#JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FULL#

We can go to him with our sorrow and frustrations. Jesus has the same compassion for us today. He saw the punishment of death and grieved over it. He saw his friends suffering in their grief and had compassion for his friends. What a beautiful picture of the compassion of Jesus as he wept with the mourners.

MarthaвЂ™s response? вЂњYes, Lord.вЂќ ThatвЂ™s the response Jesus hopes to hear from everyone when he asks us if we believe in Him. Jesus didnвЂ™t say вЂњI will give you resurrectionвЂќ, he said, вЂњI am the resurrection.вЂќ Big difference. He is the only one who can give true, lasting comfort.

I want to be like Martha and run to Jesus for my comfort. (v33,35) Some commentators believe that he was not only weeping out of compassion for his friends but the state of death that was the punishment of sin for the world. When Jesus saw Mary and all who were with her weeping, he was вЂњdeeply movedвЂќ and wept. Mary, despondent in her grief, fell at his feet and said exactly what her sister had said, вЂњLord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.вЂќ (v32) Martha returns to Mary to tell her that Jesus was asking for her. In faith, she responds, вЂњYes, Lord.вЂќ (v27) He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Jesus clarifies for her вЂ“ вЂњI am the resurrection and the life. When Jesus replied, вЂњYour brother will rise againвЂќ, she assumed he meant the resurrection on the last day.

#JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FULL#

Her full confidence in JesusвЂ™ power was on display. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.вЂќ (v21). She met him saying, вЂњLord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Martha heard that Jesus was near, she went out to meet him. I love this quote:ДЄs Jesus approached Bethany, he discovered that Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. IвЂ™m working on an attitude of hope and confidence in His control and timing.

Jesus explained quite clearly that his purpose was to reveal GodвЂ™s glory.Дo I trust him in hard times and see them as opportunities to reveal His glory? (SometimesвЂ¦) He was proving he has the power to raise us from death. He was showing them something better than healing. Lazarus died so that JesusвЂ™ power over death would be apparent to his disciples. This will help me withstand the storms of life. I need to remember this truth and cultivate patience and trust. When I think he is slow to answer (my timing), I need to remember that he alone is sovereign, knows what I need, and when I need it. I get anxious, afraid, and start questioning. Have you ever had an issue with GodвЂ™s timing? I have. This is a great reminder that nothing is impossible for God and I shouldnвЂ™t hesitate to ask Him for anything! They were aware of the miracles he had performed previously. Just as Mary and Martha called for Jesus to help, we too should not hesitate to call on Him. When Jesus finally announces that he wants to go to Lazarus, he tells his disciples plainly вЂњLazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. His delay in coming to Lazarus is a great example. We might expect (as LazarusвЂ™ family did), that He would come running to help. We read in verse 5 that Jesus loved this family and often stayed with them. No, it is for GodвЂ™s glory so that GodвЂ™s Son may be glorified through it.вЂќ (V4) Then he stayed where he was for two more days. Jesus was preaching out of town, and when he got word of LazarusвЂ™s illness replied, вЂњThis sickness will not end in death. Lazarus came down with an unnamed, grave sickness, and when his sisters Mary and Martha realized his condition was worsening, sent word to Jesus for help. You can read the entire story of Lazarus in J ohn 11: 1-44. LazarusвЂ™ name in Hebrew means вЂњ God has helped.вЂќ I find no coincidences in the Bible, so the fact that his parents named him before knowing the outcome of GodвЂ™s help in his life is amazing to me! Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha and they were among JesusвЂ™ closest friends. As we move towards Easter and JesusвЂ™ own resurrection, I want to study the raising of Lazarus. We know the disciples saw Jesus perform many unrecorded miracles ( John 20:30-31), so there may have been many more. The raising of Lazarus is one of three stories of individuals that Jesus resurrected from the dead (besides Himself).

Jesus raises lazarus