Sermon Central
-
You Shall Rise Again
Contributed by Rev. M Edmunds on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: The only hope for humanity is found in the Lord Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection. This account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead has so many lessons for each of us. It is a message of hope in a hopeless circumstance. It is a
The shortest verse of the Bible is found in verse 35 and it simply says, “Jesus Wept.” Only two short words but what power and what a great message they hold for those who have a discerning spirit.
The great I AM, touched by the circumstances of those around Him, began to cry. What was it that He was crying about? Was it for Lazarus? - No, Jesus didn’t cry for Lazarus for He knew that Lazarus would soon be resurrected. Was it for his own grief and loneliness in the absence of his friend? – No, because Jesus knew the destination of Lazarus and that Lazarus’ soul and spirit were in His father’s hands. I believe that Jesus cried because of the unbelief, the pain, suffering, agony, and grief of the people who stood around.
He was so affected by the negative environment of grief and unbelief that He groaned in Himself. Those standing around mistook this groaning for grief over Lazarus’ death. They were hurting, confused, hopeless, and sorrowful but they were also blind to the reality of the fact that The RESURRECTION stood with them.
Jesus groaned within Himself again. It brings to mind the scripture in Romans 8:26, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Jesus groaned to express His deepest thoughts and concerns in ways that no one around Him could grasp.
Now Lazarus’ body was laid in a cave and covered by a stone. This description is a depiction of our spiritual and moral response when we have done wrong. We cover ourselves. We are always trying to cover our sin somehow. But Jesus removed the stone and revealed the death within.
The searchlight of the word of God and the Holy Spirit will remove our cover to show us the sin and darkness within our own heart and life. He knows the thoughts and intents of our heart and knows how to reveal His will to us if we will only listen.
Martha said to Jesus, “By this time he stinketh.” The “life of sin,” given time will steak as well, and none of us wants our smelly old life of sin to be revealed. None of us wants to look upon our own black heart. But, if we are to know the Resurrection we must come face to face with our own soiled spirit. We have been dead in sin a long time and that sin has brought the decay of death upon us. We need to be resurrected out of our miss by the power of God.
Jesus said, “If you would believe, you can see the glory of God!”
Jesus interceded on behalf of those who stood around by praying to the Father in Heaven. It was meant as a prayer to build the faith of those who stood in unbelief that they might have their eyes opened and their understanding enlightened to see and hear the power and glory that they were witnessing.
This resurrection was not going to happen because of the faith of those who stood around, because they were too burdened with sorrow and grief.
It was to happen so that those who stood there would finally begin to really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God who has all authority in Heaven and in Earth and who is the Resurrection and the Life.
