Whether some believe it or not it is a fact that a man had died, been buried, raised from the dead after 4 days, and not long after that others were plotting to put him back to death. The account of this real event in history is about a man named Lazarus who had two very loving sisters who cared for him. He had been sick for a while, but they had seen Jesus heal many other people and knew that if He made it to their home on time Lazarus would also be healed from the sickness that he had.
Jesus had heard that Lazarus was sick but stayed in a different place for a couple of days knowing that he had already died. He waited to make sure he would already be buried, wrapped in his grave clothes. Once Jesus and the disciples made it back into the town where Lazarus and his sisters lived at different times each sister came to Jesus in love, but confused about how had He came before he died they believed Lazarus would have lived. They did not understand what Christ was going to do.
In the Gospel of John chapter 11 one can read the account of Jesus being taken to the tomb where Lazarus lay dead. Jesus cried out his name in a loud voice telling him to “Come forth!” The Scriptures explain that he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth so Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Because of this testimony of being brought from death to life many people believed in Jesus. This caused joy and increased faith for most, but some it only caused anger and hatred. Those are the ones who plotted to kill Jesus, but not only did they want Christ dead, but Lazarus too. John 12:10-11 reads, “The chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on the account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”
Once a person believes in Christ it is told that the “old life passes away and is raised to new life” evidenced by a transformation in the attitudes and character of a person. This new changed life becomes a testimony and there are some who would like nothing more than to see us put our “grave clothes back on.” Those in darkness want nothing more than to try and “snuff out” the light within us.
Jason David who is an award winning storyteller, minister, and singer, and cancer survivor is one who has an awesome testimony one can listen to on YouTube. He will also be at Steubenville Baptist Church July 17th at 6:00 pm. All are invited to attend to be blessed and encouraged.
~TRS originally written 7/9/22
Rays of Hope 