewed as the end, Jesus viewed as an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed in a dimension no one had ever seen.
When Jesus arrived, Martha met Him with a statement many of us whisper in our hearts: “Lord, if You had been here…” (John 11:21). This is the cry of delayed expectations, unanswered prayers, and the pain of waiting. Yet Jesus responds with one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). He did not say He brings resurrection—He is resurrection. He does not watch life happen—He is life. Wherever Jesus shows up, death loses authority.
The 4th day is the day when all natural possibilities have expired. Jewish belief at the time held that the spirit hovered near the body for three days, but by the fourth, corruption had fully set in. Jesus waited until the fourth day to prove that His power is not limited by human timelines, medical reports, scientific reasoning, or cultural beliefs. The fourth day reveals a God who moves beyond recovery and into resurrection. It is the moment He shows that He does not need a heartbeat to heal—He can command life out of decay.
When Jesus reached the tomb, He did not panic. He commanded: “Take away the stone.” The stone represents everything we have used to seal away pain—fear, doubt, disappointment, self-protection. The miracle began the moment the stone was moved. God will resurrect what you are willing to expose. Miracles flow where faith removes barriers.
Martha protested: “Lord, by this time he stinks.” But Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). The 4th day miracle requires believing beyond what you smell, see, or feel. It requires faith that overrides decay. God is not intimidated by the smell of your situation. Human timelines may expire, but God’s Word never does.
Then Jesus prayed—not for power, but for revelation. He prayed so the people would know the Father had sent Him. Jesus wanted the crowd to understand that resurrection was not a performance—it was a partnership between Heaven and earth. After praying, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” The specificity is powerful. Had He simply said “Come forth,” every dead person in that region might have risen. Divine authority travels on the wings of divine precision.
Lazarus came out—still bound, still wrapped, still tied. Resurrection happened instantly, but release happened progressively. Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.” This reveals that many people experience spiritual resurrection but still need deliverance, discipleship, and community to remove the grave clothes. God raises you, but people help unwrap you. Resurrection brings you out, but deliverance sets you free.
The 4th day miracle teaches that Jesus works even with what looks too late. Some breakthroughs are first-day miracles, some are second-day miracles, but the deepest miracles are 4th day miracles—the kind that defy logic, silence mockers, confuse doctors, amaze enemies, and glorify God beyond measure. The fourth day is where God shows that He doesn’t revive—He resurrects. He doesn’t patch—He transforms. He doesn’t restore to old levels—He introduces new dimensions.
This miracle was so powerful that the religious leaders sought to kill Lazarus after his resurrection (John 12:10). Why? Because a 4th day miracle is a testimony that cannot be argued. Your resurrection becomes your evangelism. Your testimony becomes your authority. Your comeback becomes your evidence that God is real.
Many believers live in “4th day seasons”—times where prayers seem unanswered, silence stretches long, and hope appears buried. But the God who raised Lazarus is still the same today. The 4th day is never delay—it is divine orchestration. It is the platform for a miracle that cannot be attributed to man. When Jesus waits, it is because He intends to do something greater than healing—He intends to reveal His glory through resurrection.
The 4th Day Miracle is a reminder that God is not late—He is intentional. Not absent—He is preparing. Not silent—He is orchestrating. Not ignoring—He is aligning testimonies. When Jesus steps into your 4th day, everything dead hears His voice.
And when He calls your name, your Lazarus must rise.
