Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, January 19, 2015
Based Upon John 11
Jesus’ friend Lazarus was so sick that he was about to die. His sisters sent for Jesus asking Him to please come and help. The one you love dearly is about to die. One day passed and then two. At least by the third day the loving Savior would show up right? Can you imagine the sadness and utter confusion that must have seized the minds of Lazarus’ sisters when it appeared that Jesus was not coming? As the story continues, we discover that Jesus does not come until the forth day. What took Him so long? Now, Lazarus is dead.
In Bethany, many are sorrowful about the death of Lazarus. Jesus finally appears on the fourth day. There are so many questions in the minds of the mournful onlookers. I can hear it now, “What took you so long Jesus? If you were here, Lazarus would not be dead!” Have you ever felt as if Jesus took too long to appear in your distressful situation? Jesus says, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” (John 11:15). Soon after, Jesus tested the faith of Lazarus’ sister Martha by saying that he would rise again. Martha said yes, he would rise on resurrection day (John 11:24). “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25). Jesus was saying to all generations that when our hopes are decomposing quickly like Lazarus’ body, and as a result, the terrible odor of doubt and apparent impossibilities overwhelm us, He is the resurrection and brings life to the dead.
Jesus was saying to all generations that when our hopes are decomposing quickly like Lazarus’ body, and as a result, the terrible odor of doubt and apparent impossibilities overwhelm us, He is the resurrection and brings life to the dead.
What happens next is amazing. “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” (John 11:43-45).
God’s role as Creator is closely aligned with His role as Redeemer. The same God who created us with purpose, also came in human form when we needed Him the most, and continued His re-creative process of saving us from sin (Romans 5:6-8). If Jesus could raise a decomposing dead man from the grave, can He not also deliver those that are dead in sin? It is our privilege, in the last days, to worship a personal God who created us with purpose and loves to deliver us from sin. What a wonderful God He is.
