![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The only difference is what we will face when we “awake.” As it is written, “ Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). He used a euphemism of sleep to convey that idea: “ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep but I am going there to wake him up’” (John 11:11). What we see as death isn’t true death, though, for the Lord Jesus. Then he asked her (and us) bluntly, “Do you believe this?”īut Lazarus believed in Jesus and still died, “ So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. So Jesus clarified that death is meaningless before him and that all who called on his name need not worry about it. Martha believed in “the resurrection” but like us she really didn’t understand it. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. History records the conversation in John 11:21-26, When Jesus was confronted about why he let Lazarus die, he wanted to make sure this point was clear. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. And not just some ethereal thing- but you, if you believe in Jesus, will be raised again. The raising of Lazarus shows that Jesus can indeed raise the dead. But for the sake of brevity, let’s focus on exactly what the Holy Spirit wanted me to learn. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:38-44).Īnd everyone was shocked (for obvious reasons).Įven as I wrote the notes for this article, the story continued to reveal more and more. When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” “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.” ![]() It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. Jesus, one more deeply moved, came to the tomb. Then Jesus showed up late to the party and brought his friend (who had died in the interim) back to life: So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:1-3). This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. So what makes the story of Lazarus so special? The Holy Spirit hit me with the answer out of the blue one day.īefore we start though, let’s go over a couple parts of this story. Sure, it’s a great miracle, but Jesus did lots of amazing stuff. The thing is though I don’t think I ever really understood the significance of the story. Every Christian knows the story of Lazarus: in an impressive show of his power, Jesus raised one of his friends from the dead. ![]()
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