Messengers of the GospelSýnishorn

From Death to Life

"Other people don't experience anxiety on a daily basis?" I asked my therapist as an innocent 14-year-old. "No, not like you do. They are able to move on from it,” my therapist replied. I was shocked.

For the past seven years, I lived with intense anxiety from what I later learned was the root of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. Anxiety was all I knew. Also, I began battling depression for the first time, including not wanting to eat, a lack of interest in participating in regular activities, and not focusing in school.

I felt dead inside.

Today, we will revisit the story of Lazarus to explore another facet. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus was very fond of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. When the sisters sent word to Jesus about Lazarus, the message was simple, "Lord, the one you love is sick." (John 11:3 NIV) Note that Jesus did not ask who they were referring to. He knew this meant Lazarus.

You probably have different kinds of friends. Some friends are casual friends that you have interacted with only on a surface level, while others are much deeper. The author of Proverbs summed up this deeper type of friendship by saying, "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24 NIV) Do you have a friend like that? Jesus and Lazarus shared that kind of friendship, and the sisters knew that Jesus would want to be there for His friend.

When Lazarus became ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus right away. Their response later in the story makes it clear that they fully expected that Jesus would rush in and save the day. They knew that Jesus could heal a sick person, as they had likely personally witnessed it. They knew that Jesus loved them and loved his close friend Lazarus. They knew Jesus could do it, but they had to wait to see if He would do it.

But Jesus did not do what they expected. He stayed where He was for two more days. His plans were different than their plans. They were stuck waiting.

Sometimes we face trials that last a long time. You may have been facing a trial for weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes we feel trapped and helpless in the situation. Our trials are known only to us and to God. Mary and Martha had to wait for Jesus while watching their brother suffer from a life-threatening illness. Waiting on the Lord can be so hard.

When I was young, I used to pray to God repeatedly for deliverance from the anxiety I was experiencing. Yet, it took nearly seven years for a diagnosis and life-altering help.

Seven years.

In the story of Lazarus, Jesus did show up, although not in the timing or way that the sisters had expected. They had been hoping for a quick and easy healing, but Jesus had in mind something much bigger. They were looking for a “microwave” miracle, but God had something brewing in the “crock pot.” Although Jesus’ answer to their request took longer, it gave them the chance to witness an even greater miracle. They could testify to a real-life resurrection for the rest of their lives.

Word spread quickly of the resurrection of Lazarus. Messengers shared this story of Jesus' power with others. John’s Gospel makes it clear that the crowds at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem were there because they had heard about the resurrection of Lazarus!

“Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.” (John 12:17-18 NIV)

Jesus doesn't always answer our prayers in the timing or in the way we want Him to, but He does always answer. While we wait, He is with us in the waiting.

In my own story, it took six months of prayer, God's healing, medication, and therapy to bring freedom from the noise in my head and the heaviness in my spirit. By His grace, I was able to function the best I had since childhood.

Always remember— Jesus can bring dead things back to life.

Activity:

Lazarus could do nothing to save himself. He needed Jesus. The Bridge illustration is a classic tool for explaining the good news that only Jesus saves. Practice drawing the bridge illustration to accompany the truths of the GOSPEL acronym. (Day 9)

Use the following as a guide:

Part 1: God (Draw a horizontal line on the right side with “GOD” above it)

• GOD created us to be with Him.

Part 2: Our Problem (Draw a horizontal line on the left side with “OUR PROBLEM” above it.)

• OUR sins separate us from God.
• SINS cannot be removed by good deeds.

Part 3: God’s Solution (Draw the Cross in between the two lines)

• PAYING the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. We can’t build a bridge to God, but Jesus Christ is God’s bridge to us.

Part 4: Our Response

• EVERYONE who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.
• LIFE with Jesus starts now and lasts forever!

Practice drawing and explaining the key parts of the bridge illustration until you feel comfortable explaining it.