Writing this entry earlier today made me think about Lazarus (John 11 1-43).
I used to feel uncomfortable when those praying women would visit mum at the hospital and pray to God to raise mum like He raised Lazarus. I could not understand how they could compare “fours days dead” Lazurus to my mum. While I am still not comfortable with the comparison, having re-read the story I feel as though God has cleared up a few issues and taught me a few things about the story that I had never fully understood.
Lesson 1
When Jesus is told of Lazarus’ illness he doesn’t rush back to see him; instead he waits a whole TWO days!! .
Here I am waiting on this stubborn coma that has taken hold of mum, at times I feel as if I am literally being held hostage by it, yet Jesus, who loved Lazarus more than I could ever love my mum, is not phased by the idea that his friend is ill. I read this and realised I need to stop waiting on the coma and start waiting for the Lord.
Lesson 2
Finally Jesus makes his way back telling his disciples that Lazarus is asleep. Apparently Jesus meant Lazarus was dead but the disciples just didn’t get it.
On the one hand it is reassuring to know that even those who spent time with Jesus while He was a man had problems understanding His message but it has also woken me up to the fact that I need to listen to Him a lot more and really pay attention to what He is saying. It is also yet another reminder that His understanding of a situation is much greater than ours.
Lesson 3
When Jesus arrives at Lazarus’ tomb He calls him by name and tells him to come out of the tomb.
That’s it. No mention of smoke, drum rolls, bright lights or wave of a wand, just a simple command and out comes Lazarus. Death is nothing to our God. He is the same God who hung the sun in the sky with just one command. If death is sleep to God then a coma is a siesta.
Lesson 4
In the story of Lazarus Jesus is called the resurrection, the life , the Teacher. He proves He is all these things, however the greatest lesson for me is to be found in the very first few verses of the chapter.
“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
I may not know how mum’s situation may end but what this teaches me is that God knows. He told the disciples from the outset how Lazarus’ situation would end; that is why He didn’t head straight back to be with Lazarus. H Most importantly He told them the purpose of Lazarus’ story. It was for God’s glory and I know no matter what everything that happens in our lives can, and should be for God’s glory; even mum’s situation.
I shall now take verse 10 literally and head straight to bed.
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courtney says
I like your lessons….