Believe And You Will See The Glory Of God

Lazarus was sick. It was serious enough for his sisters to send for Yeshua. But Yeshua doesn’t go to them right away. He goes days after Lazarus had succumbed to the illness and is buried.

Doesn’t it surprise you that Yeshua decides to wait? Why do you think He doesn’t go to Bethany after hearing about Lazarus’s sickness? And what do you think Yeshua meant by His mysterious remarks about the sickness not ending in death and God’s Glory? And how could Yeshua’s disciples, who’ve been with Him since He started His ministry and who had seen all the miracles He’d done, still not believe in Him? Yeshua explains why He delayed His travel to Bethany – He wanted all those still alive to witness and see with their own eyes the Glory of God. He showed them God’s Glory by raising a dead man, Lazarus. And we see that even Yeshua’s disciples had to see the dead rise before they could believe. From verses 7 to 16, we read their conversation, and in verse 15, Yeshua plainly says, “..and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

The Resurrection and the Life

Raising someone from the dead has got to be one of those top miracles, where you’d no longer doubt the miracle worker’s power and authority. For isn’t death the end? The last one who performed such a miracle was Elijah the prophet (1 Kings 17:17-23); however, it was not on someone who had been buried. Not on someone whose body has begun to putrefy, a natural process after death. And not by simply calling the dead person’s name.

Yeshua declares Himself the resurrection and the life. Lazarus’s is one of the resurrections that occur during Yeshua’s time on earth. It also isn’t the only time Yeshua restores someone to life. Yeshua’s is a revival ministry. His response to the needs of the people, to our needs, is regeneration and renewal. He resurrects all that should be alive and regenerates whatever needs healing. Hasn’t He done the same for you in your life?

Isn’t the history of Yeshua raising Lazarus from the dead our testimony? Weren’t we afflicted with the burden and consequences of our sins, wrong choices, distorted vision and bent longings? Didn’t we send for help, reach for anyone who’d listen? Didn’t we wait in despair after we’d prayed the most eloquent, desperate prayers we’ve ever prayed?

Like He did with Lazarus, Yeshua lets us get to the point where all the bad parts of us die because it lets Him rebirth us into the new man, the new woman who lives with His purpose and worships God in spirit and truth. The death of all that’s inferior, harmful, unhealthy, disobedient, unruly, spoiled, grim, and troubled in us should and must be part of our daily prayer, our daily confession. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, then we see God working His Glory in and through us, in the small, modest parts of our lives.

Live and Never Die

Yeshua’s promises are true for all eternity. He’s promised us eternal life – whoever lives by believing in Him will never die (v26). He is asking us today, right now, the same question He asked Martha that day: Do you believe this?

Yeshua answers your wondering heart with another question and a promise: Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?

Yes, and amen.

Pray with me

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your Son, Yeshua Hamashiach, to bring Your Kingdom closer, showing Your love for us. Thank You for renewing us and restoring us to the right relationship with You. Revive and fulfill our longings for deeper intimacy with You, O Lord God Almighty! In Yeshua, we pray. Amen.