John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
There are hurting people everywhere we look, (and more often than not we don’t have to look any further than our mirror). No matter where we are or where we go we can find someone who is in need. People are in pain, people are dying, people are sad all around us. Illnesses, death, divorce, loneliness, drugs and alcohol, all kinds of punches that life throws at us. What do we do? How do we find the strength to get up when we’ve been knocked down? What do we do when we see others knocked down? If we can’t get back up how are we going to help anyone else get up? As Christians we’re called to get up! You never hear Jesus tell anyone to “stay down” or “lay low”. Our life goal should be 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I’ve never seen someone win a fight laying down! We are called to pray and encourage one another. Don’t shrink back when life throws you an upper cut. Call on Jesus, just like the sisters of Lazarus did, “the one you love is sick” they said. Whens the last time we called out to Jesus for someone? Or went out of our way to encourage someone who was down? Or, are we the ones guilty of knocking them down with our words and with our actions? We’re supposed to be HIS hands and feet, not the devils. Sometimes we look so much like the rest of the world that non believers can’t tell the difference. We might wear our shirts with Christian logos on them or wear our Cross necklaces. And probably even make it to Church every time the doors are open, but do we have it on the inside, where it really matters? Sure we’re willing to stand in the shallow part of the Water, but we’re too afraid to go deep. Everyone goes through trials and temptations in life, there’s no exceptions! Seek God’s face, call on the Name of Jesus.
John 11:4 When He heard this, Jesus said,”This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (There was a higher purpose for Lazarus’ life than just his circumstances…. we have a higher purpose too!) Verses 5 and 6 says Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. The Bible goes on to tell us that He goes back to Judea (where Lazarus was) even though the Jews there before had tried to stone Him. He wasn’t afraid. He tells us over and over again in His Word to not be afraid. But when something comes our way that moves us out of our comfort zone, we fall apart. Why? If Christian means follower of Christ why aren’t we following HIS example? I know we’re only human and we’re nowhere near perfect. It’s definitely okay to cry and get down occasionally but why are we staying down? Why are we not getting back up?
When Jesus returns to Judea John 11:17 He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. And after talking to and comforting Lazarus’ sisters the Bible says He wept. John 11:35 He wasn’t crying because He thought there was no hope, He was crying because of the compassion He had for the people. Jesus goes to the tomb and after the stone to the entrance is moved…. He called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them “take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Get up! Take off your grave clothes, wipe your face off, stop wallowing in your circumstances, come out! The only one going to show up for your pity party is the devil. God is calling us to get up and come out! The victory has already been won…. even death can’t beat us. When Jesus rose on the third day He conquered death! There will be obstacles but God has made a way. When there looks like there’s no hope, Jesus shows up! Get up…. you were made for such a time as this, but you can’t move forward for God if you’re laying down with your grave clothes on. God wants us to get up! Need a hand? Reach up to God. Know someone who needs a hand? Point them to Him. He’s always reaching for us but we have to choose to take His Hand.
Psalm 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges My Name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My Salvation.
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