As we go through life, I don’t think there is any greater need than to be loved and cared for. Maybe you feel that you are loved or maybe you think no one cares. Whatever situation you are in, one thing I know for sure is Jesus loves you more than you can dream or imagine. No matter what you have done, Jesus has always been there. That does not mean He approves of everything we did, but it does mean that He loves us in spite of our short comings and failures.
In our story, Lazarus had died and now his loving Savior Jesus arrives at the tomb. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” [1] John 11:39-44.
Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is a foreshadowing of our future resurrection. Lazarus at some time would die again, but his life would continue in heaven with Jesus.
Jesus loves us so much that he died for all of our sins upon the cross. Jesus us tells that in John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.[2]
The greatest love story ever told is the one of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. He has made a way for us to enter the throne room and live forever with Him in heaven.
Jesus came to show us that He desires a relationship with us. He longs for us to receive His unconditional love. He took our guilt and shame on the cross and daily provides us grace, and mercy, and a chance to start over. Jesus came to serve us and be sacrificed for our foolishness. He wants us to feel and experience this kind of love.
How is knowing you are loved unconditionally by Jesus life changing? Take time today and soak in the love of your Savior knowing someday He will resurrect you.
Listen here to hear the whole story of Lazarus: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-the-divine-intruder/the-divine-intruder-and-lazarus
[1, 2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 11:39–44, Jo 3:16). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.