Walk, live in faith

The 11th chapter of the Gospel of John has been on my heart and on my heart and in my mind lately. It is an exciting chapter of scripture, yet at the same time it is a little confusing.

The 11th chapter of John is where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It is a confusing scripture because of all the attitudes in this passage. I am going to focus on John 11:45-50.

However, I will just give you a summary of what is going on to this point. Jesus and his disciples arrive in Bethany to a horrific scene.

Lazarus has died and he has already been buried for four days. Jesus has a discussion with Martha. Jesus tells Martha that her brother Lazarus will rise again. Martha tells Jesus she realizes that her brother will rise on the last day, the day of Resurrection of the Saints. Jesus responds to Martha proclaiming that He is the Resurrection and the Life anyone who believes in Jesus will never die.

Martha thinks she understands, but up to this point she does not get it. Mary comes out to greet Jesus. She says to the Lord if he would have been there, Lazarus would still be alive. Jesus is moved emotionally and asked where they had laid the body of Lazarus.

When Jesus got to the tomb of Lazarus, he instructed them to roll the stone away from the tomb. Martha protested because Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

It did not matter Jesus told her that this day God would be glorified, and with three words; “Lazarus come forth!” Lazarus was alive again and God was glorified.

Jesus rising Lazarus from the dead was the Lord’s greatest miracle on Earth. Lazarus was not just dead, he was dead four days as Martha alluded to; “ He already stinketh!”

Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw Lazarus brought back to life. Notice it does not say “all” who were with Mary believed. In fact, some found the Resurrection of Lazarus repulsive. They immediately went to the Pharisees to report what Jesus did. How sad!

The miracle that ultimately proved that Jesus is who he said he is, was enough fuel for the fire to seek the arrest and execution of Jesus.

We the believers in the Church sometimes have this thought, “People will believe if they see and experience signs and wonders.”

That thought is not necessarily true. Do not get me wrong, I have seen miraculous signs active in the services of the church. I have seen miraculous signs on the streets, and I desire to see even more, but we must remember we live by faith and not by sight.

Remember Jesus’ response to Thomas? (Read John 20:24-29.) Thomas placed his fingers in the wounds of the Lord. Thomas responds, “My Lord and my King!” Jesus replies, “Thomas you believe because you have seen, but blessed is he who has not seen yet still believes.”

I find something else troubling about Thomas demanding to see and touch the wounds. When the other disciples realized that Jesus was with them, their response was, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us? (See Luke 24:15-32)

Jesus’ presence moved the hearts of the disciples. However, Thomas must have had a summer home in the “Show-Me” State. Thomas had to see it to believe it. Furthermore, to make my point, I want to take you to John 12:37; “But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.”

At the end of the day, the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a “Walk by faith, not by sight” message. The salvation message is a statement of profession. Those who profess it declare; “I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.