Good morning Jesus, speak to me your servant is listening.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
John 11:1-44 contains one of the most powerful and amazing stories in the Bible. If you read this story and you are not moved to fall on your knees and praise Jesus as you are confronted with the reality of who He is then you are either already dead or an unbeliever. The story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Most Christian’s general understanding of the resurrection at the last day when they die is inadequate. For the gift of life that conquers death is a present reality to Jesus so it is a present reality to all Christians today. This is consistent with the author John’s perspective on eternal life in his Gospel: It is not just a future reality, but something to be experienced in the present as well. It is the "realized eschatology" of the Fourth Gospel
The present condition of life for humanity was the focus of Jesus in these passages in John and is His focus for our life today. Verse 35 states, Jesus wept.” The context for the weeping is triggered by the thought of Lazarus in the tomb. This was not personal grief over the loss of a friend since Lazarus was about to be restored to life, but grief over the effects of sin, death, and the realm of Satan. And it grieves Jesus over the effects of sin, death, and the realm of Satan in our world today. It is also possible that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus because he knew there was also a tomb for himself ahead.
“Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you that you have listened to me. I knew that you always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.” “When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The one who had died came out,” (vs. 41-43) The reason Jesus shouted out loud is so the people around Him would hear Him and believe in Him and receive through belief the gift that conquers death, sin and Satan today!
You who have come to Christ by faith have received this gift. When was the last time you mourned or were moved to tears by the condition and effects of sin, death and the evils of Satan in the world, or more importantly your community? When was the last time you wept like Jesus did over Lazarus, over those who are lost and do not know Jesus and are in an eternal tomb of death and sin separated from Jesus? Again, as the example given by Jesus, When was the last time you were moved by what you saw, then prayed to God and thanks Him that He always hears your prayers and is always with you, then go into your neighborhood, your work place, your classrooms and shout so those lost can hear the saving Gospel of grace in Jesus? Jesus had personal knowledge of His identity and who He was as The Son. However His personal knowledge whoHe is would not have impacted or raised Lazarus from the dead if He did not share that knowledge. As I stated yesterday, your personal knowledge that you are saved and your identity is now as a daughter or son of the Father also has no impact or effect on those dead in sin around you unless you share it.
My family, As we continue in the celebration of the raising of Christ from the dead to free us from sin and death, I pray that after reading this story in John your heart will be drawn to mourn for the effects of sin and evil in your community and weep for the names that come into your mind that don’t know Jesus. That you will pray and thank God that He hears you and that nothing can separate you from His love in Christ Jesus, and then you walk out your door or pick up your phone and share out loud with others so they can hear about Jesus through you and step out or whatever dark tomb they find themselves in into the light and life of Christ, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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