John 11:28-57 KJV
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

The miracle of the resurrection. There is story told of many years gone by of someone who was clinically dead, but was frozen that science brought back to life and it was over 24 hours time frame. However these type of stories fiction or truth, is scientifically done, but he miracle of our days dead is something one believes by faith. We got to think about Lazarus body, the fact it would of begun to decay and would of stunk after four days. Now we know caves have a certain temptature about refrigator chill, that they tend to maintain, so the season must of been spring or warmer, for the body to begin to smell even after four days, but human decay process had begun either way, and how long had the body been buried in that four day time frame is unclear. If the body was taken immediately to the grave or a day or two after for the funeral. Culture being important here as well as family and friends that would of come to view not only the body but been their in burial procession to the grave. We get a glimpse in scripture of the a man being carried on stretch that Jesus raised up, because the mourner were carrying the body to be buried. Yet not much is known about Lazarus burial beyond he was placed in a tomb and stone rolled over the doorway to kept the smell in and predators out. That Lazarus had been wrapped in burial garment. The distance from where Jesus was when Lazarus died was not to far to travel. Why he was not there sooner, perhaps they did not know where Jesus was to fetch him.

Jesus is now there and he talked to Martha one sister, and he sees Mary who Martha fetches to bring to Jesus. And as Jesus is walking toward the tomb he begins to weep and the crowd begins to mock and question why he was not there sooner to heal Lazarus. Jesus in his sorrow, does what no one expects, but he ask the stone of the tomb to be removed. And Mary says but Lord he stinks. Jesus said remove the stone and they removed the stone. Jesus thanks his Father in heaven, and calls out in a loud voice Lazarus come forth. Lazarus arose and came forth from the grave.

How many have testimony to share. we all have come forth from the dead in faith to rise into the abundance of new life when we receive Christ as Savior and Lord. This is spiritual death and baptism into new life through the resurrection. Seen physically in the resurrection of Mary and Martha brother Lazarus. Often what will occur can be understood spiritually. We being like Lazarus dead in the grave, with our first sin, with faith we raised up to have the hope of eternity in our hearts. We like Lazarus though be dead he comes forth from the grave because of faith, no because of the love of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Up from the grave Lazarus came forth wearing his burial clothing and staring at the crowd.

Now If I been dead and now alive coming forth from the grave as Lazarus, I would not be silent anymore, however I since a reserve of the situation as well. Maybe a since of bewilderment of what am I doing alive. You just woke me from a beautiful dream in paradise. How dare you. I seen all my family in Abraham bossom that I have not seen in years and then some. I stood before the throne of God in a line longer then you ever believe. And you woke me up to return me to this old earth. Jesus saying I missed you.

There is something we have to ask, we do not know how reserved this moment in Lazarus or his sister's life was, but we know the Jews ran to the Priesthood in Jerusalem and began to testify of the event of the resurrection after four whole days. The event ever so miraclous, that the priesthood began to plot even harder how they might kill Jesus. How they might stop this man that was taking the crowd with jubilation and confusion of what was occuring.

Most of us probably even with being with Jesus a time, would be awe struck at the event that occurred. I might say I survived a train wreck but Lazarus was bragging he came forth from the grave. Often we want those super testimonies but what did we have to endure to have a testimony that was beyond others we knew. We all have testimony and even if you experience little, you may know alot more about faith and steadiness of faith in Jesus then another. Can you share your testimony of being redeemed by Jesus when you got saved. Our testimony of the believer begins with salvation. maybe you did not do drugs, alcohol, been wreck, or life changing event to become saved, but your life was alter by Jesus by giving you redeeming grace through repentance of sin and belief in him. Your guilt and shame being removed upon faith in Chirst Jesus. Yet it is that testimony of salvation that needs to be heard more then the survival of things. Lazarus was already a man of faith in Jesus, but the coming forth had to do more to him then rattle those bones up and out of the grave, but moved in his heart the power of God and the love of Jesus with his calling. Knowing perhaps his sisters even still needed him, though they probably would have learn to survive without him. These super events in our life is just that super events that should spur us on in faith, but often it does not. It is the encounter with Jesus that is more important then any other testimony. When did we meet Jesus. When did we receive him in our hearts. When did Jesus become our all and how did we arrive at the point we knew we could not live without Jesus in our life. Our experience should help our faith grow deeper, but if it does not maybe one still a little bewildered at the evidence of answer prayer. God does the unexpected in a believers life that is a faith builder. I was saved at a little girl. I always say i was six but it was summer of my salvation and probably had a birthday so I was probably 7 actually, but I always say 6. It important to know when you got saved.

I might of been able to say I survived a wreck, but could I tell you my prayer in the car was answer as I lived to see another day. Shock plays a big role in how we tell our story and when the shock is gone, the miracle is relived in our hearts. The shock of all I have survived in over 50 years of human life, is the miracle of a walk with Jesus. Many without God that walked a clean life and die at ripe old age, fail to understand the joy of the over 50 year old that love Jesus, because of the miracles in my life, no I loved Jesus long before the miracles in my life. The miracles were just a plus in the walk of faith.

No doubt Lazarus would tell his story long after the resurrection of Jesus, and long unto his death. Yet he knew that day that Jesus called him forth, he was loved. That crowd so great around him spreading his story and it would of echo across the hills of Israel and still echoed forth today about a man that raised to life after four days of being dead.

Where is your faith? Is your faith ready to go forward with Christ knowing the testimony is in the daily walk, not always the big events like Lazarus, but in the testimony of salvation. The testimony of when you gave your heart to Christ and how he shaped your life, with each answer prayer and each door open. That what faith is about that walk, the big events are for faith strengthening before the people's eyes. Don't be afraid to shout how God has been with you all the day of your life after you receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

Dear Heavenly Father, we want to shout over the big events but the event of salvation alone is worth shouting about. Its the conversion from death to life, the hope of eternity seen through the resurrection of Jesus and the power demonstrated by Jesus through the resurrection of Lazarus that brings forth our Savior will and does live, In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 KJV
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.