Resurrection and life are two different events. Everyone who died before the second coming of Jesus Christ will be resurrected, but not all will be given life.

Only those who have the seal of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The distinctive character that marks those who will receive life is this; those who believe in Jesus, not those who once believed in Him. Our faith must be alive and active. It is, therefore, not enough to remember when we gave our lives to Jesus or when we were baptised or had the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives but whether we still have an active faith in Him now. Again, faith in Jesus does not exclude us from physical death, but death will not be the end of our lives. Those physically dead or presently alive are all alive and seated with Christ in heavenly places. Not all of us who are presently living will die; some will see the Lord coming in the cloud with His angels (Mark 13:26; Rev 1:7), and in a twinkle of an eye, they will be clothed with immortality and will be with Him forever (1 Corinthians 15:52). 

Martha and Mary said, "Lord, if you have been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus was moved by the weeping of Mary, Martha and her friends. He was deeply troubled not only for Lazarus but also by the vacuum his absence had created in the lives of his family and friends. Lazarus might have helped many people with his wealth, but his death was a shock. They expressed their love in uncontrollable weeping. Their weeping ascended into the heavens, and the Father heard their cry, and Jesus was there to answer their request.

Jesus is now faced with death holding down the body of Lazarus in the tomb. Jesus fully God and Man asked the people where they had laid him. This is not to say He did not know where Lazarus was laid to rest but to involve everyone present in the miracle that was about to take place. And the response from the people was, 'Come and see.' In John 1:39-41, Jesus invited his new disciples to come and see where He lived, but in verse, He was invited into a dead man's tomb; what a contrast. A contrast that would bring a change of life to many and deepen their belief in Him as the One sent by God indeed.

Then Jesus wept, the shortest verse in the Bible yet speaks volumes. There are different reasons why Jesus wept, but the people only related it to His love for Lazarus.

Firstly, He wept because death was not part of the plan when God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit decided to create man. God wanted man to live forever in his body, but we were sold into a slavery of sin, and death became the necessary enemy to confront evil. Death became a weapon the devil used to enslave and torment the human race. 

Secondly, the state of Lazarus reminds Jesus of what will happen to Him in the few days to come. His enemies will cut him off from the land of the living, but God will turn that for the whole world's good. Through His death, He took the keys of death and set all of us who come, who were once captives of Satan, free. 

Thirdly, because of what will occur in Jerusalem in some years to come. The law teachers wanted to maintain peace with their master, Rome; they deliberately rejected Jesus. Little did they know that Rome would wage war against Israel and ruin their city and the temple they loved. This war happened in March 70 AD and ended in September 70 AD. 

Fourthly, Jesus also wept for His people, the Jews. He came so they might believe in Him, but the majority do not believe in him today; most are still waiting for the Messiah. 

Fifthly, Jesus wept because even with all the works He did to prove He came from the Father. They accepted His works but rejected the Person. Even today, many people have received the miracles of Jesus Christ but refused to accept Him as the Saviour. 

Sixthly, hell is made for humans but for Satan and his angels. Unfortunately, those who reject Him will end up there. His death and resurrection have not benefited them. In hell, it will be too late to believe and repent. 

Lastly, there is no other way to the Father but through Jesus. Whether one is a Jew or Gentile, we must all accept and put our faith in Him while we are alive. We must make our own decision concerning Him today. Many are following other ways because there is no logic in the chosen plan of God for salvation. Whether you believe in God or not, the only way to God is Jesus; any other way will lead to death, and final separation from the Father forever. 

I believe every soul that perishes brings pain and weeping to Jesus.

I was in a Tuesday evening prayer meeting at my local church, and a lady brought in a painting of Jesus Christ weeping. I asked her why this painting, and she told me she saw Jesus weeping. I believe she saw the weeping Christ indeed. The painting spoke volumes to me about life and perhaps the church. 

Will Jesus Christ look upon our lives and His church and weep or rejoice?

Are we weeping for the unbelieving friends or family members equally loved by God? It will be a tragedy if they die without knowing Jesus Christ. 

The thought of these is enough to put a burden on our spirit. John Knox, a Scottish Presbyterian minister, cried out of his love for Scotland and said, 'God, give me Scotland, or I die.' Do we have weeping people again these days? People who will intercede and are willing to go the extra mile for the sake of dead situations until Jesus arrives on the scene? 

Lazarus wouldn't have had a chance of resurrection and life should Mary and Martha stay silent. Are we going to remain silent forever?  

A typical example of a heart yearning for the lost to be saved can be found in Luke 15:11-32, the story of the prodigal son. While his father awake early in the morning looking in the direction from which his younger son left home, his firstborn son did not care. This is not how it should be. The Lord made us firstborn with a responsibility.  It is for us to seek and find the lost with Him. We must be our neighbour's keeper, our friend's keeper and our family's keeper. Do our hearts ache or weep for the dying and unsaved people around us? Heaven is too big for all the past and present Christians alone. But we all have a part to play in bringing the lost home.

Unbelievers are dead spiritually to the things of God. That is why we should not be surprised if they refuse the gospel. Some are buried or have made their homes in graveyards, away from everyday life. Bringing them back is the greatest miracle and may involve a group of believers to stand in the gap. 

Lazarus, in this text, was a believer who died. In this state, he had no faith. The miracle he needed came from people around him. Could you imagine if he had no Mary, no Martha around? If he had not cultivated a relationship with Jesus before his death? If he died in a home of unbelievers? Or where people believe there is no God? If he died in a church that teaches miracles ended with Jesus and His first apostles? 

Nothing would have triggered all the above-mentioned people to seek Jesus for Lazarus’ resurrection.

I thank God that you are a true believer; not only that, but you also believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. What He did yesterday, He can do the same today. There is hope for every situation as a disciple and a servant of Jesus Christ.

Jesus here called people to remove the stone used to cover the tomb. Then Jesus cried out, 'Lazarus come forth'. This was the only prayer He needed because of His steady relationship with the Father. The dead man heard the voice of the faithful Shepard and responded. We are ambassadors of Jesus on earth. We can also decree by the authority given to us by Jesus Christ, and it shall come to pass. 

In James 5:14-15 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 

15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Jesus called the dead, and he responded to His voice. We can do the same because Jesus said more wondrous works than this shall we do because we believe and He lives in us (John 14:12). 

After Lazarus was resurrected, Jesus told the people standing around to untie him, remove the ruined clothes, and put on him new clothing. People everywhere changed his clothes, bringing him from the graveyard to the dwelling of living people. The resurrection would have been incomplete should Lazarus have remained in his death clothes and left in the graveyard. People made a difference. 

Let us put it this way; Lazarus was sick, and his friends came to visit him at home. Mary and Martha had to stay with him so that they couldn't go for Jesus. Then immediately, one of their visitors said I would look for the Master, and the next person also said I would go. At least two people volunteered to go sought for the Master. They put all their plans for those few days for the sake of their friend, Lazarus. By then, they did not know where Jesus was, so it might have taken them longer to find Him. 

When Jesus finally came to the tomb of Lazarus, He asked who would roll the stone from the grave for the miracle to happen. Also, someone said I will, and the next person said I will. Here also, at least two people helped in rolling over the stone. After Lazarus was resurrected, Jesus asked who would untie and give him new clothing. Again, someone said I will and the next person I will. His friends untied him and took away his dead clothes, and a new cloth of life was put on him. They took him from the graveyard to a place of living people. 

Then lastly, we had some spectators who, although they did not participate in any of these, were witnesses to the truth and told the teachers, lawmakers and Pharisees of the miracle. Some still saw this miracle, didn’t partake in it, and didn’t share their experience with others. 

Those who said ‘I will’ made this miracle possible.

There is no perfect church yet; the duty of the Church and we Christians can be found in the steps by which this miracle took place. Sometimes, we must be actively involved in all these stages for a miracle like this. But sometimes, some people will walk into our church because they have just been resurrected, still in death clothes with graveyard experience; they need their clothes changed, nurtured in the things of Jesus, comforted and taken home. Be the one who sees the need in people and situations and an answer to problems. None of us is the resurrection and the life except Jesus, but we are needed to complete His work. 

When God sends these people to us, we should be careful not to drive them away by what we say or do, but we could clothe them if naked or treat their wounds if wounded. The Lord expects us to meet their needs and help them on their life journey.  The work of God in restoring a fellow believer or bringing people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is too big for just one person; everyone is valuable and essential for this miracle to occur. We need to find the role He has called us into and do it. We may have Lazaruses in our families, workplaces and communities. Do we know who or what they are? We have the solution to the change we desperately desire to see or can be part of.

In the home of Mary and Martha, their brother was Lazarus, and they knew that Jesus was the only answer, and they sought Him, and He answered their call. Their mourning was turned into joy. They believed in the Lord, and He was there when all hope was lost. They received help from friends and loved ones who obeyed the Lord when He asked them to play their part. When Mary and Martha were weak, their friends did not let them down; they were there to help. The restoration of Lazarus brought joy to Mary and Martha, the whole community, and those who depended on him.

Lazarus also represents the holy things, plans, or ideas in our lives or others that the enemy killed. The enemy will not stop there but also frustrates us so that we do not seek the Lord for the change we need to bring Him glory. God might have laid on your heart something for His Kingdom; you might have started it and suddenly let it die. We might have started praying for a situation or someone, but we gave up because we didn't see the manifestation immediately. I suggest you revisit those godly dreams and purposes and ask the Lord to bring them to life. Although we should let go of things that do not glorify God, Lazarus must not be part of them. 

The resurrection of Lazarus was a demonstration of what will exactly happen on the last day. The souls of the children of God will be reunited with glorified bodies and taken home to be with God for eternity. But the ungodly and unbelieving will be resurrected but left in the graveyard to be tormented and separated from God forever. 

Amen!

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Jesus, our role model in prayer

Matthew 11:29 tells us what we should learn from our Lord Jesus. So with that in mind, let's look at the life of Jesus Christ when it comes to praying. 

Jesus Christ did everything to glorify God, even in His prayer life. Throughout the scriptures, Jesus was always praying. Jesus taught us to pray alone (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16), pray in public (John11:41-42, John 12:27-30), and pray before having a meal (Matthew 26:26). He before making any decisions (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed to heal (Mark 7:34-35), and after healing the sick (Luke 5:16). He prayed to ask for the Father's will (Matthew 26:36-44). 

From these examples, Jesus devoted himself to prayer, retreating to a quiet place in the morning to pray. Jesus repeatedly sought solitude, where He would spend time with the Father. He made time or room to have fellowship with God. 

Jesus is God and a man, yet He spent time praying and seeking the Father. So how do more of us spend time with God in prayer? 

We need to pray more. Apart from all the benefits above, we also develop or build a stronger relationship with our Maker. It also becomes a discipline to spend time alone with Jesus.

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3. The Spirit is the Spirit of knowledge

It takes the Holy Spirit to fully direct us to teach the complete undiluted word of God earnestly Isaiah 11:2, Eph 1:17. Without the Holy Spirit; one could only preach enticing words to men, which will not yield any result of saving the souls of men 1 Cor 2:4. Preaching must demonstrate the power of the Spirit of God.

4. The Spirit gives you the boldness to proclaim the good news

One would be fearful and timid without the courage of the Spirit of God.

Peter and his colleagues could only stand and preach the Gospel because they were all filled with the power of the Holy Ghost Acts 4:13,29 & 31

 Who qualifies to receive the Spirit of God

All born-again Christians Acts 2:4

How to receive the Spirit of God

1 Ask the Father in the name of Jesus Luke 11:13

2. Laying on of hands by a true man of God Acts 19:1-7

So is my desire and prayer that you shall be filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel and never be afraid appropriately. God richly you!

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