You Are Never AloneSample

God Is with You in Dark Valleys

Sometimes Jesus initiated a miracle through less-than-pleasant means. In John 9:1–39, we read how Jesus spat on the ground and spread mud on the eyes of a blind man, removing the darkness from both his eyes and his heart. In the same way, the story we read in John 11:1–44 tells of a miracle that Jesus performed in less-than-pleasant means. Well, at least, it was not pleasant for two of the key characters involved: the sisters Martha and Mary.

As the story opens, we learn that Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, was very sick. So, his sisters, Martha and Mary, sent a message to Jesus about “the one you love” (verse 3 NIV). They did not tell him how to respond. They simply left their concern with Jesus. Christ responded with a promise of help. Lazarus’s “sickness will not end in death” (verse 4 NIV). Such good news! 

Yet Jesus waited two days before starting the walk to Bethany. Lazarus began to fade. No Jesus. He grew sicker. Still no Jesus. Finally, Lazarus died. But sill no Jesus. When Jesus did finally arrive, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. 

Perhaps you have been in in this same dark place. You told Jesus about the sickness. You told him the one he loved was sick, sicker, dying. And then death came. What do you do at such moments? Look at how Martha reacted. She said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (verses 21–22 NIV). Martha responded with belief that Jesus could, even now, work in the situation. 

Jesus responded with a death-defying promise. “Your brother will rise again,” he said. Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus then said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (verses 23–26 NIV).

Martha replied, “Yes, Lord . . . I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (verse 27 NIV). Martha wasn’t ready to say Jesus could raise the dead, but she gave him a triple tribute by calling him “the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” She quickly fetched her sister. Mary saw Christ and wept. And Jesus, seeing her and the people weeping, was troubled and wept as well (see verse 35). 

Did Jesus weep out of sorrow? Was it the fact of the grave or its control over people that broke his heart? It must have been the latter, because a determined Jesus then took charge. He told them to roll away the stone and commanded Lazarus to come out. Lazarus did, and Jesus told them to unwrap his clothes and let him go (see verses 38–44).

The resurrection and the life had issued a command into the dark cavern of death. Lazarus’s spirit descended from heaven until he reached the tomb. He reentered and reanimated his body. He stood up and lumbered toward the mouth of the tomb. 

Don’t miss the message of this miracle. You are never alone. Jesus meets you in the dark cemeteries of life. Death is the great equalizer—both the billionaire and the peasant will die at some point. We all will. But not all will face death in the same manner. So let the story of the resurrected Lazarus remind you of this truth: Jesus’ authority extends over even the cemetery. In Christ, you can view darkness and death in a new way—as temporary. In the midst of dark times, in the presence of sickness and death, you have the light of hope and healing.

Respond

When you think of Jesus bringing light to your darkness, how does this give you hope during dark times?

What does it mean to believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? How does Jesus’ authority over death and darkness impact your view of death and your response to Jesus’ offer of eternal life?

Darkness implies the inability to see and all the difficulties that come with lack of understanding. How can Jesus’ light in your life point others to God’s gift of salvation and hope—even in the face of sickness and death?