16
March 2016 Anno Domini
1 Now a certain man was sick,
named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2
(It was that
Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair,
whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto
him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of
God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (John 11:1-4)
Not only did our Lord Jesus Christ teach us by His Word, but also by His life -
for both His Words and His Life are the Word of God. We were too blind to view
the grandeur of Heaven with our feeble understanding, so the Lord taught us in
Parables of Life so that we could have a beginning light of understanding. But
He also taught us by the Way He traveled and by the miracles He performed. When
we consider the events of Easter and the Resurrection, our minds picture a
Borrowed and Opened Tomb in a peaceful Garden nearby Golgotha; but how often do
we envision our own opened and borrowed tomb?
Just days before His crucifixion, our Lord raised Lazarus, a particular and
familiar member of a dear family at Bethany, from the bonds of physical death.
He called the name of Lazarus, and Lazarus came forth grave clothes and all.
Lazarus, we are told, was a 'certain' man who was sick; and he was the brother
of two special ladies of Bethany named Martha and Mary. These sisters had
prayed for Lazarus while he was deathly sick, and sent to Jesus to have Him
come and heal their beloved brother. But Lazarus died, and Jesus lingered for
four days before coming. This delay was for the purpose of increasing the
compelling and profound faith which His planned miracle would evoke in the
hearts of those who believed; and to provoke the confusion and livid hatred of
those who opposed Him. In response to the queries of His disciples, Jesus said:
Lazarus is
dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
(John 11:14-15) Anyone who had a very deep understanding of Jesus and His
nature as both God and Man would know that death was not a terror to those whom
He loved - and Jesus loved Lazarus. I might add that all born of woman have
this sickness of Lazarus. We all die as a result of Adam's sin, but in Christ,
we have hope of awakening.
So Jesus travels to Bethany knowing full well what He would do outside a stone
burial tomb at Bethany. All who die in Christ simply fall asleep for there is
no real death to those who believe. Jesus Himself had pronounced this mystery
to His disciples earlier. Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (John
11:11)
Can you grasp the Easter significance of these events. Christ is about to be
crucified, and He will demonstrate, first, His power to restore life to the
dead body of Lazarus. But this is in contemplation of His rebuilding the Temple
of His own Body in three days after crucifixion. Christ rose, body, soul, and
spirit from the Borrowed Tomb early on the first day of the week while it was
yet dark. (not at the popular sunrise) It was an example of what He would do
for us. In raising Lazarus, we have an example of His power over physical
death; but in His Resurrection, we have the resplendent truth of His power to
raise us, body and soul, to that same eternal life to which He rose - but not
before He has purchased our redemption at Calvary. He first demonstrates His
power over physical death at Bethany, and the latter at the Garden Tomb.
There is a Garden Tomb (borrowed for a time) for every elect of God. And we,
too, shall have an Easter Morning when the clear and distinct Voice of our Lord
shall call us forth - not only to physical life, but an eternal spiritual life
as well. So in your coming night of sleep, listen for His Voice!
Happy Easter to all of our friends and family scattered
throughout the world.
Jerry L. Ogles
Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox
Communion Worldwide
