A L M A C I A S

THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS

One of the saddest experiences which we all must face sooner or later is the death of a loved one. How often we hear about the sorrow that a family is going through as a loved one has died. Death is a sad experience that brings an emptiness that is hard to fill. This emptiness can be filled by the comfort that we receive from the Scriptures, the promise that we have from our Lord. In the book of John, we read about an incident during the earthly ministry of our Lord, dealing with the death of a loved one, from which we can draw comfort. In John 11, we read about a family who were close friends of the Lord, and who had one of their family members become very ill. Knowing that the Lord had the power to heal the sick, they sent word to the Lord that Lazarus, whom He loved, was very sick. When the Lord was told of Lazarus' illness, He did nothing but say that the sickness of Lazarus was not unto death but rather for the glory of God, that the son of God might be glorified thereby.

What did the Lord mean by all this? How could the Lord say that Lazarus' sickness was not unto death, knowing full well that Lazarus would die from this sickness? The Lord knew something that the others did not know or fully understand. Lazarus would die but Jesus would resurrect him and thereby cause some to believe in Him and be saved. That is the primary objective of all of us when we are put on this earth. Our salvation is the most important thing that we all should strive after. All other things, whatever they may be, become so insignificant once we die.

The Lord did not go to Lazarus until after he had died. When the Lord finally wen to Lazarus' home, he was met by Martha, who told Him that if He had been there Lazarus would not have died. This is where we learn an important fact, which all who believe should know and understand. The Lord told Martha that her brother would rise again. Martha answered that she knew that her brother would rise again but at the last day. To this the Lord said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live." Death is not the end of our existence, for some day all of us shall rise from the dead. (John 5:28,29) The thing that we should think about is unto what shall we resurrect? If, during our lives on earth, we did our very best to live according to the will of God, then we shall resurrect unto life, and that is all that matters. Unto what shall we resurrect?