March 26 - Devotional (This was delayed by a glitch with Google-- sorry)

Read John 11:17-43

John 11:17-45
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." 28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked."Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "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." 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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." 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 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." NIV

Now we get to part 2 of the story.

Jesus has waited until Lazarus died before going to Bethany. As you might expect everyone is expressing grief over the "reality" that Jesus has missed His chance to do anything for His friend. He's dead-- he's been dead for days. All there is to do is wish it was not so and hope that he's in a better place.

But "reality" is not what they think it is. While their loss is real, Jesus knows what the Father has planned. Jesus hears the cries of those around Him, including two of His closest friends.He joins them in their tears, but He leeps speaking of faith and hope. Martha even accepts that there will be a resurrection in the future and professes that He is the Son of God. But none of them can see what God is about to do. Why?

Death was final for them. They could not concieve that anything that died could live again. When Jesus said, "Take away the stone!" Lazarus' sisters had to trust that Jesus would not lead them to something that He would not lead them through. This was crucial for the disciples. The Father was showing them that in spite of the "reality" of death there was hope for life.

What is it that seems beyond reality for you this Easter season? Is it possible that Jesus wants you to "Take away the stone" that is holding back the impossible He wants to do? Is there a relationship that it seems impossible could ever be healed? Is there an emotional hole that you don't think can ever be filled? Is there a dead faith that you cannot imagine ever getting resurrected again?

Easter is all about resurrection. Roll away the stone today. Let God do His miracle in your life like He did for Lazarus, Mary and Martha.