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Four Days Dead
3/26/2015

Daily Devotions:by Christina Farris

John 11:28-46 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.

The lack of faith after a many miracles are hard to believe, when his followers often traveled with him and witness many wonders. Yet even those close to him, found the inability to believe. What is faith? Is it the ability to believe Jesus can heal without His presents, or being able to be healed only with His presents. A centurion once asked Jesus to heal his servant, and said just say the word and he be healed. Yet Mary and Martha felt the need for Jesus to be present for Lazarus to be healed. It is almost like altar call in some churches. Some people having the need to have to be at the altar or in the church to ask for healing and others seeking God right where they are. The contact point of people with the presents of Jesus or without is remarkable in scripture. Thomas had to see for himself the nailed scarred hands, like Peter needing to see the empty tomb. What is it we need to believe God is real and his love for his children is real. Jesus wept with Mary, Martha and their friends, was it because of His friends lack of faith, or sadness over what he was going to do to Lazarus? Jesus went to the tomb groaning out load as well as within his soul. No one suspected the turmoil Jesus had with the knowledge of the lack of faith in the resurrection he observed with his disciples and friends. Perhaps in his sorrow for those around him, he knew what he was fixing to do was take Lazarus out of Paradise. Yet Jesus knew He had too, in order for them to believe it was possible in the resurrection as will as in his own resurrection.

When a person been dead for a while they begin to stink. I have heard horror stories of this fact and know for myself first hand the smell of decaying animal. No one wants to be around that smell of decay. Lazarus was dead four days and his body was begin to decay inside that cave. Yet Jesus said roll the stone away. I wonder why John did not record how bad Lazarus stunk when they rolled the stone away. Yet he order the stone rolled back. The stone rolled back and Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth”. The word spoken and Lazarus arose. Imagine what it must have been like to here the Word spoke and your friend arising from the tomb and you knew he was dead more then four days. God had talked to the prophet Ezekiel in the book of Ezekiel can these bones live. The problem is not if these bones can live, but will you believe that the word raised them to life. Jesus spoke and the word happened. When God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) speaks to you will you believe it. If the Spirit speaks to your heart prophesy are you going to believe it. Jesus brought Lazarus back for two reason to strength the faith of the believer and the faith of the none believer in who He is. Jesus desires to strengthen our faith in Who He is as everlasting God, the Prince of Peace, the Word of God, the everlasting Lord. He desires to strengthen us in his word. He desires to strengthen our hearts and our minds.

Are you going to take God at His word or are you going to examine the evidence of the reality of God in order to believe? God is not a God to be mocked. He is a God that will demonstrate his power in your life, if you will take the first step of faith and say Lord help my unbelief. The power of the resurrection for Lazarus was at the decaying point. Christ decaying point was only the third day. In fact the women had planned to anoint the body of Jesus, to help with not only the process of decay but cut down the odor, when they found the tomb was empty. What more do you need to believe? God desires to build faith not to destroy it. Jesus was their to build the church of God not to destroy the people of faith. However he had to wake them up. Would the believers faith not be resurrected on the third day as Jesus made appearance to the disciples, both men and women. Where is your faith today? Are you to busy trying to disprove God only to find you can not deny Him. Ask Christ to forgive you of your sin of doubt and help your faith. Don’t utter a sound, but do it within your heart. God hears your heart cry and He will help your unbelief.

Dear Heavenly Father help our unbelief in the Word and let us see your reality of who you are. In Jesus precious name, Amen.