God’s way with Lazarus (3) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

He (Jesus) said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.
John 11:11

God's way with Lazarus (3)
As a result of his illness Lazarus, a friend of the Lord Jesus, died. Although Jesus had been called for help by the two sisters, He first waited for two days. Only then did He set out to visit the mourning family.

As with every other deed of His, it can be sensed distinctly here, too, that the Lord Jesus lived and acted in accordance with His heavenly Father's will. Nothing could prevent Him from waiting for the right time for God's intervention: neither Lazarus' illness and subsequent death, nor his two mourning sisters. When Jesus finally set off for Bethany, the disciples, and we too, learn important facts concerning life and death.

When a believer like Lazarus dies, he "falls asleep", i.e. his body dies and remains on the earth, while his soul and spirit pass on to God in paradise. The Lord Jesus will one day awaken all who have fallen asleep in faith in Him. This resurrection will occur when Christ returns to take all believers living on earth at the time to Himself in heaven (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4, 16.17).

On the other hand, all who have rejected Christ as Saviour, will later have to meet Him as their judge. The following appeal has therefore lost nothing of its urgency or its saving power:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16, 31).

(to be continued on Thursday)