Lazarus, Come Out

Scripture: John 11:38-44   (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (John 11:38–44 NLT)

Jesus was still angry. His emotional state was mixed as he approached the tomb where his friend Lazarus was lying dead. Perhaps he was angry at the wailing of the mourners whose mourning was more religious and traditional than personal and deeply caring. Perhaps he was angry at the pain and sorrow Martha and Mary were experiencing because Lazarus had died. Perhaps he was angry at death and sin and evil and hopelessness and grief and loss.

And he’d been weeping. Jesus’ anger was mixed with compassion and empathy for his friends, and maybe his personal grief over Lazarus’ death, and perhaps a little foreboding, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before his own body would be lying in a tomb much like this one. With some effort, he controlled his voice and said, “Roll the stone aside!” Martha protested, “Lord, this is gonna stink!”

Here’s my devotional thought: When we’ve experienced hurt, loss, disappointment, it’s like something in us has died. We grieve, we doubt, we question. Our attitude can get pretty stinky! Jesus says, “Roll the stone aside!” Be honest. Stink Happens! Tell God how you feel, talk to others you can trust, give it time, but get some help! Until you “roll the stone aside”, it won’t get better, and the resurrection miracle won’t happen!

Then Jesus said, loudly, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus had been dead, but was now alive, and he came shuffling out of the tomb, still wrapped like a mummy in graveclothes. His family and friends provided some help to get him free.

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for life out of death and hope out of sorrow and grief. Help us to know how to “roll the stone aside” so we can hear the voice of Jesus!