Day 18 — Lazarus, Come Out!

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’”

— John 11:25–26 (BSB)

Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were some of Jesus’ closest friends. When Lazarus got very sick, his sisters sent a message to Jesus: “Lord, the one You love is sick.” They were sure Jesus would hurry to heal him.

But Jesus waited two more days before He went. By the time He arrived, Lazarus had died. He had already been in the tomb for four days.

Martha ran to meet Jesus and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Have you ever felt like that? God, where were You? Why didn’t You stop this?

Jesus answered with some of the most amazing words He ever spoke: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.”

Then Jesus went to the tomb. He saw Mary crying, and the friends who were crying with her. And the Bible says, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). It’s the shortest verse in the Bible, but one of the most important. Jesus knew He was about to bring Lazarus back to life, and He still cried. He was sad with His friends. He cared about their pain.

Then Jesus told them to roll the stone away from the tomb. Martha worried it would smell terrible after four days! But Jesus prayed, and then He shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

And Lazarus did. The man who had been dead walked out of the tomb, still wrapped up in burial cloths!

This story shows us that Jesus is more powerful than death itself. Death is the one enemy nobody can beat, but Jesus beat it. And He promises that everyone who believes in Him will live forever, even though their bodies die. For those who trust Jesus, death is not the end. It’s like falling asleep and waking up with Him.

It also shows us that when we’re sad, Jesus doesn’t just tell us to cheer up. He cries with us.

Think about it: Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” How would you answer Him?

Try this: If you know someone who is sad because someone they love has died, pray for them today. You could also send them a kind note.

Dear Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. Thank You that You are stronger than death. Thank You that You care when I’m sad, and that You cry with me. I believe You, and I trust You to give me life that never ends. In Your name, Amen.