Lazarus Come ForthSample

Coming Forth 

The word “COME” here is a word of action. Webster has many definitions around the word “Action,” but this one stood out to me - “An act of will - an emergency requiring action.”

When Jesus came to the cave where Lazarus was buried, noticed a few things he didn’t say.

He didn’t say, “I don’t know if I can do this.”

He didn’t say, “I wish I would have known sooner.”

He didn’t say, “Hey Lazarus…you in there?”

He didn’t say, “Lazarus, you wanna come on out?”

He didn’t say, “Does someone want to go in and check on Lazarus?”

He said, “Lazarus COME forth!” 

John 11:44 “The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

The “act of will” was the will of Jesus through God. When you read the full chapter, you’ll see that before Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth, He turned His focus upon the Father. He communicated with the Father about Lazarus and what was about to happen. Jesus does the same for us. He sees us in our situation and intercedes upon our behalf to the Father. 

I love the last part of that passage that says, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Oh man, what a powerful statement. Let’s make this personal. Jesus has called you back to life and has instructed you to be unbound and set free. That statement alone should allow you to shake off your past mistakes, guilt, depression, and shame. You and I have been raised to life and set free from the grip of death. 

The last part of Webster’s definition says, "an emergency requiring action.” Jesus didn’t call you and I back to life and set us free to go through life like a zombie. He called us to be shining examples of His Love and Mercy. He didn’t call Lazarus back to a life of perfection without struggles. Poor Lazarus was going to have to experience a physical death a second time. But the calling of Jesus requires action - almost like an emergency requiring action. Let’s make it personal - Insert your name in the blank.

____________ COME FORTH!

Now go be Uncommen!

Scripture:
John 11:38-44