Scripture
“When Mary finally found Jesus outside the village, she fell at his feet in tears and said, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.’
“When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at his feet, and all her friends who were with her grieving, he shuddered with emotion and was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion. He said to them, ‘Where did you bury him?’
“‘Lord, come with us and we’ll show you,’ they replied.
“Then tears streamed down Jesus’ face.
“Seeing Jesus weep caused many of the mourners to say, ‘Look how much he loved Lazarus.’ Yet others said, ‘Isn’t this the One who opens blind eyes? Why didn’t he do something to keep Lazarus from dying?’
“Then Jesus, with intense emotions, came to the tomb—a cave with a stone placed over its entrance. Jesus told them, ‘Roll away the stone.’
“Then Martha said, ‘But Lord, it’s been four days since he died—by now his body is already decomposing!’
“Jesus looked at her and said, ‘Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in me, you will see God unveil his power?’
“So they rolled away the heavy stone. Jesus gazed into heaven and said, ‘Father, thank you that you have heard my prayer, for you listen to every word I speak. Now, so that these who stand here with me will believe that you have sent me to the earth as your messenger, I will use the power you have given me.’ Then with a loud voice Jesus shouted with authority: ‘Lazarus! Come out of the tomb!’
“Then in front of everyone, Lazarus, who had died four days earlier, slowly hobbled out—he still had grave clothes tightly wrapped around his hands and feet and covering his face! Jesus said to them, ‘Unwrap him and let him loose.’
“From that day forward many of those who had come to visit Mary believed in him, for they had seen with their own eyes this amazing miracle! But a few went back to inform the Pharisees about what Jesus had done.” -John 11:32-46, TPT
Understanding Lazarus’s Perspective
I awoke at 4 a.m. this morning with this story on my mind. I love when Jesus gives me direct insight into what He wants to speak to His daughters. He is so kind.
Can you imagine what it felt like for Lazarus wondering, “Why had Jesus healed so many and didn’t show up for me?” Can you imagine his wrestling and disillusionment? I think I just hit the nail on the head for many of us who have said those exact words. There he is lying there, knowing Jesus is in reach, and as he takes his last breath, I wonder if he thought, “He never came.”
How many of us have thought these very words at different times? In a moment the thought quickly turns from a question to an accusation against the very character of God. In our fragile states of dependency, we conclude something concerning the faithfulness, love, protection, or power of God. And the enemy laughs. If Satan can defame the character of God in the mind and life of a believer, he assumes victory.
But here comes Jesus, full of compassion for not only Mary and Martha and those grieving but for Lazarus in his suffering and death. There was a grand testimony of God’s love being written on many hearts as tear-filled eyes looked on. Jesus walks up to the grave of Lazarus and, with one statement, commands Lazarus to walk out of the tomb. On the lips of Jesus was a declarative statement that Lazarus didn’t have a choice to obey or to question. Jesus was speaking to the power of death that held him back from life. Every knee in Heaven and on Earth will bow to Jesus—even death itself will bow its knee! And out walks a new man, wrapped in old grave clothes. His rags weren’t fit for this miracle of resurrection, so off they came. “‘Unwrap him and let him loose (John 11:44, TPT)!’” And a watching world saw first-hand what it looks like to receive new life as Christ gives it! It’s miraculous and eternal, and death has zero say on those who are in Christ Jesus!
A Modern Parallel
This week, my husband was in Amarillo for work. When he pulled up to the hotel, he noticed a large moving van. Since Amarillo is the halfway point to many destinations, it’s not uncommon that people take a break there overnight. Two days later the moving van still had not left. As Mike was standing in the lobby, in shuffled a very sad man. My husband made his way to the front desk to ask if this man was OK. The lady at the front desk shared with Mike that this man and his wife had all their possessions in that truck and were en route to a new home. The wife had a medical emergency and died in the ambulance the day before. He had to now wait for her ashes to be ready. Can you even imagine the depth of pain and disillusionment that man felt? This was this man’s Lazarus moment—waiting for a miracle that never came, at least at this stage of his journey, on this page of the chapter. So off he drove to his new home with his wife’s ashes in an urn.
Jesus defied the power of the grave over Lazarus because He could in that moment—four days after Lazarus died. In the story above, we would assume Jesus didn’t come for that desperate man because his wife didn’t come back to life. But we only see from our earthly perspective. We don’t see the miracle that God will do and is planning to do in this man’s desperation. I believe that God is a wonder-working God who puts His love and power continually on display to draw all men to himself. In this world we will have many troubles, but Jesus said, “‘I have overcome the world (John 16:33).’” I believe Jesus will show Himself to this man in a way that only He knows how to do.
Living in Light of Resurrection
Beloved, I want you to know that in the same way Jesus came for Lazarus, no matter what, He is coming for you. There is nothing that He cannot do for you. Nothing withholds His demonstrative love to His people. He has come, and He has rescued you from the grip of death; it has no power over you. It is not the final word over your life. His resurrection life is the final word over you. You were buried with Him and raised with Him. This is a present and an eternal reality. You can live like Paul when he said, “‘However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).’” Or when he wrote “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:20-21).”
Jesus will always come. It’s who He is. He is faithful even when we don’t think He is. I implore you in these days of division, disillusionment, discord, and doubt, remain faithful. Remain faithful to the One you have entrusted your very life to. He will never abandon or forsake you, no matter if you are staring at a grave right in the face. He will carry you from glory to glory; that’s His promise.
A Prayer for Faith
I usually put the worship song at the beginning. But today, it’s time to play it right now. Some of you need these words sung over your impossibility and your heartache. I know the man in Amarillo did. Please don’t skip over it.
“You Came” by Jonathan and Melissa Helser
Lord Jesus, I pray that You would give faith to eyes and ears today. Faith that comes by seeing You move on their behalf and ears that hear Your words of life and comfort to those who are in valleys of pain or praise. I pray an anointing of a greater deposit of belief and trust and resolve that You are for them and not against them. I pray that they would declare You are indeed a miracle-working God and hold on to that truth against all odds. Release miracles, Lord, in the lives of my sisters today, in Jesus’ name!
