Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Can you see the glory of God? (John: 11:1-44) by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce


Message: Can you see the glory of God?  (John: 11:1-44)
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries                                   Date: 3/312016      

My friends, can you see the glory of God in His timing?
According to the New Testament John: 11:1-44 stated, there was a man from Bethany, Lazarus, who was sick. He had two sisters, Mary and Martha. And the Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair. When Jesus heard Mary’s brother was sick, He remained at the time in the place where He was for two days. Then, He said to disciples. “Let us go into Judea again.” (v.7) “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep.” (v.11). But disciples did not know Jesus had spoken about Lazarus’s death.  When Jesus arrived, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” But Jesus said to her, “Thy brother shall rise again…I am the resurrection, and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”(vv.23,25-26)  Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me, and I know that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which standby I said it, that they may believe that thou has sent me.” (vv.41-42.) Then, Jesus cried with a loud voice” Lazarus, come forth”, Lazarus that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them, “loose him, and let him go.”(vv.43-44).by the power of Jesus, Lazarus was dead, but rose again.
What is the implication and application of the narrative in John: 11:1-44?
1). God’s timing is best. Patiently wait upon the Lord; you will see the glory of God in His timing.  When Jesus said, “this sickness will not end in death. No, it for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) but the reality is that Lazarus was death, not even died, even buried in the cave four days.  Jesus’ words and assurance seems like contradict to His disciples, the followers in village, Mary and her sister Martha. During the four days waiting hours in cave they were weeping, and mourning. Facing this contradict scenario, disciples, Mary, Martha, and the people in the village must full of doubts, confusion, and criticized about Jesus. Did he speak truth? Is he really prophet? Did he lie? For he said, this sickness will not end in death. But the truth is that Lazarus was not only died, even buried four days in the tomb.
2). Before see the glory of God, you may experience the darkness hours. Don’t just look at the circumstance; rather, let God unveils His purpose, vision, and lesion. As Jesus said, “It is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
3). Humankind can’t see the glory of God, so often, the blindness are resulted by their own perception, concepts, notions, ideals, and pre-knowledge. When Jesus told Mary’s Sister Martha, “your brother will rise again.”  Martha was well-educated and had pre-knowledge of the resurrection at the last day. Martha didn’t know that Jesus meant to say, “You will see the resurrection of Lazarus now”. In other words, you will see the glory of God now, neither the past tense, nor future tense, it is present tense.  
4). Don’t intend to change others, don’t insist you are right or depend on your own experience, perception and knowledge. Rather, let God unveils His glory and purpose in His timing. When Jesus came to the tomb, Mary sounds regret of His delay and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32).  Jesus told them to take away the stone laid across the entrance. Martha (Mary’s sister) with a doubting heart, she criticized, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” (John11:39). Jesus reassured Martha, “did I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”(John11:40).
5). Faith is being sure what we hope for; faith may be tested by the Lord in the period of times. It’s only keep a heart of steadfast, persistence with perseverance, hope will become the reality and faith will see the glory of God. “Lazarus, come out!” Jesus called in a loud voice. The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus told them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John11:43-44).
6). In every circumstance, remember, Jesus wept together with you in your every grieving hour, for he loves you. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping; he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. Jesus wept. (Jh.11:35). When we face circumstances, focus on the sovereignty of God rather than on the will of men.  Jesus wept together with you in your every grieving hour.  
7). Trust in the Lord with all your heart and believe His assurance. In this era continually talk to you, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe me? ”(John11:25). Jesus indicated, he who believes in me, even if he dies physically shall live spiritually and eternally. Whoever lives physically and believes in me will never die spiritually and eternally.
Conclusion,
 My friends, do you believe, in this era, Jesus still talking to you? Do you believe Jesus raised from death, do you believe He has power to rise Lazarus from death? My friends, you may be Mary or Mary’s sister Martha, it is your natural instinct to doubt Jesus’ resurrection power when you had faced long hours waiting and weeping. You may wonder that Jesus is alive or Is Jesus a real God?  Will you wait for Him patiently? My friends listen to His voice again, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John11:40).  
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