Alive Again
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. John 12:9
Imagine being Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead. The man enjoyed instant celebrity and he had done nothing to earn it. The Bible reports that crowds flocked to the tiny village of Bethany where Lazarus lived just so they could get a look at the man who used to be dead. I wonder if people asked for Lazarus’ autograph. I wonder if little children came running up to him, just trying to touch him. I wonder if his health insurance went up or if the death benefit in his life insurance actually ever paid. (There’s one for the litigation Hall of Fame: We’re required to pay if he dies, but are we required to pay if he doesn’t stay dead?) I wonder if the local Bethany daily news tried to interview him. Who knows?
The point is that Jesus had done something totally awesome for this man and all he had to do to bring honor to Jesus was just breathe! That’s it, that’s really all he had to do. Every breath that Lazarus took was one more undeniable witness to the power and grace of Jesus. Lazarus didn’t need to say anything. Just by being there, just by living, he brought honor to Christ.
And so do we. Think about it–we too have been raised from the dead. The Bible tells us that we were dead in our sins and that through Jesus we have been made alive again. We are new creatures. We have all been buried in our own tombs; and as Christ-followers, we have been called out and set free. What was your tomb? Was it pornography, alcoholism, anorexia, low self-esteem, fear, drug abuse, hatred, bigotry, materialism? I could name an endless list of those things that entomb each of us. But in every case, Jesus’ power is sufficient to call us forth. The grave clothes cannot hold us against the call of Jesus.
If you are a Christ-follower, then like Lazarus, you have reason to boast in your salvation. Every breath you breathe should bear witness to the fact that you have been brought back from the dead. So go walk like Lazarus today. Just be yourself–your forgiven, healed, blessed, freed and resurrected self.
