Read John 11:1-45 for some lessons that can change your life. There you will find the story of a man named Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha, and a miracle that taught them about the power of faith in Jesus Christ as the Bringer of faith and Raiser of the dead. He’s the One who weeps over us when we are lost in sin, and waits for us to come to Him so He can free us from the chains that bind us and keep us enslaved to the world, the flesh and the devil.

Among the many lessons that can be learned from the story of Lazarus, there are three that stood out to me as I studied this passage. The first is the fact that we must believe before we can see.

In verse 24 we see that Martha understood and believed in “the resurrection at the last day,” and by verse 27 we know that she understood exactly who Jesus was and why he came, as she declared without hesitation, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Martha was clearly a believer, but I doubt she realized at that moment that she was about to “see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). This was clear back in John 11:21 when she said to Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” But very soon she would understand.

Lazarus had to die before Jesus could raise him up. In the same way, we must die before we can be raised.

Let there be no mistake, Jesus knew in John 11:4 what the outcome of Lazarus’ story would be when he said, “this sickness is not unto death”. Yet, He waited, rather than going immediately to his friend. In fact, Jesus “abode two days still in the same place where he was” (verse 6). He waited until verse 11, where it is likely the reader will understand what He meant when he said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Jesus apparently had to speak more plainly to His disciples, “Lazarus is dead” ( verse 14).

In the same way that Jesus waited for Lazarus to die, He waits for you and me. He patiently waits for the lost soul to die to himself and his fruitless pursuits so that He can raise the sinner up, clothe him in true righteousness and seat him in heavenly places. Likewise, Jesus waits for the wayward Christian who is not living a victorious life to get ahold of whatever truth is missing from his desire to know God and serve Him. Christian, know this: We serve a longsuffering God. Whatever is keeping you from serving Him with your whole heart, He is waiting for you to get it right.

John 11:35 says, “Jesus Wept”. He “groaned in the spirit” (verse 33), “groaning in himself” (verse 38). While Jesus waits, He weeps. Whether you’re a lost soul or wayward Christian, he weeps over you, while He’s waiting for you to come to Him in repentance.

For 31 years, while I was lost and didn’t know it, Jesus wept over me. I prayed a prayer on my knees, knowing I wanted a better life, but not truly understanding the meaning of surrender, repentance and becoming crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), and Jesus wept. After that, some things changed through my efforts, because I believed that I had to work hard to be what a Christian is supposed to be, and Jesus wept.

Many things did not change, though. I still had an anger problem. I still had an appetite for dark things. I still had selfish motives for everything I did, and Jesus wept. I poured myself into ministry: I was a Sunday School teacher, bus worker, youth leader and preacher. I led others in prayers, went to Bible College, tried to start a church. And Jesus wept. But He waited, all this time. In His mercy and longsuffering, He waited. In His compassion and love, He never gave up on me; He waited.

Then one day, I died. I truly came to the end of myself. I surrendered all of my bitterness, and all of my regrets, and all of my efforts to make it better. I became truly crucified with Christ. Jesus came to my grave, and rolled away the stone and said, “Lawton, come forth!”

Then something else happened: My bonds were loosed!

Jesus “cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth’. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (John 11:43-44). We must be unbound before we can go.

I was in bondage to bitterness, and regret, and darkness and pain, then Jesus called me forth and set me free of those things. Now I’m free to serve Him with my whole heart. I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit within me, and to opportunities to let Him shine through my words and deeds.

What are you in bondage to? What dog are you feeding, Christian? Is it the one that feeds on godly, holy and spiritual things, or the one that eats you up through vices of the world, the flesh and the devil? Maybe you’re not a Christian at all. Maybe you’re just playing church. Maybe you prayed a prayer once, but little or nothing changed. Don’t try to change it yourself. It doesn’t work that way.

Maybe you know your spirit is dead in trespasses and sins, and that’s ok with you, because your identity is in darkness, addictions, bitterness and loss, and you love those things. Your spirit may be dead, but your body and soul are alive to those things and you’re ok with that. Jesus is weeping for you. You think you’re already free, but you have no idea what you’re missing! Jesus is waiting for you to die, so He can make you truly alive. He wants you to die so He can come to your grave and call you to come forth.

If you need help figuring out where you stand with God, I would love to hear from you.

John C. Lawton
John@JohnCLawton.org