Once Dead, Now Alive

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ONCE DEAD, NOW ALIVE

John 12:9-19

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."  

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 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. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

NIV

John does not spend a great deal of time on what is called the triumphal entry of Jesus. Other accounts give us far more details, but then John is all about showing Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, the Anointed One of God, and the Son of God. Here along with Jesus, many people are coming to see Lazarus because he was once dead, dead, that is dead for four days and all that implies to the Jews, and now he is alive and well.  John tells us that it was on account of Lazarus many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. This is also confirmed by what the Pharisees were upset about as they decided that whatever they were doing to try to stop the Jews from believing in Jesus was getting them nowhere. They could see how the whole world had gone after him. Surely it wasn’t the whole world, yet, but a great number of Jews were certainly convinced he was the One to follow and it seems many were because of Lazarus. Jesus had done other miracles and each time a certain number of people believed, but this was a massive movement of Jews and it was too much for the Pharisees to contend with. With all our modern methods of spreading the good news, or telling people about Jesus or why they should go to church, or maybe even telling them they need to get saved, it seems we do not have as much success as Lazarus did. But he really didn’t do anything, it was Jesus who raised him from the dead. Yet he must have told the story, he must have testified as to what happened to him, of what Jesus did in his life, well actually what Jesus did in his death. Perhaps that should be our story we can tell. We were once dead in our sin, but Jesus raised us from the dead and gave us true life, life everlasting. Maybe if we just told people we used to be dead and Jesus brought us back to life, it might just make them want what happened to us happen to them. Maybe if we just posted on social media, “I was dead, but now I am alive” it just might cause a stir. That had to be the testimony of Lazarus and it surely is ours, of course, in another sense, but nevertheless, it is true. Someday the whole world will go after Jesus, or least, stand before him. Every knee will bow, only for some, it will be only to be cast out. But right now we still have time to tell our story, so many will come over to Jesus and put their faith in him. Once we were dead, but now we are alive.