Title: Rise up, Lazarus / Ezekiel 37:7-10
Content * Text: Ezekiel 37:7-10, John 11:38-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
◎ Jesus wept.
A great misfortune came to the families of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, whom Jesus especially loved. Martha and Mary told Jesus that their brother Lazarus, the pillar of this family, was seriously ill and died, and they begged for help in Bali.
However, Jesus was not able to come quickly because of the rush and hectic work and was late for 48 hours, and Lazarus had already died. Martha did not even come to meet her, and in a tone of resentment against the Lord, she said that if the Lord had come a little sooner and had been here, her brother would not have died.
However, Jesus taught Martha and Mary the lesson of waiting, and ultimately revealed the glory of God through the miracle of raising Lazarus back to life.
Seeing his beloved disciples and people in his town who mourned and mourned the death of a human being, Jesus was unable to contain his heartbreak and wept tears (verse 35). Why didn't the Jews, who saw this scene, run quickly to keep him from dying, saying that they knew how much Jesus loved Lazarus? I was saddened. When Jesus saw the misfortunes of the death of humans made in the image of God, he was grieved and wept.
1. Jesus Christ as the resurrection life
When Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise again, he said, 'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live again, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.' And he said, 'Do you believe this?' (John 11:25-26) . Martha confessed, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is to come into the world” (verse 21).
When Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life,” he was not saying that he would give people’s resurrection and life, but that he was making a great declaration that “Jesus Himself is the resurrection and the life.” These words proclaim that Jesus Himself is life itself, the essence, and the power and source of life.
Such a Jesus can give and sustain life to all who believe in him, and make that life more abundant. He also has the power to resurrect life according to His will.
2. Jesus Christ Raising Lazarus from the Dead
Four days after Jesus died and was buried, he visited the tomb of Lazarus, which smelled of odor. When Jesus gave the order to open the locked stone door, Martha complained that it was already too late and did not want to open the tomb, but Jesus rebuked Martha for her unbelief and allowed the stone door to be opened, and she prayed earnestly to God. And after that, he called out to him, saying, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, got up and got up with his hands and feet tied with sackcloth. Jesus commanded them to be released and let them walk, and it was done.
He gave great glory to God by showing everyone that Jesus is the resurrection and the life as proclaimed.
3. The resurrected body of Lazarus (holistic resurrection)
① The resurrection of Lazarus is the resurrection of his body. This means physical recovery and spiritual transformation. In the vision of the resurrection of dry bones in the valley of Ezekiel, the resurrected body means that life has been given to the body (Ezekiel 37:10). The body becomes healthy.
② The resurrection of Lazarus means that his perception and intellect have been restored. When the body stops breathing, the heart stops, and the brain stops working, all perceptual activities stop.
As the vitality enters the body, the activity of perception becomes smooth, and correct discernment arises through normal conscious activity. When the breath of God enters man, his thoughts become sound and he develops correct discernment. The intellect is renewed.
③ The life force that Christ gives not only refreshes the mind, but also strengthens emotional activity and transforms emotions. Your heart will be warmed by faith, your emotions will pursue more beautiful things, and you will enjoy peace and joy. Sensitivity is renewed.
④ The will is renewed and the morality to pursue righteousness and goodness is strengthened. As you discern God's will, you will work harder to accomplish it, and you will actually live an ethical life that increases your moral ability. Virtue is renewed.
⑤ The spiritual power of union with the Lord of the Resurrection is renewed, the spirituality is strengthened, and the transcendental and mystical realm is expanded.
conclusion. Christians who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit recover their vitality as a whole through the breath of God, and their ability to accomplish God's will is strengthened. The resurrection of the saints is the resurrection of the whole person, and it is perfection.