“Mommy, I’m dead,” said my three-year-old as he laid on the floor unable to do what I asked.

“Ok, well, when Jesus brings you back from the dead, please put your milk away,” I responded.

If you have been around the church for any length of time, you have heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It’s a classic! Allow me to refresh your memory, just in case it’s rusty. Lazarus was ill, like a bad case of covid ill! His sisters, Mary and Martha—who sell gorgeous home décor with Bible verses—just kidding, sent a message to Jesus about it. OK, Lazarus actually has sisters named Mary and Martha and their actually is a business named after them, but it has little to do with where we’re going right now. Anyway, Jesus stayed where He was another three days, and Lazarus…died! It looked like Jesus didn’t care. It looked like Jesus let him die. Martha even said to Jesus when He showed up, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Mary said the same thing when she saw Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32).

“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days” (John 11:17). Do you think Mary and Martha had been saying that to each other for four whole days! If only Jesus had come! If only Jesus could have saved Him. If only Jesus showed up! If only, if only… Then Jesus did show up, but it He was four days late and four dollars short…or so it felt.

Do you ever feel like that? Like Jesus let something or someone die that you were praying He would save? A marriage? A child? A job? A dream? It seems harsh. It seems as if He’s not sovereign. I mean, Mary and Martha did the right thing. They went to Jesus with their troubles. They went to the right place for healing! They went to Jesus when their brother was ill. They did everything right! So why did Jesus allow Lazarus to die? Why didn’t things work out well for them when they did all the right things? I thought God was just. He is, when we do not see it.

The disciples did not even understand Jesus’ plan. Everyone was in the dark until the end. Jesus was sad to see everyone so sad (John 11:35). So He went right to work. He asked where they laid Lazarus. He had them take Him to the tomb of Lazarus. He asked them to roll away the stone. They could have refused, but they did as Jesus said. He had and still has such authority. Then Jesus said “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43).

Lazarus had been dead for four days. He smelled. He had not showered. It was likely hot. He was wrapped in grave clothes, like, even his face. He looked like a walking mummy! Next Halloween, dress up like Lazarus raised from the dead! Jesus did not stop there. He then told the people to take the grave clothes off. I hope he died wearing underwear under those grave clothes!

“So what? That was a LONG time ago” you say. But He is the same Jesus. He has the same resurrecting power today. According to Mary and Martha, Jesus was late. But according to the will of God, He was right on time. Jesus let someone die, so that He could resurrect them by His power. Do you have a dream that has died and could use some resurrecting power of Christ? Do you have a person in your life that has died? I am not saying Jesus will resurrect them physically. This was a once in an ever experience. He only resurrected three people while He was on earth. But I believe God can resurrect things in our lives through even death and great loss.

Don’t fear if all looks lost. Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18-20). He can bring life where there has been death. I pray you trust God today with His resurrecting power to bring life to you.