Jesus Brings a Deadman Back to Life

 

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him. (John 11:38-45, English Standard Version)

Just as the other stories I've shared the past few weeks, you know the story of Lazarus. I haven't copied the entire incident here, but it would be great if you pulled out your Bibles to the book of John and read all of chapter 11. (Or click on this link to the Bible Gateway website.)

I could write a good six blog posts on the first 45 verses of that chapter. But here we are, short on time with Lent creeping up on us.

Anyway, the siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, are friends of Jesus. Lazarus falls ill, and his sisters send word to Jesus, asking Him to come. Jesus didn't jump up and run off to their home, a few days' walk away. No, Jesus hung out with His disciples two days before announcing, "Let's go see Lazarus, who has fallen asleep (meaning he has already died)."

They arrived at Lazarus's tomb, and Jesus called His friend to arise and come out. Miracle of miracles.

But here's my takeaway verse from this story. Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

Believe and see the glory of God! What beautiful words! No matter what you are going through today, have faith, believe. You may not see God's glory with your eyes today or tomorrow. But someday you will if you only believe.