"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22
"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22

APRIL 22nd
LIFE OR DEATH
CONDITIONS FOR A DEATH-DENYING MIRACLE (Continued)

 

Reading:  John 11:35-45
11:35 Jesus wept.
11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
11:37 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?
11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
11:39 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.
11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
11:41 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.
11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they April believe that thou hast sent me.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
11:44 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.
11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.


      Did you notice that Jesus wept also?  In the other miracles above He did not weep.  Yet here He is found completely identifying with the state of man.  Again, we find the incomprehensible compassion that only a loving Creator can express.  God’s Love was being manifested in their midst.  His Love is evident in His presence.  Notice how much of the weight of the condition for the miracle is now upon ministry or God’s people.  It is a light weight of faith versus the burden of guilt, doubt and unbelief.


      As a result of a ministry that took the people to Jesus and brought Jesus into the situation as exemplified in Mary’s actions, the faith of the people increased.  They began to rehearse other miraculous works such as the opening of blind eyes.  Their faith reached a level that made them ask whether Jesus could in fact have kept Lazarus from dying.  Great faith!  Once our spiritual sight is open, faith is increased and it becomes much easier to expect no less than His Resurrection Power.  This worship-filled atmosphere with fully submitted and expectant believers caused a condition where faith was ready to shake hands in reverent unity with God’s Power.  Immortality is ready to swallow up mortality.  Corruption heaves helplessly as it is forced to fully yield to Incorruption.   All the Master has to do in this condition is simply say, “Lazarus, Come forth!”
 

 

 

 

 

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