"I love the sense of satisfaction that I get when I’ve done a swimming workout or race, and know that I gave my whole being and heart to God in every moment of the swim. It’s the best worship I can offer him."
Raising of Lazarus
[Martha said] “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God”. John 11:27Last week we considered who Jesus is and what people believe about him. In the verse quoted, Martha is clear and forthright. Remember the context. Jesus is friendly with Mary, Martha and Lazarus and then Lazarus dies and they send for Jesus. I wonder what Mary and Martha were expecting from Jesus’ visit. Sympathy? Wise words? A reminder that death is not the end?
Mary said “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Someone else added: “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
The idea of Jesus raising Lazarus from death did not seem to be on anyone’s radar. They would have thought that was impossible. In Lewis Carroll’s Through the looking glass, the White Queen tells that in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast". Sometimes being a Christian feels a bit like that! When Jesus raises Lazarus, he expresses what he is about to do in the way we might not have expected: “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”
Questions to reflect on:
1 Why do you think Jesus described the raising of Lazarus as an opportunity to “see God’s Glory”?
2 How do we see God’s glory in our lives?
3 If you were asked to express what you believe about Jesus in one sentence – what would you say?