Ressurrection Power

By the time Jesus came to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. The time span was significant to the Jew. I can only imagine what went through every one's mind when Jesus asked for the stone to be taken away. Martha wasn't getting the picture. No one was. Why on earth did Jesus want to open the grave of a man who had been dead four days? You see, Martha had faith for what could have been: "If you had been here, my brother would not have died". Martha had faith for what would be: "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day". What Martha needed was faith for what was happening now: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Jesus asked her in verse 40. It is the same question Jesus ask of us today: "Will you believe?" Martha's response of faith was quick, her obedience certain. For when Jesus stood outside the tomb and said, "Lazarus, come out!" hell trembled. In a matter of weeks, death's grip on humanity-past, present, and future-would be completely broken. The final lesson from the story of Lazarus still echoes today:

The "end" is never the end; it is only the beginning.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he put to death Satan's lie that the end is the end. Tragedy may come. So will the darkness. But triumph is waiting just around the corner. It may be Friday, suggested Lazarus's empty tomb. But Sunday's comin'. (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)