Lazarus come out!

531 lazarus come outDo you know the story of Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead? It was a tremendous miracle that shows us that Jesus has the power to raise us from the dead, too. But the story contains much more and John tells some details that have a deeper meaning for us today.

Notice the way John tells this story. Lazarus was not an unknown resident of Judea - he was the brother of Martha and Mary, the Mary who loved Jesus so much that she poured precious anointing oil on his feet. The sisters summoned Jesus: "Lord, behold, the one you love is sick" (from John 11,1-3). This sounds like a cry for help to me, but Jesus didn't come.

Do you sometimes feel like God is delaying His answer? It certainly felt like this to Mary and Martha, but the delay does not mean that Jesus didn't like them, but rather that he had a different plan in mind because he could see something they couldn't. As it turned out, by the time the messengers reached Jesus, Lazarus was already dead. Jesus said this disease would not end in death. Was he wrong? No, because Jesus looked beyond death and, in this case, knew that death would not be the end of the story, he knew that the purpose was to glorify God and his Son (v. 4). Even so, he made his disciples think that Lazarus would not die. There is a lesson here for us too, because we don't always understand what Jesus really means.

Two days later, Jesus surprised his disciples by suggesting that they go back to Judea. They did not understand why Jesus wanted to return to the danger zone, so Jesus responded with an enigmatic comment about walking in the light and the coming of darkness. Then he said to them: "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to wake him up" (v. 11).

The disciples were apparently used to the mysterious nature of some of Jesus' remarks and they found a detour to get more information. They pointed out that the literal meaning makes no sense. If he sleeps, then he will wake up by himself, so why risk our lives by going there?

Jesus declared, "Lazarus is dead," and further, "I'm glad I wasn't there." Why? "So that you may believe". Jesus would work a miracle more amazing than if he had only prevented the death of a sick man. The miracle wasn't just bringing Lazarus back to life—it was that Jesus had knowledge of what was happening about 30 miles away from them and what was about to happen to him in the near future.

He had a light that they could not see - and that light revealed to him his own death and resurrection in Judea. He was in complete control of the events. He could have prevented the capture if he had wanted it; he could have stopped the trial in one word, but he did not. He decided to do what he had come to earth for.

The man who gave life to the dead was ready to give his own life for the people, for he had the power over death, even over his own death. He came to this earth as a mortal man so he could die, and what at first glance looked like a tragedy had actually happened for our salvation. I do not want to claim that any tragedy that happens is in fact planned or good by God, but I believe that God is able to bring good from evil and he sees the reality we can not see.

He looks beyond death and masters the events no less today than then - but it is often as invisible to us as it was to the disciples. We just can not see the big picture and sometimes we stumble in the dark. We should trust God to do things in the way that best suits them.

Jesus and his disciples went to Bethany and learned that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. The funeral speeches were held and the funeral was long over - and finally the doctor came by! Martha said, perhaps with a little desperation and hurt, "Lord, had You been here, my brother would not have died" (verse 21). We called you a few days ago and if you had come then, Lazarus would still be alive.

I would have been disappointed too - or, more appropriately, dismayed, angry, hysterical, desperate - wouldn't you? Why did Jesus let her brother die? Yes why? We often ask the same question today - why did God let my loved one die? Why did he allow this or that catastrophe? When there is no answer, we angrily turn away from God. But Maria and Martha, although disappointed, hurt and a little angry, did not turn away. Martha had a glimmer of hope - she saw a little light: "But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you" (verse 22). Perhaps she thought it would be a bit too bold to ask for a resurrection, but she is hinting. "Lazarus will live again," Jesus said, and Martha replied, "I know he will rise from the dead" (but I hoped a little sooner). Jesus said, "That's good, but did you know that I am the resurrection and the life? If you believe in me you will never die. Do you think the?"

Martha then said in one of the most outstanding statements of faith in all of the Bible, "Yes, I believe that. You are the Son of God" (verse 27).

Life and resurrection can only be found in Christ - but can we believe what Jesus said today? Do we really believe that "whoever lives and believes in me will never die?" I wish we all could understand this better, but I know for sure that in the resurrection there will be new life that will never end .

In this age we all die, just like Lazarus and Jesus, but Jesus will raise us up. We die, but that is not the end of the story for us, any more than it was not the end of the story of Lazarus. Martha went to get Mary, and Mary came to Jesus weeping. Jesus wept too. Why did he weep when he already knew that Lazarus would live again? Why did John write this when John knew joy was "just around the corner"? I don't know - I don't always know why I cry, even on happy occasions.

But I believe the statement is that it is okay to cry at a funeral even though we know that person will be raised to immortal life. Jesus promised that we would never die and yet death still exists.

Death is still an enemy. He is still something in this world that is not what it will be in eternity. Sometimes we feel times of deep sadness, even when Jesus loves us. When we cry, Jesus weeps with us. He can see our sadness in this age just as he can see the joys of the future.

"Take away the stone" said Jesus and Mary countered him: "There will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days".

Is there anything in your life that stinks that you don't want Jesus to expose "by rolling away the stone?"

There is something like that in everyone's life, something that we prefer to keep hidden. Sometimes Jesus has other plans because he knows things that we don't know and we can simply trust him. So they rolled away the stone and Jesus prayed and cried, "Lazarus, come out!" "And the dead came out," John tells us - but he was no longer dead. He was bound like a dead man with shrouds, but he walked . "Unbind him," said Jesus, "and let him go" (verses 43-44).

Jesus' call also goes to today's spiritual dead and some of them hear his voice and come out of their graves. They come out of the stink, of the selfish way of thinking that led to death. What do you need? They need someone to help them get rid of their grave cloths to get rid of the old ways of thinking that are so easy on us. This is one of the tasks of the church. We help people move the stone away, though it may stink, and we help people who respond to Jesus' call.

Do you heed Jesus' call to come to him? It's time to come out of your "grave". Perhaps you know someone whom Jesus is calling? It's time to help him roll the stone away. That's something worth thinking about.

by Joseph Tkach