Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25)
Last night was my first time sharing in the cell group. To say that i am well prepared is an overstatement. i was only informed in the morning to help in the sharing, and cell was at night! no wonder the bible says that we should prepare ourselves well, so that we are ready to face any questions whatsoever. what an experience.
i shared through the passage in John 11, the death of Lazarus. in the passage, Lazarus was very sick, so Martha and Mary, Lazarus' sisters sent forth someone to inform Jesus about it.. telling him that "the one you love is sick".
When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. ( V.5-6)
After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." ( V. 11-15 )
"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me , though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." ( V. 21-27 )
Therefore, when Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and what troubled. And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" ( V. 33-35)
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” ( V.38-44)
Now, it’s interesting to see that under normal reactions, we get nervous and anxious when our love ones are sick. However, Jesus was not shaken by the fact that Lazarus was critically ill, and said he won’t die but that the sickness shall bring glory to God. Not only that, He even stayed back two more days before he decided to go to Judea. Wow.
By the time He decided to take a move, He already knew that Lazarus was dead! Hmm.. when he reached Bethany, Martha and then Mary met with Jesus.. and said, “if only You were here earlier, Lord..” sob sob. Even the people there were weeping.
This passage is just so us, don’t you think? Lazarus, like our problems & circumstances.. failing. And then, Jesus comes.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25)
Jesus says to us, “Hey, I am the way. Let me help you.” But, there’s a condition. A simple one actually, that you would BELIEVE in Him. Yep, just believe. Believe that He would take you out of your circumstances, your problems, your bad habits, addictions, lack, etc. “oh, Jesus, I believe. I BELIEVE..!” oh, do you?
See, when there is a believing, there is also a part of believing that includes “surrendering”. Believing and surrendering are the subs of each other, you can’t separate that. You can’t say that you believe if you don’t surrender; nor are you able to surrender without first believing. But see how Martha reacted, she said.. “God, Lazarus has been dead for 4 days, he will surely smell bad in there.”
Often times, it’s easy to say that “God, I surrender..” without even giving a second thought or searching our hearts before saying so. Of course, it sounds nice to the ears, but since God is all-knowing, that wouldn’t sound too sincere and honest now, would it? Jesus asked where was Lazarus buried, just like God is asking us, “where’s your problem, my Child?” but then, Martha was not too happy that Jesus wanted the tomb to be opened, she insisted that the place would smell real bad. Just like our ugly parts and encounters, it definitely smell.. and of course God knows it. But we think we know better. See, Martha said she believed Jesus, but now, is she willing to surrender Lazarus to Jesus?
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, meaning He has already conquered death and all that is bound by sin. By saying that we believe, but without surrendering, would not put an end to the problem because we would be struggling to let go and let God do His thing. Often times, it’s not that God does not want to save us from our situations, but that we have yet to TOTALLY SURRENDER, though we may think we believe God has a way for it.
Let me give an easier picture. There are 3 linking parts in John11:25
Part 1 - Jesus is the RESURRECTION and the LIFE
Part 2 - whoever BELIEVES in Him
Part 3 - though he may DIE, he shall LIVE
To get from Part 1 to Part 3, which is God being in control and changing our circumstances, there’s an important link in between, which is to BELIEVE, and then to surrender. It is only when we deeply, totally BELIEVE with conviction that we are able to let go and let God. And only by then, God says, “though he may die, he shall LIVE.” The believing and surrendering is the Blood of Christ that separates the dying and the living! Hallelujah!
You see, God does not only know our pain, but He feels our pain, too. When He knew His friend, Lazarus died, and all are so sad, He even groaned in His spirit, and wept! Jesus wept! He knows you need comfort, and not confrontation. He sits beside you, and not walks away. He sees you and me, His precious love ones.
Though there are bound to be ugly things happening in life, God always has a better plan for them! He said that Lazarus’ sickness is not unto death, but that God’s name would be glorified through it. Surely, God’s plan to turn your losing game into victory enables you to give glory to God, and to be of His witness to show His glory to others! Hallelujah!
See, in Verse 41-42, Jesus prayed that people would BELIEVE through the circumstance that Jesus is God sent. Our circumstances bear the essence of Jesus’ testimony that prophesy! (Revelation19:10b) So today, would you choose to believe? Believing that God will provide for your tuition, mending your broken relationships, giving you breakthrough from sins and addictions? God is able, but it takes our part as well.. we are to take part in the process of breakthrough and new hope!.. then only God can lead us from DEATH to LIFE!
So what are you waiting for? Start believing, and surrendering to God, and let Jesus cry out with His loud voice, “Lazarus (problems, circumstances, etc), come forth!... Loose him, and let him go!”
God bless you :)
