Enduring Word Bible- Whoever Believes

Enduring Word Bible- #47

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:17-44

Bethany near Jerusalem 

and the drama of the death of Lazarus.

A personal friend of Jesus.

A bit of misunderstanding 

by the disciples thinking that Lazarus

 was sick and asleep.

  Then Jesus tells them that he had died.

They had been hanging out across the Jordan,

 because the Jews wanted to arrest Jesus.

Time to head to Bethany.

Jesus reminds Mary and Martha- 

that no matter what- 

"I am the resurrection and the life. 

Whoever believes in me, though he die,

 yet he shall he live, 

and everyone who lives 

and believes in me shall never die."
Jesus was talking about more than earthly life- 
He was giving them eternal perspectives. 

Sometimes words need a visual picture.

Jesus was setting the stage.

We see in this story the deep feelings

 that Jesus had for his friend.

Jesus wept.

They roll away the stone.

Lazarus had been dead for three days.

Jesus raises him from the dead- 

in order that others may believe

 that the Father had sent him.

Lazarus comes out of the tomb-

 still wrapped in linen strips.

This was not going to make life

 any easier for Jesus.

The Jews were going

 to take notice of this event.

This Easter season- 

I keep coming back to this story.

Wondering about the part two here.

What do you say to others 

when you come back alive?

Take a first breath of aliveness-again.

What do you do the next day?

Lord, help me not to take for granted-

aliveness breaths.

For I am here for a purpose-

to pour grace and love into the world-

 because of the ONE who rose from

the grave as the conqueror over death.

Let my days be filled with 

Lazarus breath-reminders

 of His goodness.  Amen.

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Enduring Word Bible

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