CHRIST SHOWS HIS POWER OVER DEATH

PROCLAMATION

“… And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, ‘Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me … but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me.’  And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin.  Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’ Then many of the Jews … believed on Him.”  John 11:41-45 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter John recorded the events around the seventh public miracle which Jesus, The Christ, performed, the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus got word that His good friend Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was sick. (John 11:1-5)  However, Jesus did not go immediately to see about him.  He waited two days before beginning the journey back to Judea. (John 11:6-7)    When Jesus arrived there, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. (John 11:17)  Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)  Jesus told her that her brother would rise again, and she said he would rise again in the resurrection.  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:23-25)  After that they took Jesus to the place where Lazarus was buried.  He told them to take away the stone which sealed the entrance, and then He prayed. (John 11:41-42)  Then He called Lazarus from the grave and he came out wrapped in strips of linen from head to toe.  After this, the Pharisees again plotted to kill Him. (John 11:47-53)  Jesus withdrew to near the wilderness to the city of Ephraim.  It was near the time for the Jewish Passover festival and many people went to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.  Many were looking for Jesus, but the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was should report it to them so they might arrest Him. (John 11:54-57) 

 

APPLICATION

The miracles which Jesus, The Christ, performed caused some people to believe that He was The Son of God as He said.  However, the miracles caused some people to hate Him even more. (John 11:43-50)  Even today, some people who hear and learn about Christ believe and love Him, while others refused to believe.  Once we have heard The Word of God, each of us must choose for ourselves where we stand with respect to belief in Jesus, The Christ.  If we believe in Him, then we will be saved; (John 3:16) and if we don’t, we won’t.