Our Good Shepherd truly raised people from the dead

“…He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
Out came the man who had died,
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.’”….
“Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened a council meeting, and they were saying,
‘What are we doing in regard to the fact
that this man is performing many signs?
If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him,
and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation.’
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them,
‘You know nothing at all, nor are you taking into account
that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people,
and that the whole nation not perish instead.’”
John 11:43-44…47-50 (NASB)

When among us, our Lord performed many miracles. These miracles were diverse. For example, He turned water into wine (John 2), He cured the sick (John 5), He created matter (John 6), He changed the weather (John 6). However, I believe the most significant miracles were raising people from the dead (eg. Luke 7, John 11). Among the miracles of raising people from the dead, the raising of Lazarus was possibly the most important.

Raising Lazarus did three very important things. First, His claim to be the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) is forcefully validated. No one could deny He lived up to His name. Second, the timing of the resurrection of Lazarus was shortly before His own death and resurrection. So, He prefigured the greatest event in human history and the purpose for which He came. Last, this miracle so provoked His enemies that they determined not to stop until they crucified Him. In fact those who desperately wanted to discredit Him clearly confessed He raised the dead.

Thus, we see how sovereign our Good Shepherd truly is. While among us He controlled the weather, created matter, healed the sick, raised the dead, and controlled people’s plans, among other things.

Today, fall down before Him and find yourself lost in wonder, love and praise as you consider today’s Scripture and the thoughts that come from it.

More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved,
Sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, 
Give what is best;
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath
Whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry
My heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee!

E. Prentiss

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