Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead Part 1
Even though the Lord Jesus had no home but spent His time traveling up and down the land of Palestine, He had many kind friends who loved Him and who loved to have Him share their home. In the little town of Bethany about two miles from Jerusalem there was a home where Jesus was loved and welcomed. Three people lived there - a man named Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus often visited there.
The two sisters loved to prepare meals for Him, and they all loved to talk with Him and hear Him teach. Jesus loved them and loved to be in their home. One time Lazarus was taken sick. The doctors could not seem to help him, and he only got worse. Mary and Martha talked together and said, "If only Jesus were here I'm sure He could heal him." They learned where Jesus was and sent a messenger to Him, saying, "Lord, he who You love is sick." Perhaps they did not ask Him to come to them, but they surely thought He would come to help them in their need.
When the messenger brought the news of Lazarus' illness, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death. It is for the glory of God and in order that the Son of God (He Himself) might be glorified." But He said nothing about going to them in their need. After waiting for two days, He said to His disciples, "Now let us go back to Judea." The disciples said, "But Lord, don't you remember that the last time you were there the Jews tried to stone you? Do you think you should go there again?"
The Jesus told them why He wanted to go. "Lazarus is dead, and for your sakes I am glad that I was not there, because now you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas said to the other disciples, "Let us go with Him, If the Jews try to put Him to death, we will die with Him." So they started the long journey to Bethany.
Back in the Bethany home there were sad hearts. The two sisters must have felt badly that Jesus had not come to them when Lazarus was ill, for they knew that He could have healed him. But Jesus had not come, and Lazarus had died. Friends had come in to comfort them and help them. Lazarus' body had been carried by loving hands to the grave, which was like a cave with a heavy stone over it. Four days had gone by and then word reached the two sisters that Jesus was coming.
As soon as Martha heard this, she hurried out of the house to meet Him, and said to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask of Him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will live again." Martha said, "Yes, I know that he will be raised in the resurrection at the last day." And then Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this Martha?" "Yes Lord," replied Martha, "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."
Then Martha went back into the house and whispered to Mary, "The Master is here and He wants you." Then Mary got up quickly and left the house to meet Jesus. When Mary came she fell down at Jesus' feet and said to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Mary was crying.
Julia Shipley is a committed Christian worshiping and serving in her local church. She has a heart for the young children and the youth believing the word of God is the final authority. For more information visit http://www.quick-christian-resources.com
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