(John 11:17 NIV) On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” by continuing with the story of Mary and Martha. Before closing out this story there are a few more points I want to bring out. Let’s go back to the point that Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days to show up. It was a Jewish custom to wait until the fourth day to legally pronounce death, as if to ensure that the person was truly dead. Some Jews believed that a person’s spirit hovered over the body during the first three days of death. Those who believed this superstition could use it as a counterargument to the two previous miracles where Jesus had raised people from the dead. One was the son of the widow of Nain (see Luke 7:11-15). This lady’s son died, she did not have a husband or any other sons, and she was left very vulnerable in a man-dominated society. Jesus came up to the funeral precession, basically stopped it in it’s tracks, and raised her son back to life on the spot. This obviously had a tremendous impact on the widow and all who were present.
The other time was Jairus’ daughter (see Luke 8:41, 42, 49-55). Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, swallowed his pride and took the risk to come to Jesus when his little 12 year old daughter was dying. Jesus agreed to go to his house to heal the little girl, but Jesus was stopped along the way by a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Jesus healed the woman with the blood condition and took the time to listen to her testimony. While this was going on the little girl died. Jesus was not phased by the fact that the little girl had stopped breathing. When He finally made it to the house He raised her back to life.
Neither one of those accounts, however, was like this one. The widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter had not been dead for four days. As you know from this series, Jesus arrived after the professional mourners had come and gone. He arrived after the body had been prepared for burial (wrapped in burial clothes). He arrived after the body was placed in the tomb and the tomb was sealed with a large stone. He arrived after the Jews had already legally pronounced Lazarus’ death. Jesus arrived after Mary and Martha had cried all the tears they bodies could produce. He arrived after rigor mortis had set in and the body had begun to stink. He arrived after everyone on the scene, Mary and Martha included, had given up hope. No one was prepared to ask Jesus for a miracle at this point. Life for Lazarus, after four days, was beyond their capacity to believe. It was a terrible situation, but remember, nothing is impossible for God! Jesus was on the scene and the introduction of God changes every equation. You + God = Victory! Jesus came after all human hope was gone!
So what’s the message in the mess for this morning? The message is what I call “Maximum glory.” Sometimes God waits until our situation gets so bad, so ridiculous, so humanly impossible, that He knows that if He shows up at that point that He will get maximum glory out of it. When God manifests His power after all human possibility has been factored out, then you cannot confuse God with anything or anyone else and you cannot give His glory to a doctor, a lawyer, a friend, or anyone else. And what this means to you today is that no matter how dead your situation may seem, when God shows up, He can make the world’s impossibilities a reality in your life. Are you willing to trust God, even when it looks like you should give up all hope? God can revitalize your dead dreams! Will you believe Him to do it? Will you take a chance on believing God, even when it makes no sense whatsoever?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Word. Your Word has reminded me this morning that there is nothing too hard for You and nothing is impossible for You. Lots of things are impossible for me and with man, but when You get involved in my situation, human limits can no longer dictate the outcome. I take every artificial limit I have ever placed on You and I throw them behind me. You are a limitless God and I believe You can do the impossible in my life. No matter how bad situations get, I will keep on believing, keeping on trusting, keep on operating in faith, and keep on expecting You to do what only You CAN DO! I am a believer and not a doubter and I enter this day with my belief system having been expanded this morning. I will never say a situation is dead, until You tell me to move on. One Word from You can turn any dead situation around in a moment and when You do it, I will give You the maximum glory for it! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
