So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:38-44, NASB)
The verses above are from the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus, friend of Jesus, and brother of Mary and Martha. In John’s narrative (Chapter 11), Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem, where He will give Himself up to die on the cross as a sacrifice for you and me. On the way, He learns that His friend has taken ill, and then dies. The Master, on hearing of Lazarus’ illness, says “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (v. 4)
Jesus delays His arrival in Bethany until four days after Lazarus’ death and burial. He wants to show His disciples yet another miracle “so that you may believe.” (v. 15) Finally arriving at the tomb, Jesus gives the command to “remove the stone” from the opening. (v. 39) His next command, “Lazarus, come forth,” (v. 43) is most startling. Imagine the sight of the man who was dead, straining to walk out from his tomb, looking like a mummy! But because of this miracle, many believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God!
“The Resurrection and the Life,” author unknown, found at Resurrection Lutheran Church, resurrectioncatawba.com
I was once dead in my sins. But God, in His infinite mercy, sent His Son to die on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice, that if we would only believe in Jesus, we shall have everlasting life. Much like Lazarus, Jesus figuratively called me out of my tomb so that I would have abundant life. If you’re a follower of Jesus, at some point He told you to “come forth!”
I pray often for my healing from this ALS. As there is no known cure for my disease, if I’m to be cured, it would most certainly be a miracle from God. He would definitely be doing it for His glory! But while I wait to on the Lord for His work, I pray that everything I say and do would be for His glory! May God use me to glorify Him one way or the other, healed or not!
Worship: “Rise Up (Lazarus),” by CAIN