| Lazarus |
| Martha and Mary had a brother named Lazarus. They all lived together in the same house. Jesus was good friends with them all. They lived very close to Jerusalem. It got too dangerous for Jesus to go near Jerusalem, so he stayed in a nearby province across the Jordan River. One day he got a very sad message from Martha and Mary. They said their brother was very, very sick. They asked Jesus to come heal Lazarus. Strangely, Jesus did not go to heal Lazarus. His apostles thought he did not go because he might be captured there. But that was not his real reason. Jesus waited several days, then finally said Lazarus had died. Now he was ready to go to Lazarus. Everyone thought that was very strange. It was too late to heal Lazarus. His apostles tried to talk him out of it. "It's too dangerous over there. You could be captured by soldiers and killed." Jesus sneaked over anyway. When he arrived, he sent word to Mary and Martha that he was near the cemetery and they went out to meet him. They were angry at Jesus for letting Lazarus die. They took Jesus to the cave where Lazarus had been buried. Jesus missed his old friend and cried. Jesus was not only sad, he was angry. He was angry that Satan causes death. He was more powerful than Satan and death. He decided to prove it to everyone at the cemetery. Jesus ordered the stone rolled away from the cave where Lazarus was buried. Then he stood in front of it and challenged Satan. No one could see Satan, but he knew he was there. He ordered Satan to let go of Lazarus. then he shouted, "Lazarus! come out of your grave!" So Lazarus woke up and walked out of his grave alive. At first people were frightened, but then they became very happy. Jesus told some people to take the wrapping off of Lazarus that made him look like a mummy. We all get angry at death. We do not want to say goodbye to people forever. God does not cause death; Satan does. God is stronger than Satan and death. ] Therefore, anyone who believes Jesus brought people back to life and follows him, will be brought back to life after they die too. They will leave their old bodies behind and have new bodies where they will wake up in heaven. Isn't that wonderful? |