Lazarus

This is the story of Lazarus and Jesus. This is also your story, of how once you were dead to God but now you are alive with Jesus. 

John chapter 11 verses 9-45.

Jesus replied, "There are twelve hours of daylight everyday, and during every hour of it a man can walk safely and not stumble. Only at night is there danger of a wrong step, because of the dark." Then He said, "Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, but now I will go and awaken him!"

   The disciples, thinking Jesus meant Lazarus was having a good nights rest, said, "That means he is getting better!" But Jesus meant Lazarus had died. Then He told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in Me. Come let's go to him."

   Thomas, nicknamed "The Twin," said to his fellow disciples, "Lets go too---and die with him." When they arrived at Bethany, they were told that Lazarus had already been in his tomb for four days. Bethany was only a couple of miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish leaders had come to pay their respects and to console Martha and Mary on their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming she went to meet Him. But Mary stayed at home. 

   Martha said to Jesus, "Sir, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And even now it's not too late, for I know that God will bring my brother back to life again, if you will only ask Him to." Jesus told her, "Your brother will come back to life again." "Yes," Martha said, "when everyone else does, on Resurrection day."

   Jesus told her, "I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in Me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in Me and shall never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?" (Jesus takes our empty, dead lives that do not walk with Him and gives them life.) (We can be "born again" because of God's mercies and grace.)

   "Yes, Master," she told Him, "I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one we have so long awaited." Then she left him and returned to Mary and, calling her aside from the mourners, told her, "He is here and wants to see you." So Mary went to Him at once. 

   Now Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met Him. When the Jewish leaders who were at the house trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus' tomb to weep; so they followed her. When Mary arrived where Jesus was, she fell down at His feet saying, "Sir, if You had been here, my brother would still be alive." 

   When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jewish leaders wailing with her, He was moved with indignation and deeply troubled. "Where is he buried?" He asked them. They told Him, "Come and see." Tears came to Jesus' eyes. "They were close friends," the Jewish leaders said. "See how much He loved him."

   But some said, "This fellow healed a blind man---why couldn't He keep Lazarus from dying?" And again Jesus was moved with deep anger. Then they came to the tomb. It was a cave with a heavy stone rolled across its door. "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, said, "By now the smell will be terrible, for he has been dead four days." (Your joy for life has been sucked out of you. You have come to God seeking---hoping for renewal) (Your life has not changed, it has been the same for way too long and everything you try leads nowhere.) (Take a chance and ask God to help you. Your joy will return overflowing, pressed down, so that more can be added. Luke chapter 6.) 

   "But didn't I tell you that you will see a wonderful miracle from God if you believe?" Jesus asked her. So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank You for hearing Me." He knew that God always hears Him, but He said it because of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me. Then He shouted, "Lazarus, come out!"

   And Lazarus came---bound up in the grave-cloth, his face muffled in a head swath. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" And so at last many of the Jewish leaders who were with Mary and saw it happen, finally believed on Him. (It will be the same with those around you. They will see the change and love upon you.)

   You have lived without God being a big part of your life for as long as you can remember. Now you have called out to Him for whatever your reasons may be. Joy has entered into you and you are forever thankful to God for Jesus. Does that mean you are to go around bragging about what has happened to you? Is it your responsibility to get others to change because of your beliefs? 

   What has happened to you is amazing and you may want to let it out because it is hard to hold in. Now, remember how skeptical you were and the conversations that got peoples backs up when there was any talk about God or Jesus. You share your joy when the opportunity arises. And believe me the opportunities will arise because everything about you is reflecting Jesus.  

   You are getting along with people, you are relating to them and listening, you are helping where you can and filled with an energy that is calm and humble. You love the life God has brought to you because of Jesus. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for the bible and the many stories that we get to share. 😊  

Romans chapter 6 verses 4 and 5.

Your old sin-loving nature was buried with Jesus by baptism when He died, and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought Him back to life again, you were given His wonderful new life to enjoy. For you have become part of Him, and so you died with Him, so to speak, when He died, and now you share His new life, and shall rise as He did. 

Romans chapter 5 verses 6-10.

When we were utterly helpless with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for Him. Even if we were good, we really wouldn't expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since by His blood He did all this for us as sinners, how much more will He do for us now that He has declared us not guilty? Now He will save us from all of God's wrath to come. And since, when we were His enemies, we were brought back to God by the death of His Son, what blessings He must have for us now that we are His friends, and He is living within us!

Romans chapter 14 verses 16-18.

Do not do anything that will cause criticism against yourself even though you know that what you do is right. For, after all, the important thing for us as Christians is not what we eat or drink but stirring up goodness and peace and joy from the Holy Spirit. If you let Christ be Lord in these affairs, God will be glad; and so will others. 

Psalms chapter 37 verses 1-8.

Never envy the wicked! Soon they fade away like grass and disappear. Trust in the Lord instead. Be kind and good to others; then you will live safely here in the land and prosper, feeding in safety. Be delighted with the Lord. Then He will give you all your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it and He will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shinning down from the noonday sun. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him to act. Do not be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don't fret and worry---it only leads to harm.