"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).

Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:5).  The sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick (John 11:2-3).  Jesus knew what the Father was doing in this situation.  Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4). When Jesus "heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was" (John 11:6).  "Then after this he said to the disciples, 'Let us go to Judea again' " (John 11:7).  Why didn't Jesus go immediately?  While Jesus could have delivered Lazarus from his sickness, Jesus knew there was a more important eternal lesson with Lazarus that the Father had in mind. Brothers and sisters, how many times are we wanting God's quick deliverance from a situation, where God is more desirous that we learn an eternal lesson from Him through that situation.  God waits out of a greater love, for us to receive His eternal blessing.

The disciples were concerned that the Jews would want to stone Jesus again if He went back to Judea (John 11:8).  Jesus again gave His disciples an example.  You walk in the 12 hours of the day, because you can see the light of the world, and you won't stumble (John 11:9).  If someone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him (John 11:10).  Brothers and sisters, as Spirit-birthed sons we don't have any reason to stumble we have the life and the light of the Son living in us as us.

Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus sleeps and that He was going to wake him up (John 11:11).  The disciples said if he sleeps, he will get well (John 11:12).  While Jesus spoke of his death and resurrection, the disciples thought He was talking about taking a rest in sleep (John 11:13).  Are we sometimes on the wrong wavelength from what God is truely wanting to communicate with us?  "Then Jesus said unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead' " (John 11:14).  That throws a real wrinkle on religious positive confession statements and beliefs.  Jesus told them the truth, Lazarus is dead.  God really doesn't work on our positive confession or beliefs.  God works 100% according to His word in line with His will, His timing, His purpose, and His glory.  Positive confession not in line with these is fleshly motivation and action and is destined to fail.  Our loving Father in His grace may smile on us for a while, then He expects us to mature and grow up in Christ.

Martha met Jesus and told Him that Lazarus wouldn't have died if He had been there (John 11:21).  Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again" (John 11:23).  Martha told Jesus that she knew he would rise again in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:24). "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Christ is our resurrection life.  When Mary came to Him and He arrived at Lazarus tomb, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35)..  Jesus was deeply moved and visibly distressed out of love and  identification with the sister's grief over their brother's death.  Aren't you glad that we have a sympathetic Christ, who now lives in us as us?  Jesus went to the tomb in the Father's will, timing, purpose, and glory and "cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' " (John 11:43).  Lazarus, with resurrection life came forth and they unwrapped and removed the grave clothes (John 11:44).  To everyone who believes in Christ through faith, is Spirit-birthed with Christ – the resurrection and the life now living abundantly in them! V