JOHN 11:38–4
“Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth
(John 11:43–44).
One of the greatest manifestations of Jesus’ divinity is in His resurrection of Lazarus. Before a crowd of witnesses, Jesus revealed the power of His word. This connects us back to the opening of John’s Gospel where he described Jesus as the Word through which all things were made. Here we see the Word sending out the call of life to one who had been dead for four days.
When Jesus approached the tomb where Lazarus’ body lay decaying, He stopped, lifted His eyes toward heaven, and prayed. He said, “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.” It was important that the people believe in the divine power of Christ, for it is this same power that would bring their dead souls to life again, and it is this same power that will raise their withered bodies from the grave. They needed to know that life can come from no other source than Jesus Christ. He had already told them that He was the life, and they had probably heard the story of His raising the little girl to life again. But here, they would witness first-hand His power in raising one who had been dead several days.
Once the stone had been rolled away, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” Then from the dark entrance, Lazarus emerged, still wrapped in his grave clothes. Jesus, of course, did not need to yell in order to awaken the dead. But He wanted the crowd to be aware of the fact that the dead could be raised by the power of His words and His words alone. Though we might shout for the dead to rise, only the powerful word of Christ can bring them forth. Though we might preach from the hilltops for sinners to repent and put their faith in Christ, only those who have been called by the irresistible grace of Christ will respond.
The power that raised Lazarus from the dead and the love that was the impetus behind it work in the hearts of men and women today. All men are dead in sin until they are brought to life by the Word of Christ, and they have no one else to thank except God in heaven who gives life out of the abundance of His mercy and love.
CORAM DEO
Job 38–39
Acts 15:1–21
Jesus proves here that there is victory over death. The people saw it for themselves. But there is only victory for those who are called by Him. What must you do to be saved from death? What is Christ’s promise to all who believe (vs. 40)? Thank God today for the life He gives through Jesus.
For further study: Matt. 22:23–32 • Acts 4:1–33 • Phil. 3:10–16
wednesday
july