Monday 25 March, 2019

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

I have witnessed and experienced miracles, but I have never seen a dead person come back to life.

I wonder what Lazarus experienced? I wonder if he had a taste of the eternal as Ian McCormack did when he was stung by a box jellyfish and died, before coming back to life? (he visited our church once- see his testimony here https://youtu.be/59mRZ1Vj8ZU)

But a bigger question for me is why did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life? There are probably many simple or pithy answers, but I wonder if I think longer on Christ, his purpose, his nature and character, if I might receive a fresh insight into the access that I have to eternal life really is.

Lord, your love for me is great and powerful, and expressed for me in the same way that your son Jesus expressed his love for Lazarus. You were sad and angry when I was in death, but now you have brought me in to eternal life.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware