Title Because of Lazarus/John 12:8-11
Content Because of Lazarus/John 12:8-11
The family of Jesus' friend Lazarus lived in a town called Bethany. His sisters were Martha and Mary. They were all close friends with Jesus.
Lazarus was like a friend, Martha was a person who made food to please the flesh, and Mary was a person who listened to the word to please the spirit.
But misfortune came to this family. Lazarus became ill and died. So the sisters sent people to Jesus to tell them the news.
They believed that when Jesus heard this news, he would come and heal him as soon as possible. But when Jesus heard this news, he did not express much and stayed there for a few more days.
Even though the person who delivered the news returned, Jesus did not come. Meanwhile, Lazarus died. The sorrow of the sisters is very cut.
Funeral was held. After four days, I heard that Jesus was coming to Bethany. Martha ran after her, but Mary was crying in the house.
There must have been some misunderstandings about Jesus. You may have thought that it was a lie to say that Jesus loved us. You would have thought it was savage. Somehow, Mary did not want to go out and see Jesus.
As Jesus entered the village, he felt a gloomy atmosphere. Many Jews were from Jerusalem. Martha goes out to meet the Lord and weeps and weeps.
Friend Lazarus is at the tomb, and Mary, dearly, sits at home. It's not like the old-fashioned atmosphere. Seeing how death makes life so unhappy, the Lord shed tears.
The Lord, who came to Lazarus' tomb, told him to remove the stone and called Lazarus. An exclamation arose from everyone who was holding their breath.
It was the dead Lazarus walking out wrapped in a towel. Jesus was the one who breathes out the dead. Many Jews in Jerusalem saw this scene.
When they returned to Jerusalem and told this story, many Jews came to Bethany, saw Lazarus alive and believed in Jesus.
So, in today's text, it is written that many Jews believed in Jesus because of Lazarus. Today, we will share the grace of Lazarus by thinking about how he was able to live again and how he made him believe in Jesus.
1. I had a beautiful relationship with Jesus.
Lazarus was a man who followed and obeyed Jesus enough to think of him as a friend. Martha was a man who pleased Jesus with delicious food when he came.
Mary was the one who rejoiced by listening to Jesus. They were always precious to Jesus.
There is a problem with these people, and the Lord cannot ignore them. However, the reason that he came a little late was not only to increase their joy but also to glorify God, and it was only to make many Jews believe in Jesus through Lazarus.
That's right. Jesus reveals the glory of God through the one he loves. And it is through such a person that you can believe in Jesus.
I hope you have a beautiful relationship with Jesus. You can't have an uncomfortable relationship and expect me to run to you and help you when I'm in trouble. Those who have a beautiful relationship will be able to share Jesus.
Lazarus suffered death, but it was rather a great honor for him. The glory of God became his glory. And it made it possible for Jesus to work for Himself.
When you have a beautiful relationship with Jesus, you are the one who allows Jesus to work even if you are dead. And if there is a problem, there is nothing to worry too much about. But in an uncomfortable relationship, it can be difficult to get help from Jesus.
We must have a beautiful relationship with Jesus in order to spread the name of Jesus and display the glory of God.
2. I asked Jesus for help.
They sent a man to Jesus to tell him that Lazarus was ill and was about to die.
I delivered the news. It is the prayer of the saints. We should send a message to Jesus whenever we have a problem.
The Lord never turns away from the prayers of the saints. Of course, we do not do what we ask for in prayer. He follows the will and providence of God.
But it doesn't put us at a disadvantage if we don't do what we ask for. We may think that it is disadvantageous at times, but when we see God's response later, we do not know how much it has benefited us. We just pray to God. Therefore, those who can pray are blessed. Those who cannot pray to God are truly unfortunate.
Because we were a praying family, we saw the miracles of Jesus, glorified God through it, and led many people to Jesus. What would have happened without their prayers? Lazarus' death would have been the death of an ordinary human.
We should pray at any time. We should pray even in difficult times, even when the road ahead is blocked with no way out. As we live the life of preaching the gospel, we experience many things that do not go the way we set our minds to and our abilities.
Preaching the gospel is sowing seeds, and it is sown in the field of people's hearts. It is more difficult than clearing a barren mountain. Sometimes I get rejected, sometimes I get insulted.
And there are times when we suffer persecution and lose our lives. In such a case, the only thing we can do is pray. Prayer is giving the Lord an opportunity to work.
When the Lord answered their prayers and came to Bethany, this family could be changed. The dead Lazarus came back to life. Sorrow turned into joy.
glorified God. Because of Lazarus, many people came to believe in Jesus. It is because they prayed to Jesus.
They sent people to tell Jesus their news, but now there is no need. All you have to do is call on the name of Jesus and say it. Because Jesus is in our hearts right now.
3. Because of Lazarus, many people believed in Jesus.
It was not just that he died and rose again because of Lazarus so many Jews in Jerusalem believed in Jesus. He was a friend who usually followed Jesus.
His family was happy to treat Jesus well. They had a beautiful relationship with Jesus. It was a family that prayed to Jesus when problems arose.
Lazarus died and was in the tomb, but he was used by Jesus. Being used by Jesus gave glory to God, and through that, many people had an opportunity to believe in Jesus. How are we today? Do you have a beautiful relationship with Jesus?
How are you being used by Jesus? Is God being glorified by being used as a good instrument? Or is God being dishonored by Satan as an instrument of unrighteousness?
Many people believe in Jesus because of Lazarus. Do you not want to leave a story about the revival of the Shinan Church because of who or why?
Although we too will be like the dead like Lazarus, I believe this can happen to us as well if Jesus uses us as the dead just once.
Before Jesus came, because of Lazarus' death, the whole family was grieved and all his friends were depressed. But now, on the day Jesus came and called Lazarus by name, the family and his friends changed in a wonderful way. And the history of believing and abandoning unbelief arose.
Who among us would be the hero of that history? The Philippian church could be built because of Lydia, the merchant. The Corinthian church could be established because of Priscilla and Aquila.
If so, who would you like to leave the history of the revival of the Shinan Church? Or do you want to leave the disgrace that the church has become difficult because of whom?
We must leave a beautiful history of the great revival of the church because of me. Many Jews believed in Jesus because of Lazarus!
Today, I pray in the name of the Lord that there will be an amazing history of revival of the Shinan Church because of the second Lazarus.