"Now a great many of the Jews knew that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead." John 12:9
Do you know the story of Lazarus? He was a young man dwelling in Bethany, with two young sisters, perhaps the son of Simon the Leper of that town. At some point, Simon the Leper had been healed by Jesus, and his entire household came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They also became his friends.
One day, Jesus received a message from Martha and Mary, the sisters of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus was sick unto death, but they knew that if Jesus showed up in time, he could heal Lazarus of this sickness. Jesus waited around a few days, and then decided to go to Bethany. Excited about the prospect of seeing another healing, the disciples began to exclaim, "Now Lazarus will get better!" Jesus replied, "No, Lazarus sleeps." "Well," they reasoned, "If he sleeps he will get better." "No," Jesus explained to them, "Lazarus is dead."
Do you know the story of Lazarus? He was a young man dwelling in Bethany, with two young sisters, perhaps the son of Simon the Leper of that town. At some point, Simon the Leper had been healed by Jesus, and his entire household came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They also became his friends.
One day, Jesus received a message from Martha and Mary, the sisters of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus was sick unto death, but they knew that if Jesus showed up in time, he could heal Lazarus of this sickness. Jesus waited around a few days, and then decided to go to Bethany. Excited about the prospect of seeing another healing, the disciples began to exclaim, "Now Lazarus will get better!" Jesus replied, "No, Lazarus sleeps." "Well," they reasoned, "If he sleeps he will get better." "No," Jesus explained to them, "Lazarus is dead."
No sense in going now.
Except that Jesus went anyway, and arriving at Bethany four days after the burial, Jesus is met by the grieving sisters. "If only you had been here, Lord," they cried, "Our brother would not have died."
"But I am here," Jesus must have said. "Only believe, and you will see Lazarus again."
Except that Jesus went anyway, and arriving at Bethany four days after the burial, Jesus is met by the grieving sisters. "If only you had been here, Lord," they cried, "Our brother would not have died."
"But I am here," Jesus must have said. "Only believe, and you will see Lazarus again."
Of course, Lord. In the resurrection!
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever dies believing in me will live. And those who believe in me will never die!" And when Jesus was taken to the tomb of Lazarus, he wept, he prayed, and then said, "Roll back the stone. Lazarus!" he called, his voice breaking through the world of the living into the holding placed of the dead. "Lazarus, come forth!" And Lazarus did, alive and well!
It was because of this miracle that many believed in Jesus, even though it wasn't the first resurrection at which Jesus officiated. And as devout Jews traveled to Jerusalem for the annual Passover celebration, multitudes routed themselves through Nazareth to get a look at the man who raised people from the dead! And they also wanted to see the one who had been raised from the dead after four days. Lazarus was a living testament to the power and grace of Jesus Christ, and on account of him many believed.
Now the question for us is this: Do our lives bear such witness to the power and grace of Jesus Christ that people believe on account of us?
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