Death, the Last Enemy

 Written by: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 11:28-44

 

John 11:43-44

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

(NKJV)

 

Death is hard for us to deal with because we were not created to die, with death entering the world due to the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:16-17). First, Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death or separation from God and would later experience physical death. Remission from sins comes through the shedding of blood, with Jesus shedding His blood as the Lamb of God who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), providing salvation for all choosing to accept it (Hebrews 9:11-12, 22). The mission of the Church is to declare this message to the world.

 

After Martha had talked with Jesus, she went on her way and secretly told Mary Jesus wanted to see her (John 11:28 ). Mary immediately got up to come to Jesus (John 11:29). Jesus was still at the place where he met with Martha and had not yet come into town (John 11:30). When the Jews comforting Mary saw her leave, they assumed she was leaving for the tomb of Lazarus to mourn there (John 11:31). When Mary saw Jesus, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32).

 

When Jesus saw Mary and the Jews with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Jesus then asked where they had buried Lazarus, and they took Him to the tomb (John 1:33-34). Jesus wept, and the Jews said how much Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:35-36). However, some of the Jews wondered why Jesus, who opened the eyes of the blind, was not there to keep Lazarus from dying (John 11:37).

 

Jesus again groaned in Himself and came to the tomb which was a cave with a stone laying against it (John 11:38). Jesus then told them to remove the stone to which Martha said, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” (John 11:39). Jesus then reminded Martha that he had said that if she believed, she would see the glory of God (John 11:40). After they removed the stone, Jesus prayed to the Father, thanking Him for hearing Him, also saying the Father always hears Him. Jesus said this to benefit those standing around the tomb so they would know God the Father sent Jesus (John 11:41-42). Jesus tells Lazarus to come out of the grave, which he does, still bound in the grave clothes. Jesus tells them to remove the grave clothes so Lazarus can go free (John 11:43-44).

 

During Jesus’ ministry, the people had become accustomed to seeing Jesus quickly respond to one in need, bringing healing and deliverance. However, this time Jesus delayed coming, arriving after Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. Martha, Mary, and some of the Jews gathered to bring them comfort wondered why Jesus delayed his coming. However, when Jesus asked Lazarus to come out of the grave and he did, Jesus showed them He can not only heal but also deliver from the grave. Soon some of these people will see Jesus after He has risen from the grave, demonstrating his complete mastery of sin and death (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:56). The magnitude of this miracle, which caused many to believe and follow Jesus, would become the focal point in the Jewish leaders seeking to kill Jesus. The time of Jesus’ crucifixion is near, and the world is about to receive a path to salvation and reconciliation with God, lost by Adam’s sin in the garden, fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15.

 

Before departing to be with His Father, Jesus gave the Church a simple mission: to take the news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). However, like Adam and Eve, who received one simple command from God, not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17), the Church has deviated from its mission. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy of a time when people would reject the sound doctrine of the Gospel and seek messengers that tickle their itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The world is full of Churches that are large and have the appearance of spreading the Gospel as commissioned by Jesus, but a closer look at what happens in these churches reveals something else. These Churches entertain their congregations with musical performances and a message designed to make them feel good, with the Gospel only mentioned, when necessary, at Christmas and Easter. Please join me in praying for a revival in the Church and a return to lifting up Jesus so men and women are drawn into a relationship with Him (John 12:32). Pray that the worship would not be with a purpose of entertaining but instead to draw people’s hearts to God and their minds to focusing on God and how much He loves them. Pray the message is Bible based, challenging people to confess their heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and to live according to the word of God.

 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and if you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave, but have not made a public confession of this belief, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.