Jesus the Resurrec†ion

I always wanted to attend a prayer meeting, and last Tuesday, it happened to be in the church. I had the opportunity of being prayed over by Fr. Rufus Pereira. I was glad to tell him that like him I believed in God being the God of Impossibles. He asked me ‘What do you want? I simply stated I wanted God’s will in my life. He said that I need to be clear, again I replied ‘HIS WILL’. I knew it was God, reconfirming with me. And again and again, I would say, Your will be done. My life is in your hands, my God.

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25

Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, had a special relationship with Jesus. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent a message to Jesus: Lord, the one you love is sick.  They do not state their request. Where there is love, there is no need to request a favor; it is enough to make the need known.

This request is very similar to Jesus' mother's request at the wedding of Cana. It presents a need but does not dictate to the Lord how He should respond. In these requests, there is a need that is made known to the Lord with humility and a knowing that it is His will that should be done.

Jesus' love for Lazarus and his sisters teaches us that our faith in God's love, even in the midst of adversity, is well grounded. Even those especially dear to God must go through the trials in life.

When Jesus heard the news, that Lazarus was sick, He waited for two more days. Jesus does only in accordance with His Father's will. He knew the sickness would not end in death. Jesus knew it was for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it. Jesus could have raised Lazarus from a distance. But Jesus was willing to go to Lazarus and his family, even though it was dangerous to go there. Jesus walked in the confidence of the trust He had in His Father.

When Jesus announces that they are to return to Judea, His disciples remind Him that the Jewish opponents had just been trying to stone Him there. Jesus tells them that they need not worry about what will happen to them for they have the Light of the World with them. "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1). Remember, in your darkest hour, Jesus the Light of the world will be with you. For no matter what happens it will work out for the best, even as Lazarus's illness will work for the glory of God. Here is a word of assurance to all believers to trust God and not their circumstances.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. When Martha discovered that Jesus was on His way, she went out to meet Him. "Lord," she said, "if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You: CAN WE SAY THE SAME THING?

Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again." But Martha thought He was talking about the final resurrection of the dead.

Jesus is the champion over death. Jesus said to Martha: ‘I am the resurrection and the life-Do you believe? Martha replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Martha then went and told Mary that Jesus wanted to see her. Jesus had not yet entered the village, most likely to avoid stirring up the crowd and calling attention to Himself. The town of Bethany was not far from Jerusalem where the Jewish leaders were plotting against Jesus.

When Mary met Jesus she was grieving with strong emotion over her brother's death. Deeply moved by their grief, Jesus wept with them.

Jesus then went to the tomb of Lazarus with Mary, Martha and the rest of the mourners. There he asked them to remove the stone from the burial place. Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed to His Father, closing with these words: "Lazarus, come out!" But if Martha and Mary would not believe, then they would never see the glory of God.

 

FACTS:

† Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus showed the disciples, and the world, that He had power over death. It is absolutely essential to our faith as Christians that we believe in the resurrection from the dead.

† The most powerful message ever: "Whoever believes in Me, (Jesus Christ) receives spiritual life that even physical death can never take away."

† Jesus was moved to weep with the ones he loved. Like Martha and Mary, we can be our free selves, with God because He cares for us.

† Jesus waited to travel to Bethany because He knew already that Lazarus would be dead and that He would perform an amazing miracle there, for the glory of God. Many times we wait for the Lord in the midst of a terrible situation and wonder why He doesn't respond more quickly. Often God allows our situation to go from bad to worse because He's planning to do something powerful and wonderful; He has a purpose that will bring even greater glory to God.

REFLECTION: Are you in a difficult trial? Do you feel like God is delaying much too long to answer your need? Do you trust God even in the delay? Remember Lazarus. Trust that God must have a purpose for your trial, and that He will bring glory to Himself through it.

CONCLUSION: Jesus gives life by giving up His own life on the cross. The raising of Lazarus, is the sign that points towards--the life through the death of the Son of God.

In all that Jesus does we see the glory of God, for we see God's love and life-giving power. This is the heart of the Gospel. God's glory is thus seen in His victory over death--first the death of Lazarus, and then the death of Jesus Himself!"

REMEMBER: The hard parts of life are occasions for learning about God and drawing CLOSER TO HIM. Jesus prays aloud for the sake of the crowd. It is precisely because Jesus is sent from God and does as God directs Him that He is heard by God. He is the obedient Son sent by the Father to do the Father's will.

His reason was to bring glory to God His Father, but it was also to prove to His disciples and the people, that He really was Who He said He was - the Son of God.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank You for walking with me even in the hard times. I know that my trials and troubles are only temporary. I trust that You are taking me through my circumstances to a place of victory and strength. Thank You for Your eternal blessing on my life today and always in Jesus’ name. Amen.