PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 11:11-16
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” (John 11:11)
Why does Jesus switch sleep for death, something the disciples misunderstood?
Thomas does not use gentle words, he is prepared to die (John 11:16).
I don’t think Jesus is minimizing death, but maximizing God and life.
He refuses to see death as the end, but as a temporary stage.
His hope in God is greater than his fear of death.
We do not like to think or speak about death or dying.
Dearly departed, passed on, gone home, no longer with us, negative patient outcome.
I once read about a mother explaining death to her young child with cancer.
‘It’s like when you fall asleep playing with your toys in the playroom.
The next morning you wake up in your bed… how did you get there?
While you slept, your father got you and brought you to your bed’.
The nice thing about ‘falling asleep’ is that we anticipate waking up again.
I wonder if we used ‘falling asleep’ like Jesus that it would help us face it.
It is inevitable, but it is not permanent; we will wake up!
PRAYER
Lord, one day I will fall asleep. And one day I will wake up. You will have carried me to where I need to be, with God.
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Lord do I reluctantly follow? Am I the one making sarcastic quips in the back of the group – dedicated but begrudging? Thank you for your patience in my lack of faith or lack of conviction – thank you for gently reminding me to follow when my response to your call is “fine, I’ll come along but I’m pretty sure its not going to end well”.
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
Is that what death will be like: One moment I’m asleep and the next the Lord Jesus is there waking me up. It’s a beautiful picture and I believe speaks to the transition that I believe in. Jesus told his disciples that he is going ahead of them to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. Jesus is preparing a place for me – so that on my final sleep -he will wake me up to be where He is! Lord help me to live what I believe and help me to be use to encourage others to examine your claim – your promises – to find you!
Lazarus means God is my Help.
God raised him up as He has promised to all who believe. That He promised and that we recite in our creed. I am alive now and forevermore for He has given us His Spirit by which I am alive forevermore. In Him I am happy and in Him I will live today and forevermore.
My Jesus is alive
Alive forevermore
Alive alive alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive forevermore
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive