Friday after Jubilate Sunday
Posted on May 5, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. John 11:1-13 (NKJV)
11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love 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 may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
Devotion
A cemetery brings to mind many thoughts. Upon entering, we find it to be a place of peace and tranquility. Most are well-cared for, as the winding paths that weave through them reveal short-cut grass, shady trees, and perhaps even a statue or two. Without seeing more, they can have all the looks of a nice golf course. But then you inevitably look down and see the reason for their existence. Row after row of stones. Some large, some small, some with curved edges, others straight. Then you notice the names. Many, many names. All different, all individual, all dead. The whole place seems to shout a silent and collective cry: “They all lost the battle.”
But then Jesus steps onto the scene and speaks otherwise. “‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.” Death doesn’t seem to be a big obstacle to Jesus. To Him, it is more like a nap. For with Jesus, death has lost its sting, and the grave its victory. The cemetery then becomes a mere caretaker of remains until the Last Day, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Prayer: Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
