In our last time together, we watched Jesus as He was preaching about His parameters for discipleship. In addition, He instructed His doubters about what was wrong with their twisted religion, and how their salvation would be thwarted by themselves it they didn’t get right with Him. (See Winnowing the Path to the Narrow Gate).
Christ and His apostles are continuing with their ministry, when He receives a message from Mary (the one who poured perfume on His feet, and wiped it with her hair.[1])
We are also informed that Jesus loved Mary, her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus.[2] (Not the same Lazarus that was in Jesus’ parable[3])
The message informs Jesus that Lazarus was gravely ill. He turns to His apostles and explains what was taking place, and His vision of what will come to pass:
“This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Jn. 11:4 AMP
Christ is saying that Lazarus would not die in the final sense of the word (at this particular time). Instead, this situation would demonstrate the power of God through His Son – bringing glory to them both.
(By miraculous healing God grants us an insight into the disease-free age to come…By leaving us ill he reminds us we are part of a fallen world. J.C. Ryle).
To add to the impact of what would take place, He delays His journey to Bethany (Lazarus’ home, 2 miles from Jerusalem), while informing His apostles of the ‘why’:
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.” The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep. So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Jn. 11:11 – 15. AMP
(The death of true Christians is ‘sleep’ and not annihilation. It is a solemn and miraculous change no doubt, but not a change to be regarded with alarm…they will rise again by and by, refreshed and renewed after the image of the Lord. The grave itself is a conquered enemy. It must render back its tenants safe and sound, the very moment that Christ calls for them at the last day. J.C. Ryle)
When they arrive at Bethany, Jesus is informed (like He didn’t already know) that Lazarus has been entombed for four days. Martha runs to Him and says that her brother would not have died had He been present.
Jesus tells her that Lazarus would rise again. Martha interpreted His statement to mean Lazarus’ resurrection at the end of time. He steers her into the deeper truth:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” Jn. 11:25, 26. NLT
Martha answered in the affirmative, and went to fetch her sister Mary, and brought her, (along with some Jewish mourners) to Jesus, where she also cried that Lazarus would never have died in His presence:
When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Jn. 11:33 – 35. AMP
Jesus went to the tomb and ordered the stone that sealed it be rolled away. Martha protested, saying there will be a great stench. Jesus replied:
“Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?” Jn. 11:40 AMP
And then He looked towards heaven and declared:
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].” When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Jn. 11:41 – 43. AMP
(Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God]. Heb. 7:25 AMP)
And just like a mummy, Lazarus came walking out! Many of the witnessing Jews were converted. However, other Jews who still doubted, ran off to snitch to the Pharisees.
Jesus’ miracle put Him over the target for death with the Pharisees, who were afraid that more Jews would believe He was the Messiah, which would degrade their own spiritual standing.
Time passed. It was the beginning of 30 A.D. Christ set out to make His final journey to Jerusalem. He and His apostles traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As they did, they kept encountering those persistent, pernicious Pharisees.
In one of those encounters, they confronted Jesus, asking Him for the exact time that the Kingdom of God would come. He retorts by telling them that they are looking at the Kingdom of God right now, by being in His presence. Then Jesus turns to His apostles and speaks:
“The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it. People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes.” Lk. 17:22-24 NLT
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). Listen carefully, I have told you in advance.” Mt. 24:24, 25. AMP
“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Mt. 24:44 NLT
Jesus is warning them / us to be wary of messiah posers, that His return with be global in its impact, and to be continually prepared for His coming, because the exact moment of it is not privy to any human.
Then, Jesus elaborates upon the state of humanity at large when He returns:
“But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
“And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Lk. 17:25 – 30. NLT
Going to have a lot of people with huge regrets – forever!
(Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.) 1 Jn. 2:15 – 17. AMP
Jesus was stressing the urgency of imparting His Salvation into as many willing ears as possible, so that they too may join us in a wonderful eternity of love and bliss. The hearer’s subsequent choice will have never-ending ramifications:
On that day, whoever is on the housetop, with his belongings in the house, must not come down [and go inside] to take them out; and likewise whoever is in the field must not turn back. Remember [what happened to] Lot’s wife [when she looked back]! Lk. 17:31, 32. AMP
You must be ready when Christ is – you having both feet in the Kingdom.
That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mt. 13:49, 50. NLT
Jesus loves you so much. He wants you to spend your everlasting life with Him.
Remember, you don’t know when your ‘last chance’ is. And time is the one thing you can’t get back. It demands your respect.
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Mk. 14:3-9; Jn. 11:2
[2] Jn. 11:5
[3] Lk. 16:19-26.