Advent Day 6 John 11:20-25

“Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11 20-25 ESV)

 I marvel at the writing of the resurrection of Lazarus. Mainly because the shortest verse of the Bible is contained within John 11, and Jesus wept. Jesus raised others from the dead, Jairus' daughter, in Mark 5, or the widow’s son in Luke. However, unlike the others, before raising Lazarus from the dead, as He knelt with Mary, Jesus wept.

So, what does that mean for us? Well, Jesus is God.  And because he cared for Lazarus, Jesus, who was 100% God and 100% man, revealed his emotions to those around him.  As John wrote, God is love (1 John 4:8). Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  So, knowing that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus still wept.  He wept because he felt the pain and sadness that Mary was in. Jesus knows your heart.  Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow and overwhelmed as He saw the sadness of the two sisters who had lost their brother.  And as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, those present saw that Jesus truly was the Son of God. 

The reason Jesus came as a man was so that He could pay for the sins of humanity through His sacrifice.  It is the very same man who felt sadness as Mary wept.  This tells us that Jesus also understands your emotions, your pain, your suffering.  The incarnation of Christ is crucial to who Jesus is.  As we celebrate this Advent, we must remember that Jesus is truly our brother, born of a woman just as we are. The firstborn of the dead (Colossians 1:18) who died a human death, only to be resurrected by the Father.  Our faith in him, as the risen Son of God, is why we have assurances that we, too, will be resurrected.  As we died in His death, we too have been resurrected in His life. (Romans 6:4-5) Not as a spirit, not as a ghost, but in a body, a perfect eternal body, just as Jesus is now. 

The doctrine of the virgin birth is crucial to Christianity.  It is the only reason Jesus could pay for our sins.  His propitiation satisfied the wrath of God against human sin. He who knew no sin became sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21) In doing so, He imputed, or gave us, his righteousness, and took from us our sin, making us holy before God.

So, this Christmas, whilst we remember we are still sinful, we should also not forget that we were made holy and righteous before God.  By placing your faith in God, in Jesus as the risen Son of God, who is God himself, your sins and mine, past, present, and future, are forgiven.  If you do not know Jesus as your savior, this Advent, will you be like the Magi and seek him?  Your only hope for salvation this Christmas is found in the resurrected Jesus and His finished work on the cross.

Advent Day 6 Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Please help us remember Lazarus.  

Help us not forget how Jesus raised him from the dead,

just as He raises those who have faith in Him. 

Help us remember your love for your children,

whom you created in your own image,

and the love and emotion Jesus displayed as He comforted Mary. 

Father, whilst we are still sinners, we have faith that you have made us righteous before you by the blood of the lamb. 

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let us rejoice as did those who watched Lazarus walk from the tomb. 

Father, we worship and praise you because you are merciful.

We glorify you because you love and care for your children.

In the name of Jesus and for His sake, we pray.  Amen.