Read:John 11:1-44

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

One day while Jesus was working, he heard about his friend Lazarus who was sick and dying. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, knew that if the Lord Jesus came quickly, he would be able to heal Lazarus before he died. So, they begged him to come quickly to heal their brother.

When Jesus heard about Lazarus from Mary and Martha, he did something that seems very strange to us. Instead of rushing off to heal Lazarus, as we would expect, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. We would think that if he loved them (as the Bible says he did) he would have gone quickly to heal Lazarus.

But Jesus waited for two more days before he went to them because he wanted to show them something important about himself. Jesus wanted Lazarus to die so that he could show his power and glory. Listen to how the Lord did this.

Jesus went to the grave of the dead man and called, “Lazarus, come out!” Immediately Lazarus came out of the grave. Jesus had raised him from the dead. Jesus had made the dead man alive again. Can you imagine that?

Jesus did this miracle because he wanted to show the people that he has great power over death. Just like Jesus could make someone who is dead alive again, so he can make us who are dead in our sins alive again. This means that from ourselves we would hate God and not obey him at all. Without Jesus, we would be an enemy of God. But Jesus has made us love God, and he has made us his children.

Jesus showed his power to do this by raising a dead man. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me…he shall live.”

Reflection with your child:

Do you believe in Jesus? How do show in your life that you love God?

Source: Sermon by Rev. H. Alkema