November 10 - Lazarus, Come Out

Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, "See how He loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?" So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." John 11:30-44  

If only you had been here…. That’s the human nature. Blame our problems on others. This is YOUR fault. If you had come when we called you…. Whatever the illness that Lazarus had, it was beyond the home remedies that Martha and Mary might have applied. Lazarus died anyway. But Martha and Mary knew that Jesus could have healed their brother. They had seen and heard about Him healing others—the blind, lame, lepers, and otherwise sick people. Why hadn’t He come in time to heal Lazarus? Did He really not care enough about their brother—His friend? Distraught, confused and disappointed they cried out to their Savior…WHY?

Four days in the grave were enough to certify death. If it had only been a couple of days, the officials would have said he was only unconscious—but four days proved that the person was truly dead. Where have you laid him? Jesus was deeply moved—so much so that He actually cried. Then Jesus prayed to the Father. Thank you for hearing me. How often do we thank God for merely “hearing” our prayers? We plead for His mercy when we, our family or friends are sick or in need of His special touch. Let’s remember to Thank Him—that those hearing our prayers may believe, too—just as Jesus prayed. The Father heard the Son. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb. God answered Jesus’ prayer and command with the resurrection of His good friend Lazarus. The Father allowed this so that Jesus could be glorified—given honor. Jesus instructed those nearby to unbind Lazarus and let him go. When we have been set free from bondage of sin, deceit or discouragement do we hear Jesus saying “unbind” her or him? When Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb—and he did! Now he was alive.  

The Bible doesn’t give us an account of the immediate reaction to Lazarus’ resurrection. I imagine a scene like this. Lazarus stumbling and awkwardly allowing others to remove his bindings, dumbfounded to have come back to life—awestruck—grateful that he could rejoin his family and friends for a time. In the crowd of mourners, some likely paid to mourn as was the custom at that time, were speechless, they were so amazed. Others, including the disciples, were cheering, slapping each other on the back. Martha and Mary ran to Lazarus, hugging him, and then turning to Jesus, hugging Him. Jesus, in His usual humility moved to the sidelines, watching the crowd. Everyone gathered around Lazarus lifting him up and parading him back to his home. What had started as a day of mourning became a day of joyous celebration—with a feast around the table of Lazarus and his sisters—with everyone praising Jesus. 

Smile—join in this celebration. Lazarus once was dead—and now he is alive again. When we smile, our mood actually changes according to a recent study at the University of Michigan. So choose to have more joy in your life—smile and give Jesus the glory. He was likely smiling after Lazarus came out of the tomb. 

Heavenly Father—Thank you for hearing our prayers, for your mercy in Lazarus’ life and in our lives. Guide us that we would make good choices and rely on you to set us free from the bondage of sin, illness, discouragement and even death.

Happy Birthday, Joeske!

Shalom Shabbat

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).