COME OUT AND LIVE
John
11:39-41 "Take
away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister
of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there
four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you
believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone.
Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard
me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the
people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
God has always had and always will have the power to
raise us from the dead. Period. He does not need our help. We are powerless
over our own lives, just ask any man at our Rescue Mission. Besides, it’s not
about us. It’s all about Jesus. “Our only role is to stick our feet straight up
in the air and admit that without God we might as well be put to bed with a
shovel. Now that is a message that can empty a church out fast”, writes Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book God
In Pain.
This story is not about Lazarus,
Mary, Martha or the crowds. This story is not even about you and I. The story
is about God. This event is given to shake us awake from disbelief. This and
other miracles are spiritual darts designed to puncture our self-centered
understandings about the world, ourselves and about God. This story goes beyond
the realm of physical death. It is not merely given to reveal the power of God
in Jesus. The story is designed to reflect the glorification of God by an
individual’s belief in Jesus Christ.
Death is
disbelieving. Disbelief is the reality of spiritual death in a person. It is
disbelief in God that must be overcome. Spiritual death is an obstacle to our
faith in God. The people attending the funeral were absorbed with the
circumstances of Lazarus’ death. They saw their faith in Jesus destroyed by the
death of Lazarus. This event transcends the circumstances of death. Lazarus’
death was designed to show God’s glory, overcome disbelief and bring people to
faith in Him. Remember, Lazarus came out!
Now Live!!!
Jericho Road Ministries: Chapel Service. Rev. Bruce
W. Gimbel.
