Testimony in Trials

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, the people started to follow him, as many wanted to see the man who Jesus raised from the dead. Because of Lazarus' living testimony, many of the followers became believers of Christ. In John 12:10-11, the apostle recalls that "the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus." Lazarus was aware that others were plotting to kill him, and was not afraid because he had already overcome it, and lived his testimony so that others followed Christ; he was able to evangelize to others without saying a word, just by living his life.

Nothing to Lose

In John 12:10, the apostle recalls that "the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also," when they saw that the crowd came to see Jesus and Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead. Lazarus had nothing to lose; he was not afraid of the chief priests' plan to kill him because he had already seen death. When the enemy threatens us with all of the frightening things that he could do to us, and life threatens to take us to our lowest point, we must remember the great and might works that God has already done for us, and refer back to the unchanging faithfulness of God.

A Living Testimony

In John 12:9, the apostle recalls that "the large crowd of the Jews then learned that Lazarus was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead." Throughout the New Testament, the apostles recall the crowds who followed Jesus; some were seeking miracles and some were just curious, but they followed Jesus nearly every where He went. In John 12, however, the crowds were there to see Lazarus as well. Lazarus, though he said nothing at the table, was a living testimony of the miracles that Jesus was able to perform. When we live and tell our testimony of the great things that God has done for us, we become a living testimony of God' great love, mercy, and unending power.

Seated at the Master's Table

In John 12:1, the apostle recalls Jesus at Mary and Martha's home in Bethany. He writes "they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him." In Chapter 11, he recalls that Lazarus was sick, but Jesus declared that his sickness was "not unto death." Even though he died, Jesus raised him from the dead; now he is reclining at his table with Jesus. Regardless of what we go through, nothing, not even death, is able to remove us from our destiny, our seat at the Master's table, even if we have to go through a few detours, we will arrive at our promised destination.

A Miracle on the Way to the Sacrifice

In John 12:1, the apostle recalls that "Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead." In John 11:55, John recalls that many of the Jews went up to Jerusalem, out of the country, to purify themselves before the Passover; Jesus was also on his way to Jerusalem, but not just to celebrate the Passover, but to sacrifice himself as the ultimate Passover lamb, sacrificed for the sins of the world.

Worth More than the Birds

While the Spring rains are falling and pools of rain are gathering in so many places, every creature has plenty of water to drink. In Matthew 6:26-27, Jesus encouraged the disciples "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"Worrying never adds anything to our lives; if anything, it will detract time and peace from our lives. The birds and animals around us never worry; neither should we!

Don't Worry; God has you Covered

In each of our lives, we will have times that our faith is challenged. In Matthew 6: 25, Jesus encouraged the disciples not to worry. He said“do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" The current economy tells us that we should be concerned about our financial security; as believers, we should not worry about our provision.