(Part 2)
“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. “-John 11:17
Jesus arrived to find Lazarus in the worst possible condition. Not only had he died, but he laid buried in a tomb decaying for four days. When Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away Martha protested and said:
“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?”-John 11:39-40
What was Martha declaring? She was in essence saying: “Lazarus is beyond recovery. There is no hope for him. Death has had the final word.” However, Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” Even when we feel as though we are beyond recovery, like there is no coming back from the depths we have reached, Jesus has the final word. With just one word, God can call us out of the grave:
“Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!””-John 11:43-44
Jesus found Lazarus in the worst possible condition. Why does that bear repeating? Some of you have been telling yourself, that Jesus would never want me. I’m too far gone, too messed up, too unlovable, too strung out, too jaded, too angry, and too unforgiving. I’m a mess and there is no way He wants me. Can I remind you that Jesus came to Lazarus when everyone else had given up hope believing he was beyond recovery. That’s because they never stopped to think that it was his time in the tomb that set up his resurrection story? Interestingly, tombs aren’t just for the physically dead:
"So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.”-Mark 5:1-5
I am certain that this man’s family and the people within that community felt as though this man was beyond recovery. He was harassed by a legion of demons and every man-made effort to detain and restrain him had failed. It got so bad that he could no longer function among the living so he made his home among the dead. This man logged some serious tomb-time, but little did he know that the time he spent in the tomb was about to set up his resurrection story:
“When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”-Mark 5:6-8
In what seemed like just a moment, Jesus set this man free from years of bondage.
“The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.”-Mark 5:6-15
You don’t have to be possessed by a legion of demons for Jesus to show up in your life, but this man’s encounter with Jesus demonstrates that if Jesus can deliver him, He can surely deliver you. These stories don’t demonstrate how bad things must get before Jesus will show up, they show how bad things can get and Jesus still show up.
When Jesus came out of that grave He made it possible for each of us to have our own resurrection story. Your resurrection story begins today. This is your last day in the tomb. He calling you out today. You can choose to keep living in the tomb, but if you are ready to find freedom, it’s time to run to Jesus.
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
No comments:
Post a Comment