Seven Miracles - Pt 23

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:38-44 ESV).

Just yesterday, after Mary read the devotional for the day, asked, “How many miracles are you going to do!” My reply was somewhat deadpan. I said, “There are only seven in John.” Here reply was classic “Mary.” She simply said, “Well, you’re on twenty-two.” Actually we have taken our time and unpacked each of the miracles a bit more than usual. And, as we come to the close of our series with the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we will need to spend a few more mornings in examination of the application of this climactic act of Jesus. There are actually five applications of this text that I want to bring to your attention in the hope that you will be both encouraged and challenged. I hope you will be encouraged in your own difficulties and trials; and, I hope you will be challenged to recognize the greatness of God’s gift of grace through Jesus’ work on our behalf. Here are the five applications in brief form: The first application has to do with the unstoppable purpose of God not just to turn bad circumstances for your good, but to be in them perfectly and sovereignly from the start for your good. The second application has to do with a critical piece of Christian theology. It is the concept of substitution. It is that belief that God took the life of his own Son, so that he would not have to take ours. The third application has to do with the existence and the future of the Jewish people as we see in our world today. It will both point to God’s existence and his covenant keeping faithfulness. The fourth application has to do with the blood-bought diversity of the global church and our gladness in the greatness of God’s heart. The fifth application has to do with the particular design of God inside the universal offer of the salvation to unfailingly save His the children, no matter where they may be scattered throughout the world. Today, merely meditate on the power and grace of Jesus in this sign. Everything indicated there was nothing that could be done to “save” Lazarus. Jesus merely had to speak and Lazarus came out of the tomb!