2023-05-26
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The presence of Christ in our circumstances is of supreme importance. Jesus had a very important reason for His unexpected delay after Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, sent the news that their brother was ill. We must understand that Lazarus and Jesus were good friends. Mary is the same lady whose tears fell at Christ’s feet followed by her pouring an expensive perfume on them and wiping them with her hair. “Lord,” the sisters wrote, “The one you love is ill” [JN 11: 1-3]. It was inconsistent with their past relationship that Jesus took so long, that by the time He arrived, Lazarus had passed away. Real faith demands patience and our need to find out what we can learn from the situation [2 TIM 3: 16-17]. I’m sure they wondered why He allowed this to happen.
Jesus had already told his disciples that they should return to Bethany where Jews had previously tried to stone Him. He made the point that the light of day (and spiritually the presence of His light) provides for one’s ability to protect himself [JN 11: 9-10]. Jesus had used the word “sleep” to mean death and not being asleep for the night in bed. Thomas (also known as Didymus) commented, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” [vs 16] and they left for Bethany. By the time Christ arrived, Lazarus had been in his tomb for four days. Upon His arrival, Martha went out to greet Him, but Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother might not have died. Even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask” [vs 21-24]. Christ’s reply was, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said, “I know he will rise again at the resurrection at that last day.” That is when Jesus says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” [JN 11: 25-26]. Martha replied, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, Who is come to the world.”
Finally, Mary comes out of the house where other Jews had been comforting her and said the same thing that Martha did. Mary and her company wept. The shortest line in the Scriptures occurs when Christ weeps with them [JN11: 35]. Anyone who has already read this story knows that Jesus’ weeping was out of sympathy for them, even as yet they didn’t fully understand the true lesson He has for them (and us).
They went to Lazarus’ tomb and Christ said, “Take away the stone,” meaning the one that was at its entrance. “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” So, His command was obeyed. Christ thanked God for hearing His prayerful request first. Then He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The dead man came out still wrapped in linen grave clothes. Christ told them to help Lazarus get free from the linen strips of cloth and let him go [vs 44b].
Having read what I have related here, what was at the heart of the lesson Christ shares here? To answer that question, let’s return to JN 11: 4, 25-26. These are Christ’s words, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it…I am the Resurrection and the Life…” It takes patience to fully learn the meaning of this for each of us, who believe in Him. While we don’t always practice the self-discipline that it takes to really understand the lessons of the Scriptures, we must also witness to what these beliefs mean for our individual lives and choices. I’m urging all of us to take time to study, understand and believe in these lessons as they bless our quality of life.
PRAYER: O Lord, we are often impatient and lack self-control to study and understand what Christ does for us. His sacrificial atonement and our true faith in Him together make it possible to expect to gain eternal life. Lord, we do not want to be forgotten or to leave a checkered legacy. Instead, we want Your teaching to lead us to making the choices that would please You and demonstrate the faith we have in You. We are grateful for each blessing that You give us and for the wise training of our spirits. I say, for the sake of all of us, that we love You and don’t want any of your sacrifices for us to be wasted. You deserve our faithful obedience and to be the Leader of our lives. These things are said in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to write more about the story of Lazarus and its lessons from the Lord next week. Using patience and self-discipline is a very important part of honoring family and cherished friendships. Of course, there are people who engage in bad behavior and even betray others. But as believers in Christ, it is necessary for us to set an example that will please our Lord and serve others by what we do, the attitudes we have, and the loving patience that is so Christlike. One never knows how our groundwork of faith will impact others. When I was working for a ministry out of Toronto that specializes in real time chats with seekers who have questions, I had many conversations over about one year with a young man who was trying to find himself. We had lengthy discussions about the need for genuine faith in God, as he had not yet decided in what he believed. There were times when I needed to be a patient listener while he talked out his feelings and his difficulties. The Lord has gifted me with a working knowledge of the Scriptures, and I often brought them up in response to what he was saying. Toward the end of my time with him, I got a message that he wanted to tap out a computer message to me. I got on-line right away. His message was, “I want to thank you for what God brought you to say to me. I’ve made an important decision, as a result of our conversations. I have decided to join a Christian church and get baptized!” That was God’s gift to me, and I love Him very much. He loves all of us, and that is a great blessing! Thanks and praise to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 14: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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