THE DEFEAT OF DEATH

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”  (John 11:25)

There is no place we can run to escape from death.  The Bible says, "it is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgment."  Word comes to Jesus that Lazarus is struggling with deadly illness.  Though He had the power to heal, Jesus restrained Himself from doing so in order for Lazarus to die!  He tells His disciples that it will be for the glory of the Father and the grounding of their faith.  Yet, the disciples were perplexed and Martha wonders why.  Lazarus' sisters were broken-hearted.  Their tears would give way to inexpressible joy, but not at first.  Perhaps you are perplexed at God's ways of working in your life, or that of your loved ones.  Let us cling to the hope expressed by the songwriter, "We'll understand it better by and by."

Jesus did not prevent the death of Lazarus, but He came to the sisters.  He wept with them.  He shared their sorrow.  He will do the same for you.  This is a story of tears and trials, but at the end, of triumph.  This is God's promise to the child of God.  Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning!

Jesus described the death of Lazarus to his disciples as sleep.  Why did Jesus liken death to sleep?  For one thing, sleep is harmless. For the child of God, death should hold no terror for it cannot harm us. David said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."  Sleep is not only harmless, but it is healthy.  The Bible says, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth that they might find rest from their labors."  The toil of life is over when we reach heaven.  All that burdens us will be banished in the life to come.  Sleep is also temporary.  We go to bed at night with the expectation of rising in the morning.  When a Christian dies, he goes to sleep in Jesus anticipating the resurrection. 

Every funeral Jesus attended turned into a celebration.  There was a personal summons issued to Lazarus.  Someone has well said that the voice of Jesus carries such authority that had He simply said, "Come forth" every dead person would have risen.  An hour is coming in which all the dead will hear that call.   Our separation from loved ones is not permanent.  There will be a reunion one day.  Can you imagine the joy as Mary and Martha embraced the warm flesh of their brother whose body only hours before lay cold in the tomb?  We anticipate the same rejoicing when we see those who have preceded us into heaven.

Lazarus was bound up in grave clothes and Jesus commanded that he be set free.  Death for the child of God means liberty.  Paul spoke of how we groan in this body, longing to be liberated, looking for that new body.  In heaven, we shall be in a land of absolute freedom—free of sin, sorrow, sickness, suffering, and separation.  This is the hope assured in that Christ is risen from the dead, and promises, “Because I live, you will live also.”  (John 14:19b)  We exult with Paul, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Cor.15:55)

THE SUFFERING OF THE SAINTS

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  ‎For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory….  (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)

Is healing in the atonement?  Doubtless—every blessing flows to us from that crimson stream of Calvary.  One dimension of our redemption is a new body.  That awaits the resurrection, however.  Romans 8:23 promises, “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”  I would not deny that miracles take place today and extraordinary healings are experienced.  God is still God, and does what He wishes.  That is different than turning Him into a cosmic errand boy to serve my desires.  To dictate to the Sovereign Lord and demand healing is a blasphemous role reversal.

Many godly people suffer enough without some self-appointed theologian coming on TV and declaring their problem is they don’t have enough faith to receive their healing.  Now, the physical affliction of the saint compounds by the mental anguish of guilt.

Paul was an instrument God used to bring miraculous healings to some—but not all.  “Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”  (2 Tim.4:20).  Why didn’t you send him an anointed prayer cloth for a donation Paul?  Neither did the Apostle receive his healing though he asked three times (2 Cor.12:7-10).  We do not know specifically what the condition was, and it is possible that this was not a disease, but some other trial.  That pain was caused is clear and despite the prayers of faith, God chose not to remove it.

History is filled with spiritual giants who suffered greatly.  Moses had a speech impediment; Job suffered agonizingly; Timothy had stomach problems—and the list could go on with Amy Carmichael, blind Fanny Crosby, John Newton, Spurgeon, Joni Eareckson Tada, and many more.  Examine the lives of all God has used mightily and you will see a dark thread of suffering—tears and tragedies—woven into the fabric of each.  The health, wealth, and prosperity preachers of today are not worthy to untie the shoes of these anointed afflicted.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 that pain produces a greater glory.  If we want glory, we must endure suffering—the cross precedes the crown (2 Tim.2:12; Rom.5:3-5; 8:18).  Should we then rate our faith as substandard because we don’t get our miracle?  Examine Hebrews 11:33-40.  Following a roll call of those who saw the miraculous were those who suffered the grievous—and ALL are extolled as heroes of faith!

So, are you sick?  Try to get well!  Ask God to heal you.  Go to the doctor.  Take some medicine.  You will be well someday—even if it awaits that Eternal Day.  If God chooses to permit the pain, then know there is a purpose in it, and that the suffering of the saints will only enhance the future glory.  “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Cor.12:10)  Don’t lose heart!  Press on to glory!

TRIUMPHANT IN OUR TRIALS

But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”  (Luke 8:25a)

Trials are universal—they come to rich and poor, young and old, male and female, saints and sinners.  Trials are unavoidable—sooner or later we all face them.  But, God’s people can be unconquerable—with Jesus we may be tested by trials, but are meant to be triumphant over them.  In the eighth chapter of Luke we note four such trials.

We can be triumphant over THE PERIL OF STORMS (v.22-25).  Life will not be all sunshine; there will be storms, also.  In these verses, Jesus dramatically demonstrates that He is Lord of all—storms are not an accident, but an appointment.  Nothing ever happens by chance or luck.  An all-knowing and almighty God has everything under control.  Did you notice that Jesus went with them into the storm?  He has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us! There was a manifestation of His presence that they would have never received had they evaded the storm.  His promise was that they would get to the other side—and He will do that for you!  Here’s the question, “Where is your faith?” (v.25) 

 

We can be triumphant over THE POWER OF SATAN (v.26-39).  This man was held in the grip of evil.  The result was nakedness, self-destructiveness, and he was uncontrollable.  That sounds so much like the world we live in today—Satan is on a rampage and holds many in bondage.  Again, Jesus shows His authority—not only over the peril of storms, but the power of Satan.  Jesus casts out the demons and this tortured soul puts on his clothes, becomes mentally stable, and bows to Him.  The result is that the man wants to follow Jesus.  The Lord tells him to start by telling his family about what great things the Lord has done for him.  He doesn’t stop there, but shares his testimony with the whole city.  We also have a testimony of God’s great grace that delivered us.  Yes, the days are demonic, but God has raised us up for “such a time as this.”

 

We can be triumphant over THE PAIN OF SICKNESS (v.40-48).  Jairus had a daughter who was terminally ill.  He comes seeking Jesus, but, on the way another woman—gripped by incurable sickness—reaches out to Jesus and His power flows into her and heals her!  Her sickness drove her to physicians who couldn’t cure her, but finally to Christ who did!  Pain can propel us to seek Christ, and that is a good place to be!

 

We can be triumphant over THE PROBLEM OF SORROW (v.49-56).  Sorrow was an opportunity for Christ to demonstrate His authority over death.  As the Lord of Life, He holds the keys of death, hell and the grave.  Because He has overcome death, it has been transformed into “sleeping” for the child of God.  The voice of Christ will someday awaken all who sleep in Jesus as He did for this girl.  Death does not get the last word!  Through Christ, it is overcome by eternal life!

 

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  (Rom.8:37)  How may we experience this?  “And this is the victory that has overcome ther world—our faith.”  (1 John 5:4b)  Jesus now asks us, “Where is your faith?”