“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” John 11:14
God’s Word stands as a guide to us, and through His Word Christ can speak to us plainly. To encourage, instruct, and chasten. Christ will minister to us plainly, through the vehicle of the Holy Ghost if we are willing to listen. Furthermore, as the providence of God unfolds in our lives it constitutes our existence and causes us to realize that “we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor 3:5). If it happens that we suffer, it is for His glory and our understanding that: “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
Lazarus, and his sisters were disciples of Christ. They followed Him, believed in Him and put their faith in Him. Jesus loved them. They were close to Him, he was their Lord, he was a close personal friend. Lazarus was sick and when Jesus found out he intentionally waited to visit him. Then Jesus told the twelve disciples that they were going to wake Lazarus from sleep, but they did not understand what he meant. So, Jesus said plainly: Lazarus is dead. No doubt the plain truth of Lazarus’s death was difficult to hear. It was difficult for Mary and Martha (Lazarus’s sisters) to watch him die. It was difficult for Jesus. His passing was something Christ could have prevented, but providence was far more important than a temporary ease of suffering. The plain truth was that Lazarus was dead, and he died so that God might be glorified. God’s providence in our lives is greater than our understanding of it, and our understanding does not always mean our accepting of it. It can be difficult for us to grasp this (saint or sinner), and it is often met with conflict, contention and questions on our part. The passing of a loved one, the failing of health, the loss of a child; we all exist under the providence of God, and we must accept that our lives are not our own. As true disciples will embrace this and maintain that we are here to glorify the Father. This great truth can be buried under a mountain of plain truths. Truths that are hard to bear, and hard to accept. Plain truths emphasized by circumstances, pain and discomfort; just like the death of Lazarus. However, like Lazarus, Christ can bring life where there was not. When Jesus came four days later, he went to the tomb where Lazarus was, and he raised Him from the dead. Granted, Jesus may not always change the circumstance, but he can bring peace and comfort in the midst of confusion and turmoil. He can bring perspective and life to a situation that is clouded and dead. Through it all, Jesus Christ is always there and His Word stands eternal.
When we embrace the providence of God it brings us into further unity with the Father. There was no doubt behind Lazarus’s sisters' acceptance of Christ’s power (confusion perhaps but not doubt). They were wholly given to the will of Christ but going through what they did and embracing the outcomes they saw more of Christ than many. So, it is when we resign ourselves completely to the will of Father, “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:)
