I’ve heard sermons on Easter Sunday about the resurrection, from Mary’s perspective, from the view of the disciples, Doubting Thomas. Our pastor took a different slant this year, which always makes me take a deeper look at it.
How is it that the things that we never want to see happen can bring the greatest glory to God? It was certainly that way with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. But we see a time shortly before Jesus was crucified that a good friend of Jesus was dying. After hearing of Lazarus being sick, Jesus spent a few more days where he was before going to Judea. By the time Jesus arrived there, Lazarus had been in the tomb for 4 days.
Could Jesus have healed him before he died? Sure, but he’d done that many times before. How much more glory would it bring to God if Jesus were able to raise him from the dead? When the circumstances are so dire that we think things are beyond hope, that’s when God’s glory is greatest!
Sometimes the news is going to hurt. God uses these moments and restores us to a relationship with him. It lifts him up and others get to know the gospel. He is glorified because you are restored.
Jesus talked about Lazarus falling asleep and that he was going to go wake him, the disciples thought that Jesus was talking about sleep, but he corrects them and tells them that he is dead. Jesus responds,
“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:14-15
Thomas says to the rest of the disciples,
”Let us also go that we may die with him.”
John 11:16
Sarcasm? Possibly. Why did God let this happen? Do we all have a little bit of doubt in us? We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t, I guess.
Mary gives Jesus a bit of the cold shoulder. She knows that he could have saved Lazarus if only he’d gotten there sooner. What good is it to have a Savior if he’s not going to do his miracles? She’s discouraged, but it’s going to be okay.
Just like Mary, we can’t see the motives behind what happens. We get frustrated with our family, kids, and church. We’re discouraged because we don’t understand the whys. We just can’t make sense of it all.
That’s how it was for Martha and Mary. Hard to understand what was going on. Jesus tells Martha that her brother will rise again. That whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. She still doesn’t really understand what he is saying. She understands that he is the Christ.
When Mary sees Jesus she blames Him for the death of her brother. If Jesus had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. But when Jesus sees her cry, he wept also.
Have you ever felt disappointment in the delays in life? We don’t understand why we have to wait for God’s timing. He takes too long in our view, but with God, all things are possible. His delays are not necessarily, “no”. He is still the blessing. “Even now” moments are possible with God. Even now she knows that God would do whatever Jesus asks.
And Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb.
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
Jesus does the impossible. The resurrection is not an event, it’s a person!
We carry the death clothes, but wed don’t have to. Just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, we will be raised also.
We may feel dead inside, but we don’t have to. Jesus bore our suffering for us. He took our sins on himself and paid the price we owe!
We may feel dead in our sins, but we don’t have to stay there. We can overcome because Jesus overcame death.
Why does this matter? God did for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
Jesus proclaimed, “Forgive them for they know not what they do”! Our sins are forgiven.
Saturday is full of darkness, but on Sunday the tomb is empty and we’re free! Our sins can be forgiven. We can have hope if we choose to believe the One who came to save us!
Don’t be lost in despair, turn to Jesus. Ask Him to show you the truth.
He is risen, indeed!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 