JOHN 11
John 11:38-44 (NIV)
"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 believe, you will 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.”
Martha couldn't help but be practical -- inside that tomb was a mess she didn't want to clean up. And she knew she would probably be the one to have to do it! How often we forget that Jesus's power to intervene isn't sidetracked by dirt or "stench". "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
Once the stone was rolled away, Jesus prayed aloud in the same intimate way he had taught his disciples, addressing God as Father (see Matthew 6:9-13). He meant his prayer to be overheard, referring to his listeners as he thanked God for having "heard Me", indicating the Father's agreement and blessing over what Jesus was about to do. Then he called Lazarus by name, not only confirming what he had previously declared, "Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live" (John 5:25), but also narrowing his summons to a specific person. Who know how many people might have sprung to life if Jesus had simply commanded, "Come out!"
Lazarus's raised and restored body appeared in the cave entrance, awkwardly moving while still bound by cloths and grave clothes.
Getting Personal
- Since you have been brought into eternal life in Christ, what former habits or troubles has Christ removed, like grave clothes, from around your life?
- When were you last surprised to see the glory of God?
The belief that leads to seeing the glory of God often manifests itself in a willingness to remove obstacles in our Christian Lives. These are preliminaries and follow-us to the real miracles (Changed Lives in Christ - New Life), but they allow us to see what we might not otherwise see at all -- God's Glory.
Putting It Into Action
No matter how old you were when you came to Christ, you can imagine how your life might have been without his Love and Grace. Thank God for giving you abundant, eternal life. Thank him for being "the Resurrection and the Life".
Bible Verse
This, then, is how you should pray:“ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9–10, NIV
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven. May this continue to be our prayer in the this year, and may we find fellowship with one another in what is eternal and holy. Bless us on our way. Bless us on our earthly pilgrimage so that we may remain free from all bondage, able to thank you day and night for all the good you do, even when things look very dark. We praise your name and we pray as the Saviour has taught us. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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