Lazarus!
Jesus comes to the tomb of Lazarus. Some versions say that Jesus was angry. Others use the phrase "deeply troubled." Obviously the Greek word to describe exactly what Jesus was feeling is difficult to translate into English. We do know this: his emotions were intense.
He demands that the stone be rolled away. Martha objects, "The stench will be horrible!" And yet, Jesus insists. And they do it.
Then, Jesus prays. And in his prayer, we get a glimpse again of the incredible relationship God, the Son has with God, the Father. There is almost a tenderness in Jesus' prayer. "Father, you always hear me. But I'm doing this for them."
It's the same type of relationship Jesus invites us - over and over again - to have with God. We can come to him like children. He's safe. He loves us.
Then, Jesus turns his attention to Lazarus, who has been dead four days. "Lazarus! Come out!"
And the dude comes out! Wrapped in grave clothes, stinking like a guy who's been dead for four days, but very much alive!
Don't you wish there was video from that occasion? I do. But if there was, I would want the camera to focus in on Martha and Mary as Lazarus steps out of the darkness of the tomb into the daylight. Their eyes would grow wide, their jaws would drop, tears - more tears! - would flow down their cheeks.
And then, they would run. Right into the arms of their very smelly brother. Their very alive brother!
Never could they have imagined what Jesus had planned. Don't give up when it comes to the cry of your heart. You may think it's hopeless, that the dream is dead. But don't give up. There may be a resurrection in your near future.
Lazarus wasn't the only person Jesus raised from the dead. There was Jairus' daughter and the widows son.
But, incredibly, raising Lazarus from the dead sealed Jesus' fate.
He demands that the stone be rolled away. Martha objects, "The stench will be horrible!" And yet, Jesus insists. And they do it.
Then, Jesus prays. And in his prayer, we get a glimpse again of the incredible relationship God, the Son has with God, the Father. There is almost a tenderness in Jesus' prayer. "Father, you always hear me. But I'm doing this for them."
It's the same type of relationship Jesus invites us - over and over again - to have with God. We can come to him like children. He's safe. He loves us.
Then, Jesus turns his attention to Lazarus, who has been dead four days. "Lazarus! Come out!"
And the dude comes out! Wrapped in grave clothes, stinking like a guy who's been dead for four days, but very much alive!
Don't you wish there was video from that occasion? I do. But if there was, I would want the camera to focus in on Martha and Mary as Lazarus steps out of the darkness of the tomb into the daylight. Their eyes would grow wide, their jaws would drop, tears - more tears! - would flow down their cheeks.
And then, they would run. Right into the arms of their very smelly brother. Their very alive brother!
Never could they have imagined what Jesus had planned. Don't give up when it comes to the cry of your heart. You may think it's hopeless, that the dream is dead. But don't give up. There may be a resurrection in your near future.
Lazarus wasn't the only person Jesus raised from the dead. There was Jairus' daughter and the widows son.
But, incredibly, raising Lazarus from the dead sealed Jesus' fate.
