In the end, the light wins.
Our sermon last Sunday touched on the story of Lazarus and his miraculous resurrection from the dead. The focus was on the days afterward and his sister Mary specifically, but he was part of the message.
Yesterday, the online Bible study that I’m following was about Lazarus. The reading was from John 11:1-44, if you want to check it out.
Since I don’t believe in coincidences where God is concerned, I began to wonder and then pray about what God was trying to show me in the Lazarus story at this moment.
There are so many beautiful illustrations of Jesus’ love for humanity in the story. What did God want me to see? What relevance in particular, did it have right now?
As I read it again, I remembered that the sermon last week pointed out that the moment Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead became the moment the Jewish officials elected to mark him for death. The text says, “They plotted to take his life.”
It’s almost too evil to fathom. Just moments before, raising Lazarus, Jesus wept with his sisters Martha and Mary, demonstrating that He knew what it meant to be fully human and how death devastates us and separates us from our loved ones.
Then He did the unthinkable, the amazing, the miracle that only God can do. He raised Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb. He restored Lazarus’ life and the relationship between him and his sisters.
This was a moment of pure joy and celebration. There was no downside here. God was here on earth, walking with humanity and restoring life. How could anyone in their right mind want to stop that kind of goodness, power and grace?
But, the Jewish officials at the top didn’t see it that way. Jealousy, greed and fear are powerful fuel. Darkness hates the light.
As I pondered the reaction of the people in charge, asking myself how anyone with any good at them at all, could possibly be against Jesus, I was reminded of some of the events going on right now.
Christians are being slaughtered in the Middle East, simply for being Christians. There is a large underground Christian movement in Iran of all places. Christianity has exploded there. There were an estimated 500 Christians there in 1979 and now 370,000 is the generally accepted estimate, even though they could be imprisoned, tortured or killed for following Jesus. Why does the Iranian government care if its citizens worship Jesus?
Why are Christians around the world persecuted and killed for following Jesus? What is so threatening about His message and His life?
Could it be because that even after 2,000 plus years since His death and resurrection, He still offers new life? Could it be because He still offers redemption and restoration? Could it be because He is still the light of the world?
Jesus said, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil, hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19-20
There will always be persecution of Jesus and His believers until He returns a second time. Darkness hates the light and always will. But, for those of us who are Christians, we have to remember that we are the light that represents Him and we are called to spread it far and wide, keeping in mind that in the end, now just as it was over 2,000 years ago, Jesus wins.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂