What are those 7 lessons we can learn from?
1. GOD'S LOVE MUST BE HIGHLIGHTED NOT OUR LOVE:
John 11:3 - Whom YOU LOVE is sick -
- Here the love of Lazarus towards Jesus was not highlighted but the LOVE OF JESUS towards Lazarus was highlighted. Which tells us that not that we do for God is important comparing with what Jesus did for us. Many times we think that we are deserved to be benefitted by God for our good deeds or our spiritual activities. But it is not our spirituality that draws God towards us, but our gratitude for His love that draws God more closer to us.
2. MOVE BY THE SPIRIT NOT BY YOUR EMOTIONS:
John 11:6 - Jesus heard Lazarus was sick but DID NOT MOVE EMOTIONALLY -
- We need to move by the spirit not by our emotions. Jesus heard Lazarus was sick but He did not move emotionally nor He rushed to go to see Lazarus. Why? Not that we should not go immediately if someone is in emergency but Jesus knew what He was going to do. Specially with the ones we love (as it says Jesus loved Lazarus), we cannot hold our emotions if anything goes wrong with them. We see that Jesus was not moving according to His emotions but according to the prompting of His Spirit. If Jesus moved emotionally, He wouldn't be waiting for another 2 days to see Lazarus.
3. GOD'S WAITING IS NOT WASTING:
John 11:6 - When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He choose to wait for another 2 days until Lazarus dies.
Why? Why did Jesus wait until Lazarus died? Why wouldn't He move immediately?
Because if Jesus moves immediately He would reach Lazarus while he was sick and He would heal him.
But if He would wait for 2 more days, He can go to raise Lazarus who would die for 4 days.
Raising a dead person after the body is decomposed is much BIGGER INCIDENT than healing a sick body. Jesus was waiting to bring a greater glory to God.
So, when God is waiting in our lives, and things do not happen immediately, we need to keep Trusting God believing that GOD IS DOING SOMETHING BIGGER than what we expect. So, God's waiting is never a wasting in our lives.
4. SPIRITUAL THINGS CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY SPIRITUAL PEOPLE:
John 11:7 - 16 - Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms like "Lazarus is sleeping, let us go and wake him up". Disciples did not understand Jesus' spiritual terminology, they said "that's fine, if he is sleeping, it is good for him".
But Jesus had to make it plainly in verse 14 saying "Lazarus is dead".
Disciples were not so spiritual that they would understand Jesus' spiritual terminology immediately. Same with us, if we do not grow spiritually or if our spirit man do not grow within us, we cannot understand spiritual things.
1 Corinthians 2:11 - "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of a man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
5. DEATH IS NO MORE A DEATH FOR CHRISTIANS - IT IS JUST RESTING - R. I. P. (REST IN PEACE)
John 11:11 - Jesus says Lazarus is sleeping when he actually died. We know this term that for dead in Christ we call Rested in Peace. R. I. P. do not work with those who are NOT IN CHRIST. ONLY those who are IN CHRIST can have this assurance that they will rise again. This is our blessed hope that we rise again when Jesus comes to call His bride the Church to Himself.
6. EVERY DEADLY ASPECT IN YOUR LIFE MUST BE RISEN AGAIN:
John 11:25 - Jesus said "I am the resurrection and life". Jesus is the resurrection and life not only to raise the dead but also to bring those things to life which are dead in our lives. Like the passion once you had, might have been dead, the love you once you had for God might have been dead, the spiritual things that once you could do more for God might be in dead position now, may the sinful deeds might spiritually causing you death inside. WE HAVE A HOPE - That Jesus is the RESURRECTION AND LIFE. That He will RISE EVERY GOOD THING THAT HAS BEEN BURRIED IN OUR LIVES. HALLELUJAH!! Seek the Lord for it to happen in your life!
7. FAITH IS EXPECTED
John 11:35 - The shortest verse in the whole Bible is "Jesus wept". Why did He weep when He foreknew that He was going to raise Lazarus from dead? We don't weep for those who get to life or those who are living, but we weep only for those who died. It will be a contradiction to say Jesus wept because of Lazarus. People said "see how He loved him" - Jesus did not say or mean his weeping was for Lazarus's death. Practically why would He weep for the one He was about to raise him from death?
It was because of the unbelief of Martha, Mary and Jews which caused Jesus to weep, not the death of Lazarus. Because in the same context in verse 40 Jesus said "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?
He was expecting faith from His disciples, from all those who believed in Him. But when people fail to put their faith in Jesus, it makes Him sad.
Hebrews 11:6 - "but without faith It is impossible to please Him."
Which tells us that OUR FAITH is expected to PLEASE GOD. Our UNBELIEF will cause PAIN for GOD.
God bless you!
- Peter Naveen, India
