Day 39: Raising of Lazarus - John 11

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “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.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”

Again we read about Martha and her sister Mary. However, this time is a very different situation. Their brother Lazarus is dead. The main theme God is trying to tell us is not the miracle of Him raising Lazarus. Instead the theme is about having faith. Martha tells Jesus in verse 27 that “I believe that you are the Christ, The Son of God who has come into this world.” Earlier Jesus states that “Are there not 12 hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that stumbles for he has no light.”

Now Jesus is not talking about literal light. Obviously it is hard to see where one is going when it is dark outside (especially out here in rural Indiana). However he is talking about faith. In many versus God is referred to as “the light”. Without God in our lives it would sometimes seem as if we are walking into darkness. With God we are able to see the True Light. Not the sun but Jesus Christ and Lord and Savior.
-Henry Dahling

Dear God please allow us all be able to see the light and have the faith that Martha did, even in those troubling times.
Sources:
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved