Lessons from John 11: Jesus’ Deliverance of Lazarus
Jesus’ deliverance of Lazarus~John 11:17-44
We find in verse 17 that when Jesus arrived in Bethany He found Lazarus had already been dead and placed in a tomb for four days. And by the time Jesus and His disciples arrived, many other Jewish people–friends and family–had already arrived and were there comforting Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha.
Yet, when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him. Mary stayed behind at home. I think it’s interesting and providential that these two sisters came to Jesus one at a time.
As Martha approached Jesus, she expressed her faith that Jesus could have changed the situation if only He had been there.
Yet she said in verse 22, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
And Jesus led her faith a little further by telling her that indeed her brother would rise again. Martha answered by stating, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Yet Jesus was not referring to the last day here.
So Jesus made His fifth great “I AM” statement as He told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
This is the single most important question anyone will ever answer in their lifetime!
Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is? Either you do or you don’t! Neither changes the truth of who He is, but they do have a direct effect on whose you are!
You can believe and place your faith and life in His hands. You can then be raised not only to a new life here and now, but also have the hope of heaven and eternal life with Him. Or you don’t believe and then live a meaningless empty life here and spend eternity separated from Him because you believed a lie that there was a better way.
Acts 4:12 tells us that, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Martha was quick to affirm her faith in Jesus Christ in verse 27. “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world,” Jesus responded to her faith by promising that her brother would rise again. Little did she know that this was not only a spiritual promise but a physical one also.
Who do you say Jesus is? Are you quick to respond like Martha when someone asks you? If not, why not?!
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach