Jesus is hanging out with the disciples, healing and saving all who wanted it. A way off from where He was staying was the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Now Lazarus was very sick and M&M decided to send someone to tell Jesus that the “one he loved” is very sick and most likely dying. So in their faith and knowing who Jesus was and what he did, they reached out to him the best way they could to save their brother from pending death.
News got to Jesus and he said “this will not lead to death, but that it will glorify Him…” Annnnnnnd, He proceeded to stay for two more days before He tells them that they are going to see how Lazarus is doing, as “our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I am going to wake him up.” (Jesus I think was trying to provoke thought with the disciples by saying that.) To which their answer was “well, if he’s just sleeping, he’ll get better, so why do we have to leave?”
At this point Jesus drops the bomb on them bluntly, “Guys…. Lazarus is dead.” BUT, He caveats it with “I’m glad I wasn’t there, so you can see what I am going to do. En diamo!”
So, they started the journey. When they arrived, the burial had happened 4 days prior. Needless to say, there was some length of time that scripture shows Martha wasn’t happy with Jesus (yes, this is the same Martha who complained about Mary).
Her first words as she met Jesus on the way (notice that she didn’t wait for Him to arrive) were, in our terms, “Ya know, if you would've come when I told you, my brother wouldn't be dead…. Thanks Jesus.” She does admit that whatever Jesus asks God for it will happen (but she still had to question His timing).
Jesus says to her “Your brother will rise again.” Now Martha is playing dumb. “yeah, I know when the resurrection comes.” (Martha, Martha, Martha…)
He asks her if she believes He can bring Lazarus to life and she does. Jesus is looking to have Martha establish a mental state of belief in His power and increase her faith even more.
Now Jesus and the entourage are going to the tomb. Let me give you a little primer on burials… Back then, the entrails etc and blood are removed from the body and placed in jars and they follow the rules God gave for burial, so Lazarus isn’t only dead for 4 days, but he’s not all intact. When they get to the tomb Mary feels the need to reiterate to Jesus…. Son of God…. That “had he been on time, her brother wouldn't have had to die…”
Seeing her pain, he wept with her. Yes…. Jesus was emotionally involved with the pain Mary was carrying, EVEN THOUGH He knew what He was going to do. “Bring me to the tomb,” He says. The Jews around are now questioning His abilities “He gave sight back, why didn’t he keep His friend alive?”
It makes sense from our aspect. Why wouldn't He have done it? Jesus had healed the sick before, why not the friend and family He loves? He could have saved them from the grief, torment and pain of loss (are we seeing something yet?).
For the second time in one passage Jesus “groans.” I’m sure He’s like, “Guys, I’m here… you know what I do… why are you STILL doubting my power to do what I say?” But it even goes deeper when He says, “Remove the stone.” Martha, who I could swear is related to Peter for her foot in mouth issue, reminds Him about his lateness to this party, “Jesus, it’s been 4 DAYS and it’s gonna stink like mad when we open this up, no? My brother, dead, because you couldn't take the time to come here and save him... He's gutted, in jars, wrapped in cloths and stuff, in a hot cave in the desert for 4 days and you just want us to pop that can open? Did I say 4 DAYS? I’m just saying.”
Calmly, the One who is in control of the entire situation, who at the beginning said to the disciples, “nah, watch what I’ll do for my Dad when we get there and everyone will drop!” says to Martha, “Didn’t I tell you that I was going to glorify my Father?”
So Jesus has them open it and He prays (Hmmm, Jesus…. Praying to mmmmm God) Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, because of the people standing here I said this, so that they will believe that YOU sent ME.” He paused (probably in a really cool Charlton Heston sort of directorial way) and said “Lazarus, come ooooooon down. You are the next person on “Your Body is Alive!”
There was no hesitancy on Lazarus’ part as it is written, he just got up, with the wrappings on and Jesus told them to take them off of him.
That’s it…. End of story
… Or is it the beginning?
The parallels of this to the state of our marriages is 100% identical. To the point of I had someone in the beginning of all of this, albeit in a negative way said that “Lazarus has a better chance of coming back to life than my marriage.” Well, that is what my God promised me and all of you standing with me.
I rebuked that statement months ago and have forgiven the person. Those words that were spoken out of ignorance, and I trust Jesus to do the same for me. Actually, while reading this a while ago, God spoke to me and said, “the same way My Son raised Lazarus from the dead, I will raise your marriage from the same.”
We all lose it from time to time and cry out for salvation and healing from what we are going through. God knows the level of impressing that YOUR sphere of influence will NEED TO SEE to know that it was nothing but God Almighty that restored your marriage to a better place than what it was before.
How much more of a testimony did Lazarus have when EVERYONE he knew, KNEW he was dead for 4 days and came back to life? Imagine talking with him back then. “Bro, all I know is that I was in pain, dying and finally gave up. Mary and Martha said I was dead for how long???? I’m like, right, sure. But I guess you know it was 4 days too and here I am! All because of Jesus.”
And Lazarus had that testimony until the day he finally died.
So stander, in the same way, those around you who doubt and even when we doubt why it’s taking so long or has to go so far. The same way that a flower cannot grow a new plant until the seed completely dies in order to germinate, your relationship may have to completely die in order for God to get all the glory out of it. There is no human way possible to force your spouse to do anything. Even God can’t force them to love Him and listen. So we have to leave it in the hands of the same Jesus that said 3 words “Lazarus Come out” to see Him do it for you and your spouse.
You may doubt, you may cry, and you may scream, but it doesn't change the power that Jesus has beyond your doubting, with your crying, and over your screaming to do what He has promised to do.
Now Lazarus was very sick and M&M decided to send someone to tell Jesus that the “one he loved” is very sick and most likely dying. So in their faith and knowing who Jesus was and what he did, they reached out to him the best way they could to save their brother from pending death.
News got to Jesus and he said “this will not lead to death, but that it will glorify Him…” Annnnnnnd, He proceeded to stay for two more days before He tells them that they are going to see how Lazarus is doing, as “our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I am going to wake him up.” (Jesus I think was trying to provoke thought with the disciples by saying that.) To which their answer was “well, if he’s just sleeping, he’ll get better, so why do we have to leave?”
At this point Jesus drops the bomb on them bluntly, “Guys…. Lazarus is dead.” BUT, He caveats it with “I’m glad I wasn’t there, so you can see what I am going to do. En diamo!”
So, they started the journey. When they arrived, the burial had happened 4 days prior. Needless to say, there was some length of time that scripture shows Martha wasn’t happy with Jesus (yes, this is the same Martha who complained about Mary).
Her first words as she met Jesus on the way (notice that she didn’t wait for Him to arrive) were, in our terms, “Ya know, if you would've come when I told you, my brother wouldn't be dead…. Thanks Jesus.” She does admit that whatever Jesus asks God for it will happen (but she still had to question His timing).
Jesus says to her “Your brother will rise again.” Now Martha is playing dumb. “yeah, I know when the resurrection comes.” (Martha, Martha, Martha…)
He asks her if she believes He can bring Lazarus to life and she does. Jesus is looking to have Martha establish a mental state of belief in His power and increase her faith even more.
Now Jesus and the entourage are going to the tomb. Let me give you a little primer on burials… Back then, the entrails etc and blood are removed from the body and placed in jars and they follow the rules God gave for burial, so Lazarus isn’t only dead for 4 days, but he’s not all intact. When they get to the tomb Mary feels the need to reiterate to Jesus…. Son of God…. That “had he been on time, her brother wouldn't have had to die…”
Seeing her pain, he wept with her. Yes…. Jesus was emotionally involved with the pain Mary was carrying, EVEN THOUGH He knew what He was going to do. “Bring me to the tomb,” He says. The Jews around are now questioning His abilities “He gave sight back, why didn’t he keep His friend alive?”
It makes sense from our aspect. Why wouldn't He have done it? Jesus had healed the sick before, why not the friend and family He loves? He could have saved them from the grief, torment and pain of loss (are we seeing something yet?).
For the second time in one passage Jesus “groans.” I’m sure He’s like, “Guys, I’m here… you know what I do… why are you STILL doubting my power to do what I say?” But it even goes deeper when He says, “Remove the stone.” Martha, who I could swear is related to Peter for her foot in mouth issue, reminds Him about his lateness to this party, “Jesus, it’s been 4 DAYS and it’s gonna stink like mad when we open this up, no? My brother, dead, because you couldn't take the time to come here and save him... He's gutted, in jars, wrapped in cloths and stuff, in a hot cave in the desert for 4 days and you just want us to pop that can open? Did I say 4 DAYS? I’m just saying.”
Calmly, the One who is in control of the entire situation, who at the beginning said to the disciples, “nah, watch what I’ll do for my Dad when we get there and everyone will drop!” says to Martha, “Didn’t I tell you that I was going to glorify my Father?”
So Jesus has them open it and He prays (Hmmm, Jesus…. Praying to mmmmm God) Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, because of the people standing here I said this, so that they will believe that YOU sent ME.” He paused (probably in a really cool Charlton Heston sort of directorial way) and said “Lazarus, come ooooooon down. You are the next person on “Your Body is Alive!”
There was no hesitancy on Lazarus’ part as it is written, he just got up, with the wrappings on and Jesus told them to take them off of him.
That’s it…. End of story
… Or is it the beginning?
The parallels of this to the state of our marriages is 100% identical. To the point of I had someone in the beginning of all of this, albeit in a negative way said that “Lazarus has a better chance of coming back to life than my marriage.” Well, that is what my God promised me and all of you standing with me.
I rebuked that statement months ago and have forgiven the person. Those words that were spoken out of ignorance, and I trust Jesus to do the same for me. Actually, while reading this a while ago, God spoke to me and said, “the same way My Son raised Lazarus from the dead, I will raise your marriage from the same.”
We all lose it from time to time and cry out for salvation and healing from what we are going through. God knows the level of impressing that YOUR sphere of influence will NEED TO SEE to know that it was nothing but God Almighty that restored your marriage to a better place than what it was before.
How much more of a testimony did Lazarus have when EVERYONE he knew, KNEW he was dead for 4 days and came back to life? Imagine talking with him back then. “Bro, all I know is that I was in pain, dying and finally gave up. Mary and Martha said I was dead for how long???? I’m like, right, sure. But I guess you know it was 4 days too and here I am! All because of Jesus.”
And Lazarus had that testimony until the day he finally died.
So stander, in the same way, those around you who doubt and even when we doubt why it’s taking so long or has to go so far. The same way that a flower cannot grow a new plant until the seed completely dies in order to germinate, your relationship may have to completely die in order for God to get all the glory out of it. There is no human way possible to force your spouse to do anything. Even God can’t force them to love Him and listen. So we have to leave it in the hands of the same Jesus that said 3 words “Lazarus Come out” to see Him do it for you and your spouse.
You may doubt, you may cry, and you may scream, but it doesn't change the power that Jesus has beyond your doubting, with your crying, and over your screaming to do what He has promised to do.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.…
1 Thess 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.