“Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43 (NIV)
Jesus had been on the other side of the river, going about His Father’s work, even though He knew one of His very favorite people, a man named Lazarus, had fallen deathly ill. His sisters had sent word to Him that Lazarus was very ill, but Jesus continued on with His plan, before heading back to Bethany to see His friend.
If you are anything like me, and Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, when faced with a life-and-death situation, you would expect your loved ones to gather around the afflicted one for comfort. So, when Jesus kept on His journey before heading to Bethany, I imagine people were beginning to wonder whether Jesus really loved Lazarus, to say the least.
But the story does not end here. You see, according to Jewish belief, there is a timeline for one’s spirit to leave the body after one has been declared dead. According to that belief, Jesus had three days to get His awesome self to Bethany to try and do something, in the event Lazarus did expire. And expire is exactly what Lazarus did. And a day went by; and a second day went by… and a third day also went by. Then, on the fourth day, Jesus reached Bethany from Judea.
When Jesus got to Bethany, He found mourners there crying with Mary and Martha. Though He told those there that Lazarus would rise again, they did not understand Him, because, after all, by now Lazarus’ spirit had indeed left the area. Jesus, however, walked over to the grave, prayed to the Father, and shouted to Lazarus, “Lazarus, come out!”
Friend, Lazarus, the man who had been in the grave for four days, got up and lived again. My question for you today is, “is your faith strong enough to believe and shout that your victory has come in the name of Jesus Christ, the same One who resurrected a dead Lazarus?” If you do, you will see your long-lost dreams being realized through Him; therefore, just like Jesus, pray to the Father and believe that your victory has come.
“Father, awaken our belief, Lord, so we, too, can see the dead rise again. ”
For His Glory
Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life
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