One of the greatest announcements of Jesus in all of His earthly ministry comes amid a very real and personal story about the death of a dear friend. Enter this story to better understand that Jesus is indeed the resurrection and the life.
JOHN 11:35, “JESUS WEPT.”
When the crowd saw Jesus weeping over Lazarus’ death, there were two immediate responses. First, many rightly concluded, “See, oh how He loved him.” Second, some questioned, “could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind have kept this man also from dying?” (John 11:36-37). Obviously, Jesus did love Lazarus and his sisters. These were individuals very endeared to our Lord. They likely knew Him as Savior and friend more than most in all of history. So, this story naturally affirms grief over the death of a close friend. But this is Jesus, God incarnate, taking time to mourn. How does this short moment in the life and ministry of Jesus point us toward something greater – toward life and toward the resurrection?
Jesus is life, even in the face of death. The Bible announces that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:3-4). This story of Lazarus – a story of real people, real grief and real loss, acknowledges that even before Jesus went to the cross, He demonstrated life over death (even as He did with the son of the widow of Nain, and Jairus’ daughter). But on the cross and in the resurrection, Jesus gained victory over death once and for all, for all who trust in Him.
Obviously, Lazarus, like the others, was raised to die again sometime later. But this story demonstrated that Jesus had life in Himself, and this was purposed so that we might believe (John 11:15). How does the reality of life over death affect my life at this very moment? Let’s continue in the narrative of John 11.
As the story of Lazarus begins, the immediate announcement was of Lazarus’ sickness. Jesus was some distance away, and the family of Lazarus sent a message to Him hoping that He would somehow intervene. The Scriptures give record of Jesus’ response as a promise within the crisis: “this sickness is not to the end of death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified.” To better understand Jesus as the resurrection and the life, there are several teaching points to consider from the story of Lazarus raised from the dead.
One such truth to consider is that the promises of Jesus are never limited by our present circumstance. The story of Lazarus’ sickness and death reminds us of what can control our responses to present circumstances: either people, the predicament, or the promise.
With people, there is always the human vulnerability of experiencing challenges beyond one’s control. This was the case in John 11. A bad thing (the death of a brother) happened to good people (Mary and Martha). But this did not define the situation.
In the predicament, the situation seemed woefully limited by Lazarus’ sickness, which quickly prefaced his death. As helpless as everyone felt, and as final as their situation seemed, the predicament did not define the situation.
There was a promise. This situation did not just announce a death, but something immeasurably more than could ever be imagined. The promise defined the situation.
So, you and I are faced with this question: what defines our present moment? Is it people (our own human inability to handle things)? Is it the predicament (the one issue that seems to dominate the landscape of our moment)? Or is it the promise (that God’s purposes will be perfected in His children, and that the name of Jesus will be glorified). The phrase, “so that the Son of God may be glorified,” indicates that Jesus looked beyond the situation (the people and the predicament) to the promise: the life He would bring” (John 11:4).
John 20:31 announces, “These things were written that you might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and believing that you would have life in His name.” This is the glory of Christ: His abundant life for man’s brokenness.
Our situation does not limit Jesus! But sometimes our faith is attacked, our minds race with “what ifs,” and before we realize it, we are in the grip of fear and doubt. How do we regain our faith perspective. We look beyond the limitations of people and predicaments to the promise that God is performing an incredible work. And, we are invited to be a part of what He is doing at this very moment.
Many may struggle to truly believe this because human reasoning sometimes takes over in the midst of a crisis. Sometimes we draw conclusions of our immediate situation that is so far from what is actually true. So today, let’s look to the One who holds life. He is the resurrection and the life – Jesus our Lord. And that is the ultimate promise to which we set our focus.
You, dear child of God, are a part of the church, the redeemed people of God – a resurrection people! Today, let’s live in Him.
Blessings,
Ken
