Reason.
I’m sorry to go back to Lazarus again… Wait a minute; no I’m not! The story has gripped me once more and there is something here that I need to get hold of.
A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." John 11:1,3 (Msg)
The sisters knew that Jesus loved Lazarus. It must have been obvious to them on every visit. Therefore Lazarus must have been aware of the depth of the relationship he had with Jesus. As far as I know only John and Lazarus were described as being people that he loved (obviously he loved us all but there was something deeper here – you know, best friends).
Was all of this going through Lazarus’ mind as his breathing became more laboured?
As he lay there fighting to get the air that he needed.
He was not ready to go and yet he could not hold on. Had his trust in Jesus been in vain?
Were the tears that ran down his cheek because of pain or confusion and doubt?
What was the reason for this happening?
Lazarus knew that Jesus was his redeemer and healer and master, but now he faced death without him. Had he tried to hold out just to hear the Master’s voice call him out of bed? But all he could hear were his sisters’ words of comfort and strength mixed with the tears they tried to hold back.
As he felt his last breath go, had it all been in vain? Had his hope faded?
Lazarus died.
But then a voice, calling him awake.
Death retreated and life took up residency once more.
Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43 (Msg)
This was not his old life, this fading life; it was a resurrection life.
If you caught his eye, saw the look on his face it would be enough for you to fall to the ground, accepting Christ into your life.
Sometimes it seems like our dreams die, our lives are dashed.
Jesus could have done something but he didn’t.
Was our hope in vain?
No. It sometimes takes death before new life can take up its residency.
There are sometimes tears of pain before the streams of living water come.
Listen. Christ has not delayed, he is calling out to you in a loud voice.
COME AWAKE.
A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." John 11:1,3 (Msg)The sisters knew that Jesus loved Lazarus. It must have been obvious to them on every visit. Therefore Lazarus must have been aware of the depth of the relationship he had with Jesus. As far as I know only John and Lazarus were described as being people that he loved (obviously he loved us all but there was something deeper here – you know, best friends).
Was all of this going through Lazarus’ mind as his breathing became more laboured?
As he lay there fighting to get the air that he needed.
He was not ready to go and yet he could not hold on. Had his trust in Jesus been in vain?
Were the tears that ran down his cheek because of pain or confusion and doubt?
What was the reason for this happening?
Lazarus knew that Jesus was his redeemer and healer and master, but now he faced death without him. Had he tried to hold out just to hear the Master’s voice call him out of bed? But all he could hear were his sisters’ words of comfort and strength mixed with the tears they tried to hold back.
As he felt his last breath go, had it all been in vain? Had his hope faded?
Lazarus died.
But then a voice, calling him awake.
Death retreated and life took up residency once more.
Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43 (Msg)
This was not his old life, this fading life; it was a resurrection life.
If you caught his eye, saw the look on his face it would be enough for you to fall to the ground, accepting Christ into your life.
Sometimes it seems like our dreams die, our lives are dashed.
Jesus could have done something but he didn’t.
Was our hope in vain?
No. It sometimes takes death before new life can take up its residency.
There are sometimes tears of pain before the streams of living water come.
Listen. Christ has not delayed, he is calling out to you in a loud voice.
COME AWAKE.
posted by Andrew at 8:43 am
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