The Ultimate Sign

We are not immune from troubles.

I know this is a “captain obvious” statement but we must be reminded I think of this. As I have said paraphrasing M. Scott Peck, “Health is commitment to reality at all costs.” There may be some who promise health, success, fame, fortune for those who follow Jesus but I cannot find that in Scripture. Our passage this morning reminds us of the fact, following Jesus doesn’t guarantee any of those things on Earth.

We must trust an intentional pause.

Jesus was never in a hurry. Maybe we need to re-gain this principle or skill of Jesus. We also cannot lean another person’s crisis and urgency get in the way of obeying Jesus. We in the present day live in during the “intentional pause” of Jesus from his first coming and his second coming. The phrase, “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” is why we must continue to have hope and persevere during the moments of pause.

A deeper truth.

I love the responses of Mary and Martha in these verses. Tehy have a pretty solid faith in what Jesus can do and who He is. Both voice waht you and I would have said in those days, “if you were here Lazarus would still be alive. But what they needed was a deeper truth. What the disciples needed was a deeper truth. What we need in 2026 is a deeper truth, faith and relationship with Jesus. What got us here will not sustain us into the future. What was the deeper truth.

Jesus is THE Resurrection and THE Life.

Both believed in a general resurrection of the dead at some point in teh future but Jesus was talking about more than just some point at an uncertain time. He was talking about what is possible now!

Jesus is angry with sin and death.

His weeping is very important not becuase he did not know what he was going to do but it reminds us that our Lord does not like sin and does not like death. Death is an enemy but He is powerufl enough to do something about it.

Love is a powerful witness.

The reaction of the crowd, though they did not understand what was about to happen reminds us how powerful intentional loving of others is.

Jesus is over death. He provides life!

Can I get an AMEN!!!

Lazarus had to come out and change clothes.

How interesting would it be if Lazarus stayed dressed in his grave clothes? What if he never changed the way he was living from the moment life with Jesus came back to him? We would be astonished, would we not? Yet, how many of us hav ebeen called from death, the grave, and then act like we still live there?

God is in control!

God is never surprised by His creation!

Let Jesus give you THE Life you need!

Jesus’ ways are better.