Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. Many of those who came to comfort Mary saw God’s testimony of glory regarding Jesus and believed. Believers are testimonies of God’s grace and power for His glory. He is still testifying of His son through us as we love people and share the gospel. Be alert. Be ready for those God puts in your path.

John 11:44(2) The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Before moving on to vs 45, another thought came to mind. A day is coming, and not too far away, when Jesus will say, “My bride, come forth!” In that moment, all who are His will come forth with Him as one and there will be no more death. Glory to God in the highest! The best way to prepare for that moment is to abide in Him and live to love with Him. Let’s give ourselves to Him with no reservations.

John 11:44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He has all authority over heaven and earth. He commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb in his body, so Lazarus returned to his body and obeyed. The greater event however was the Father’s testimony glorifying Jesus by raising Lazarus. When Lazarus came forth, the cry heard throughout heaven and earth was, “Jesus is my beloved son sent to give eternal life to all who believe!” He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

John 11:43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." So those standing around might believe, Jesus cried out with a loud voice to Lazarus. He wanted everyone there to witness God’s testimony about Him when He speaks and God raises Lazarus. The miracle of a dead man coming back to life is sensational, but that’s not the highlight of this event. The spotlight is on God doing what Jesus commands. HE is the resurrection and the life! God says He is, as He speaks and Lazarus rises and walks out of the tomb. Dear believing friends. We are walking testimonies that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We once were dead in sin and selfishness, but we have been raised with Christ to love with Him in this world. There was a day in my life when Jesus said, “Norm, come forth.” and I was raised to life with Jesus. The same is true for all who believe. Glory be to God through Jesus Christ, His Son.

John 11:42 Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." Here we have explicitly stated, the aim of the miracle God was about to do. It is to glorify the Son! It wasn’t primarily for Lazarus or Martha or Mary that this miracle occurred. It was for them, but primarily it was so that those who came from Jerusalem to comfort them might believe that Jesus was sent by God. This gives us insight into how we might pray when we don’t know what to do to love someone. We might pray, “Father, I know You hear me because I am asking in Jesus’ name that You would do whatever is necessary for others to believe that You sent Jesus into this world to give us resurrection life.” When we live to love with Jesus, and Jesus loves through us, it shows that God has performed a miracle: we have been raised from death to life by the power of God through Jesus Christ, His Son, whom He sent for that specific, glorious purpose. Jesus said that it is through our union with Him that the world will know that God sent Him (John 17:20).