12/20/2014

The Gift of Resurrection


 John 11:40-44 “40Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

This was the final miracle recorded in John before the start of “Passion Week”. Soon, Jesus would be entering Jerusalem in The Triumphal Entry which we celebrate as Palm Sunday.

All of the pieces were now in place, and as he stood on the precipice of his crucifixion, Jesus astounds his followers with a preview of what he was sent to do. By waiting until Lazarus was dead three days, Jesus both proved that he had power of death and gave the disciples a visual aide of what was going to happen to him.

Many like to dismiss Jesus as a good teacher, or a great prophet, or a philosopher, or merely a historical figure. Yet in this moment, he proves he is far more than any of those things.

The Light of Advent was the Light of the World. God incarnate, present at the dawn of time, sent as a ransom to redeem your soul. He was the greatest gift ever offered to mankind, freely given in a love that is beyond all measure.