The Word Has Resurrecting Power
It looked like the game was over… There were only a few seconds left on the clock. My teammate had just made a mistake that allowed the other team to score a basket and take a 1 point lead. We called a time out and the coach loosely designed a play that ended with words to the effect “try to make something happen…”. I beat the man guarding me to receive the inbounds pass and then raced the length of the floor to the basket. With only one opponent left to try and stop me, I found a teammate open and passed the ball. As the buzzer sounded, the ball sliced through the net and the whole gym erupted. We won the game! And the next week we went on to win the championship. What looked like it was over, ended in victory! In our lesson for this week, Jesus reveals that He is the resurrection and the life, and though it may look like death wins and the enemy has the final say, all who believe in Jesus will receive life eternally. May the Lord bless you to know that He has the power to restore the dead, discarded and abandoned pieces of your life and give you the victory.
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:17-22) Jesus had received a message days earlier that Lazarus was sick. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days. Mourners from nearby Jerusalem were present as comforters for Mary and Martha in the loss of their brother. But hearing that Jesus was coming, Martha went out to Him seeking comfort for her grief in the presence and person of Jesus, and also expressing disappointment at His late arrival. She believed that Jesus had the power to heal her brother and prevent his death when he was alive. But despite her brother’s death, she had an “even now” faith in Jesus that He could work a miracle. Do you have an “even now” faith in the Lord to work His power in your life?
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. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:23-27) Martha’s understanding of who Jesus is, his purpose and power was limited, as evidenced by her statement (“if you had been here my brother would not have died”). In response, Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again. Martha interpreted Jesus’ assurance as the resurrection that will occur “at the last day”. Martha had faith in Jesus, (“Yes, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God…”), but she still lacked a full understanding of who Jesus is and why He came into the world. So Jesus expanded her faith and understanding of who He is, by explaining that He is the resurrection and life, and it is available to those who believe not just at the last day, but in the right now. Do you believe that Jesus can resurrect and give new life to your dead situation?
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.” (John 11:38-44) Jesus demonstrated that His power of resurrection and new life was not just available in the hereafter, but in the right now! His power is made manifest through faith in Him. He is the source of life, the power of resurrection and through faith in Him, we receive eternal life. When we believe in Him, just a word from Him can breathe new life into situations and circumstances that looked dead to us before. Lord I need your resurrection power in my life, please help my unbelief!
Faith is necessary for us to see God’s glory. That is not just for the hereafter, that goes for the right now too. God can make His glory manifest in your circumstance and turn your sadness into joy. He can resurrect and give new life to dreams, relationships, wayward loved ones and more. The Lord wants us to believe in Him and put our faith in Him. He wants us to know that He is who the Bible says He is and He has the power to do what scripture tells us He can do. He is the resurrection and the life, both now and in eternity. And when we know that, we realize that He has the power to set us free and give us new life... For He is the Word who can resurrect the dead.
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
