“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany.” John 11:1 NKJV
Before leaving the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, here are two more lessons: The fourth lesson is about radical faith. When somebody is dead and buried, that’s as “final” as it gets. Period. To still believe God in the face of such a situation requires radical faith. Until this moment Martha had “if only” faith. “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (See Jn 11:21 NKJV) But then she began to realize what Jesus could do, and moved to “even now” faith. She said to Jesus, “But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (v. 22 NKJV) Radical faith says, “Lord, I believe that my future can be greater than my past, that You can turn the situation around and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, that nothing is too hard for You.” Radical faith in the face of radical circumstances brings radical results.
The fifth lesson is about restoration. “Therefore the sisters sent to [Jesus], saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick’…Then…He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea.’” (vv. 3 & 7 NKJV) You’ll never know what the Lord can do until you invite Him into your situation. He can give you back what you have loved and lost. He can restore what life has taken from you—and then some! It’s not too late. Send for Jesus. No matter how bad your situation may be, pray, “Lord, even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”