Sunday, January 25, 1998 This Week’s Lesson:
In this week’s lesson, which came from John 11:11-14, 23-26, 33-36, and 43-44, we studied about how we can comes to terms with our own death. Many of us do not like to think about dying, but all of us know that death is a reality. Our study this week looked at the death of Lazarus and the unique events which occurred immediately after he had died. Actually, this true story begins by sharing how Jesus told the news to His disciples. Lazarus had lived in Bethany and just died. Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was asleep, or dead, and that He would go there to awaken him. Instead of making such a sad announcement and then rushing to the scene to be with Lazarus’ family and friends, however, Jesus stayed away for another two days. Sometimes when we are in the midst of some very difficult trial, it may seem to us that Jesus is staying away instead of immediately coming to our relief. As we saw in this lesson, though, He always comes through to help us out. Another interesting teaching could be seen from His remarks to His disciples about dying. He used the word sleep to indicate that Lazarus was dead. When it is our time to leave this world, if we have trusted our heart and life to Him, then our passing into eternity will not be much different than laying down for a good night’s sleep.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany, He saw Martha and told her that Lazarus would rise again. Thinking that He was referring to the resurrection in the last day, she did not immediately understand what He meant. Of course, her reaction makes sense because most of us would not have been expecting a miracle of such magnitude. He told her that He is the resurrection and the life. He then told her that He has power over death and that believing in Him would deliver a person from the finality of death. Imagine how she must have felt listening to such words. She knew Who He was, yet she did not yet seem to understand that He had the power to raise up someone who had literally died. Those of us who have walked this life with the Lord for a while can already testify about how wonderful that walk has been. Think how good it will be when we get to the end of this life, and then, we fall into His hands for all eternity. If we are trusting in Him, then we do not need to fear or be apprehensive about what awaits us on the other side of the grave.
In this lesson, we saw that Jesus was fully God. He spoke about faith in Him and about the resurrection. In addition to that, though, we also saw that He was fully human and that He tried to share some moments of grief with those around Him. He understood their pain, and today, He understands whatever pains we may be feeling. The Apostle John wrote that Jesus wept. Our Lord was truly sorrowful about the grief that is caused by death. He was fully God, yet He was fully human. We can and should rejoice that we have eternal life because of His finished work on the cross. However, in times of death, we can and should also be ready to share those moments of grief which others around us may be feeling over the loss of a loved one. As the Holy Spirit gives opportunity, let us always try to take an interest in those around us. Then, let us do our part to try to reach the world for Jesus.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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