May the mumbling commence!
We have reached another signpost in the gospel according to John. The signpost came at the wake for a dear friend. Read about it from John chapter 11:
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. (Verses 38-45)
In Israel’s past, there had been prophets who have raised people from the dead – like Elijah raising the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead. Even Jesus had raised others from the dead. What made Lazarus’ raising from the dead special?
Lazarus had been dead for four days. Four days was a significant amount of time. Martha spoke of the stench of death. At the benchmark of four days, Jewish thought was there was no hope for a person to return from death. This sign teaches us that with Jesus there is always hope. Jesus, in his words and actions, sheds a light on the glory of God.
Even so, we must show our faith. They took away the stone. What stones need to be removed from our mental or spiritual lives? What do we think is impossible in our lives? Do we say along with Moses that we cannot lead God’s people? Do we need a logical and scientific way of grounding our faith? Do we say that we cannot be disciplined enough to steep ourselves in the Scriptures or prayer or meditation or Scripture memory on a consistent basis?
With God, all these things are possible. Let us remove the stones that keep our lives of faith from taking off. With God, all things are possible. When Jesus called out at the tomb, he called Lazarus by name. He called Lazarus by name because there were many dead in the tomb area. If Jesus had simply said come out, there might have been quite a resurrection of people who were long dead.
The dead man came out. You and I, without Jesus in our lives, are dead men and women walking. Our only future is death. When we respond to the call of Jesus and believe, we embark on the only path to eternal life.
There will be grave clothes to remove. We must help one another remove grave clothes – those things in our lives that lead to our physical and spiritual destruction. Our grave clothes immobilize us. Our hands and feet are bound. We cannot properly feel. Our faces are shrouded so that we cannot properly see or hear or smell or taste.
And we can help one another in our fellowship with Jesus. Satan may whisper into our ears that we cannot, but Satan will be whispering in his native tongue – lies and deceit. Through the work of Jesus the Christ, we are free to go – free to serve in obedience to our Lord.
It is no wonder to me that many people put their faith in Jesus because of this signpost to God.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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