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." So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." But his disciples objected. "Rabbi," they said, "only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?" Jesus replied, "There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light." 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. John 11:1-14
Sleeping or dead? Lazarus was dead. Dead, but Jesus described Lazarus' condition as "fallen asleep." He claimed that He would "wake him up." Sometimes you hear people hushing noisy kids saying, "you're so noisy, you could wake the dead." Jesus shouted for Lazarus to come out of the grave--but the Scripture doesn't say He was noisy. He just called and Lazarus came out--four days after he had been buried. Four days. (Can you imagine the odor? Ugh!) Sleeping a sleep that didn't end in death. Jesus cared about His friends--but He knew that to bring glory to the Heavenly Father He had to wait until everyone knew that Lazarus was truly dead and could only be raised from death by a miracle. The power of God! It was a Jewish custom to not declare a person dead until they had been in the grave three days. Now...four days. Lazarus was definitely dead. Jesus brought him back to life. Back from his sleeping. Maybe this is why some children...and even some adults are afraid to go to sleep?
Are you feeling sleepy? No need to fear death. Jesus still has the power to raise people from death. One day all the "dead in Christ" will rise from their graves and bring glory and honor to the Lord God Almighty.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.
Lazarus died again--but those who experience this resurrection will never die again. On the contrary, those who believe in Jesus and rise from their grave--as well as those living at the time of Christ's return will never die again. Do I hear a "Hallelujah"?
Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I praise You and am listening for Your "shout" from heaven. Help me to encourage others to seek You with all their heart, soul, and mind that one day we all would be caught up into the air together...whether we are sleeping now or not.
Are you feeling sleepy? No need to fear death. Jesus still has the power to raise people from death. One day all the "dead in Christ" will rise from their graves and bring glory and honor to the Lord God Almighty.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.
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| Graves at The Mount of Olives Israel |
Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I praise You and am listening for Your "shout" from heaven. Help me to encourage others to seek You with all their heart, soul, and mind that one day we all would be caught up into the air together...whether we are sleeping now or not.
© 2020 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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