He also can breathe life into hopeless situations and make a way where there seems to be none. He breathes new life into us, and though our sin technically earns us death (Romans 6:23), His children will live eternally (John 3:16). To Hopeįriends, Jesus is in the business of resurrection. He is able! Yes, when Jesus commanded dead Lazarus to come out of the grave, He showed us His might and authority. And we must remember that with Jesus, all things are possible! Where we see only hurt, He can create beauty. Sorrow and pain can grow us in ways that good times can’t. Other times, He allows things to be more to our liking, but only if it’s in His best plans.Įither way, He can use it (whatever it is) for our eternal good and for His glory. Sometimes God does “end” our story there (meaning that He sometimes allows things in our lives that hurt, though what we see isn’t really the end). Sometimes, we have to say goodbye, a family crisis occurs, there isn’t enough funds for bills, we get a really bad diagnosis, or worse. Have you? Sometimes, my story or situation seems to “end” and nothing else can be done. To family and onlookers, though, the whole situation was over. Though Jesus was not hopeless, He was wounded in spirit by the pain of loss. He was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (verse 33) and wept when He saw where Lazarus was buried. There is no greater grief than being parted by death from the ones you love.Įven Jesus felt it. Mary and Martha both responded with faith, but also showed tremendous grief. When we are hurting, it serves us well to communicate with our Savior, express our faith, and listen for affirmations of God’s mighty power! From Hopeless Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” – John 11:24-27 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. What follows is a beautiful demonstration of Mary’s faith and an encouraging affirmation of Jesus’ power. Jesus responds with, “Your brother will rise again.” Mary, who often gets a bad rap in Luke 10:38-42, rushed outside to greet Jesus and expressed her great faith in His ability to have done something, and to still be able to do something about her loss. When Jesus finally does make it to Mary and Martha’s house, Lazarus was dead and buried. My prayer is that I would be open to always knowing that and agreeing with Him about it. His timing is not mine.īut His timing is perfect. In my own life, I have wondered where God was or what He was doing when I wanted something done now. Instead of returning, Jesus stayed where he was and Lazarus became more ill until he finally died. I wonder if the sisters questioned why Jesus didn’t come rushing to them. Jesus was away with His disciples when Mary and Martha sent Him the message that their brother, His dear friend Lazarus, was ill. There’s so much richness in this story and so many lessons to learn. Seeing him pass from death to life is both emotional and thrilling. I think that’s why I love the story of Lazarus. There’s nothing like the way an exciting and emotional story keeps you on the edge of your seat.
#Story of lazarus full#
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