A
man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and
Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord's
feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two
sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend
is very sick." But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's
sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that
the Son of God will receive glory from this." ... Then he said, "Our friend
Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up." The
disciples said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!"
They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus
had died. So he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes,
I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see
him." ... Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone
who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and
believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"
"Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the
Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." John 11:1-4, 11-15, 25-27
Our friend is
asleep—no, actually he is dead. People don’t often refer to dead as asleep, but
Jesus did. Consider the healing of the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader
as recorded in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8.
The house was filled with people weeping and
wailing, but he (Jesus) said, "Stop the weeping! She isn't dead; she's
only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had
died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "My child,
get up!" And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood
up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Luke 8:52-55
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Lazarus and
his sisters were dear friends of Jesus. He dined, relaxed and taught in their
home. Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick…and then died, but He already knew.
He knew that God would use this for His glory. Jesus wept over His friend…and
then called him out of the grave. Just think about the people that believed in
Jesus as the Messiah after they witnesses the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection.
It took that for some people to believe—even His disciples. He said… And
for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe.
His friends believed—really believed—and so did the many mourners who were
gathered there to wail and cry along with Martha and Mary. What will it take
for you and your friends to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God?
Will you need to see someone raised from the dead? If you wait until you are
the one who is to be resurrected, it will be too late. Trust in the Lord…and
believe. Today.
Prayer ~ Lord Jesus—I believe you are the Messiah, the
Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. You are the
resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in You will live, even after
dying. Everyone who lives in You and believes in You will never ever die.
Daily
Bible Reading: Luke 23; John 18-19
Only 42 days until Christmas
© 2018 Text and
Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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