The Resurrection and The Life

(John 11)
Romans 8 tells those of us who believe that in all of our circumstances, God is at work to bring about what is best for us. It is so easy to become focused on our losses, our frustrations, and disappointments. Yet, God works in these circumstances to grow us and to have his glory revealed in and through us to others.

When Lazarus fell ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus. It took a day or so for the message to get to Jesus. Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death." The irony of the statement is that death did occur -- it just didn't end there. We see God's sovereignty at work again in our circumstances -- "it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." At the end of the story, we see that "many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him."

Jesus knew what the outcome would be. He knows the outcome in our circumstances as well -- yet, our faith (or lack of it) leads to anxiety, worry, and frustration. Jesus purposefully arrived late to reveal the glory and grace of God in action. We see his compassion as he wept along with his friends over the loss of their loved one. I also believe he wept because in their sadness he saw that they had not fully grasped who he was. Strange that Martha's comment to Jesus seems so full of faith, yet even she did not grasp the fullness of her words, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."Jesus' response was taken somewhat superficially. He said, "Your brother will rise again." Martha took this as a promise of the resurrection at the last day. Then we see one of my favorite verses in scripture, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

When we believe in Jesus, we are raised to new life. Yet, it doesn't end there. We have the opportunity to live life to the full (John 10:10). Jesus wants us to be free from anxiety and worry. We will face trials, trouble, and other difficulties. Yet, in all circumstances, he is working to bring about what is best for us. "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Remove the grave clothes of worry, doubt, fear, and anxiety and live life to the full.