Lazarus Raised: A
Picture Of God's Saving Grace
John 11:43-44
There are many pictures
of grace in the Bible, by which God illustrates the gospel message of salvation
by grace alone. One of the most instructive of these pictures is the
resurrection of Lazarus. Read John 11 and 12, and note these five things about
Lazarus:
HIS CONDITION (11:4) -
Lazarus was dead. That is the state of all human beings by nature, spiritually
dead, dead in trespasses and sins, incapable of either knowing or changing
their condition (Rom. 5:12).
HIS CALLING (
HIS CONVERSION (
HIS COMMUNION (12:1-2)
- Soon after his resurrection Lazarus is found sitting at the table with his
Savior. You will notice that the house and the table belonged to Lazarus, but
the Master of the house was Christ. Lazarus surrendered all to his Lord! (Read
Lk. 14:25-33). The believing, surrendered heart is the heart with which Christ
holds sweet communion.
HIS CONFLICT (12:9-11)
- Because of Lazarus many others believed. But the Jews sought to kill him.
Why? Because he had been raised from the dead! This is the last we hear of
Lazarus. His life with Christ was a life of unceasing conflict in this world.
And all who believe will find it so with them (John
Don Fortner