And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” ~ Ezekiel 37:3
In our Gospel story for this coming Sunday (John 11), Martha runs to meet Jesus to confront him after the death of her brother. "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus then assures her that Lazarus, her brother will live again. Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life."
"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Martha knew Jesus had the power to save Lazarus from dying, but what she doubted, along with Mary, her sister, was that Jesus could undo the illness that had taken their brother. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.
Jesus had every ability to save Lazarus from ever dying. We see that power in God not allowing Elijah to die. Jesus here wants to demonstrate a whole other power, resurrection. Power over death. The Jews of Jesus' day were unsure and debated about a final resurrection of the dead. So, when Jesus says He can raise Lazarus, it has significant weight.
Often in life, we want and pray not to come in contact with difficulties, we pray that we don't get sick, or get hurt. When it happens, we need to realize it's not the end of the story, because our God has overcome any sickness or death in this world.
Jesus raises Lazarus, and upon His crucifixion, "the tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Matthew 27:52). To show that He has power of death. Jesus says not only to Martha, but to us, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." John 11:25-26
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.” ~ Ezekiel 37:11-14
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