Title: Let Lazarus Live! / John 11:1-16
Contents - Save Lazarus! - (John 11:1~16)
Here is an ordinary, yet harmonious family. Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary.
I don't know the details of this family, but it seems that my parents are already dead, and Lazarus seems to have been more than just an older brother, he was playing the role of a pillar in the family.
But one day, a problem arose in the family.
His brother, Lazarus, fell ill with a serious illness. The pillar I leaned on and expected collapsed.
The bewildered sisters did everything they could to save their brother.
However, he could not save his brother whom he loved and depended on.
Originally, Martha and Mary were people with extraordinary love for the Lord.
“As they were going on the road, Jesus entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a younger sister named Mary, and she sat at the feet of the Lord and listened to him” (Luke 10:38-39). )
My older sister loved the Lord as my sister and my younger brother as my younger brother.
Their dedication has always been a role model for others.
Probably, it is difficult to find a person who loved the Lord as much as these two sisters among the characters in the Bible.
However, there was a problem with this family. However, the Lord interprets this event as follows.
“This is for the glory of God, and to be glorified as the Son of God” (verse 4).
It is said that Lazarus was covering up and taking away the glory of God.
What kind of existence would Lazarus be to these two sisters?
“Then his sisters sent to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3).
Who is the 'beloved' here? Lazarus. And the subject of love is Jesus.
Jesus loved Lazarus (verse 5). Jesus loved Lazarus to such an extent that Jesus understood him even when he said 'the one who loves' without needing to name him Lazarus.
However, there is an important issue that should not be overlooked here.
First, the word 'beloved' here can be translated as 'beloved'.
Second, the subject of the loved one, that is, the subject is omitted.
So, you can't determine who loves you in a sentence.
Third, here 'the one who loves' is written as 'phileo' in the original text.
There are several Greek words for 'love'. Among them, the most important words are agape, phileo, and eros.
Agape is used when referring to the most sublime sacrificial love.
Eros is used to mean love for oneself, carnal, indulgent love.
Between agape and eros, there is 'phileo'.
In general, this word means human-human love.
When God loves us, He uses the word 'agape' (John 3:16, John 21:15).
Note that 'agape' is also used in verse 5 of the main text.
But in verse 3, the word 'phileo' is used. It is clearly distinguished from 'agape' in verse 5.
If it is to emphasize that the Lord loved Lazarus, it is normal for verse 3 to be agape.
But what was the reason for writing 'phileo'? The emphasis on this part is that the two sisters loved their brother terribly.
I loved him so much that I didn't call him my brother, but 'the one I love'.
I loved you so much that I couldn't let it go and I couldn't let it go from my arms.
I loved and relied on him to the extent that I was anxious if I could not see him for a while.
They tried to save their beloved brother with their own strength and power, rather than praying directly to Jesus.
Because of this, the words that came out of their mouths were, 'The one you love is sick.'
Of course, the two sisters loved Jesus exceptionally, and there was also a fragrant devotion.
However, they could not fully entrust the problem of Lazarus, whom they loved, to Jesus.
They thought they had to solve it.
Jesus heard the prayers of those sent by his sisters.
Hearing that indirect appeal, He goes further.
"When he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed two more days where he was, and after that he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." (John 11:6)
Jesus went even further because his sisters were still holding on to Lazarus.
I think it's understandable that Lazarus was hiding his glory.
As long as I hold on to that Lazarus, and as long as I struggle to keep him alive, the Lord goes further and further.
So what was the way to get the Lord to draw near? Just place the screw.
Just put it down in my arms. What happened to Lazarus in the end? dead.
When Lazarus died, he had no choice but to let go. I was forced to let him go.
But from that moment on, the Lord begins to work. They have now put Lazarus down.
Instead of putting it down, he threw it into the grave.
That's when the Lord came. And something amazing happened.
Lazarus, who was dead, came back to life.
Dear all!
Who and what is Lazarus whom you love and depend on?
Do I always struggle to make it an object on which I depend, my hope, my dream?
Do you know that the more I hold onto him, the more he is dying?
More importantly, as long as I hold on to it and try to save it, the Lord goes farther and farther away.
I hope you put it down. The reason we have to let it go is that when we let it go, it truly becomes ours.
Satan tempts us to never let go.
It whispers to us that if we let it go, we lose everything in that moment.
But the Lord tells us.
“Put down. Stretch out your hands, and I will fill. I will give you something better.” Jesus said we cannot serve two masters.
Not being able to serve two masters does not just mean that you cannot serve two masters.
It means that serving both is impossible.
If we want to enjoy both God and the world, we seem to be holding on to God, but in reality we are holding onto the world.
Those who want to wear both sides tend to choose the world rather than the cross at the decisive moment.
The way of letting go is the way of the cross. It is a step that you must go through during the process of Jesus dying and living in me, who died for me.
When we lay down the world, we will be called Jesus' own people.
The worldly truth tempts us to take everything if we let it go, but the heavenly truth promises to be wholly ours when we put it down.
There are things in our life that seem to be 'clearly mine', but we have to let go of everything.
You can experience true rest and true peace when you completely lay down your hard-earned honors, your tight grasp of wealth, future anxiety and threats to your life, and even your loved ones before God or bury them in a grave.
When you let go, the Lord will come to you.
That's why he creates amazing works that I can't do on my own.
It doesn't matter if you've been dead for four days. It doesn't matter if it smells rotten.
As long as the Lord comes to us, the problem will be solved. I hope that we will all be able to taste this grace.