The Twenty-Sixth Epistle
Get Up, Lazarus!
DATELINE: Sunday, April 29, 2001.
By Rev. James R. Bingham
Special to corndancer.com
Posted from Memphis, Tennessee
Luke
16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
John
12:1 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
You know, this is a very rewarding website. As I write these epistles to you, I get the chance to preach to myself. Excuse me, but I find it "All Good!"
Memphis is in for a great awakening. The whole world is due for this awakening, and I thank God that I'm alive to be a part of it. Passages of the Bible that used to give us great difficulty are becoming clearer every day.
I have the unique opportunity of exploring passages of the Bible and just allowing the Holy Spirit to take me wherever She pleases. For instance, I had a talk with the Spirit about Lazarus. Further, while having an unrelated conversation with another friend through E-mail, he mentioned Lazarus as a text for exegesis. It was a confirmation in my soul of how we are raised from the dead, yet do nothing. That's no fault of yours or mine. It's just that this new day is dawning and the battle has risen to a new level.
Now take your time. If you can't read all this at once, then come back to it at a later time. There is a message and a blessing in it for you. The message is for those of you who are of the clergy as well as those of you who are laymen.
The text I selected to begin this Epistle relates to two different accounts that are attributed to the map of Jesus' journey among men on earth.
The first is a story related by Jesus about the view of Lazarus' death. The second account is where Jesus is called to see about Lazarus, but when he arrives, Lazarus is dead.
Let's Suppose
He Is the Same Lazarus.
Let's suppose that the Lazarus mentioned in the two passages is the same Lazarus in both instances. To help with this presupposition, consider that in both cases, prior to death, Lazarus was sick. During his death, in both cases, there was much speculation about what the power of God could and could not do.
Finally, in both cases, Lazarus had nothing to say. His role was to exist and to be discussed.
I'm taking the four days that Lazarus was dead as the period that the rich man asked a favor of Abraham. The favor was to allow Lazarus to cool the torment of the rich man's hell sufferings.
This allows us to confirm that there indeed is hell. Whether it be that Hell is the immediate residence of the evil ones who pass on, or whether there is a waiting period that displaces time before going is another discussion. For our purposes, let's agree that there is Hell. At the end of this story, what did Lazarus do?
The Rich Man and Lazarus.
It has long been taught that while Jesus' body lay in the tomb, his spirit traveled into Hades and visited those who had died and gave hope to the captives. This makes it possible for me to explore the portion of Jesus' story (not allegory) about the rich man and Lazarus. For our discussion here, let's agree that during the four days that Lazarus was in the tomb, his services were requested of Abraham by the rich man. The rich man said well if you won't help me, then allow Lazarus to go back and help my brethren. Luke 16:31, And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Well, by Jesus' own admission, there are those who will not receive even if they were ministered to by one who rose from the dead. Yet, when he raised Lazarus from the dead there were those who believed. Yes there were, but the Pharisees (the brethren) did not. They plotted instead to kill Lazarus again.
In the meantime, what did Lazarus do? He died following a sickness, stayed in the tomb for four days, and Jesus raised him from the dead, giving him new life. So, I ask again, what did Lazarus do? Nothing.
My reasoning at this point is, since Lazarus did nothing, said nothing, merely sat and served as a spectacle, could he just as well have remained dead? What if he had remained dead? What if Jesus had not raised him from the dead? Well, Jesus had a purpose. First he showed that the power comes from His Father, which is in heaven.
John 11 chapter, verses 42 says, And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. Jesus did that for the people who were standing by and for Mary and Martha, Lazarus' sisters. Lazarus was raised from the dead. He came forth and said nothing. He didn't even say, "Thank you Mary for calling on Jesus." Nor did he say, "Thank you, Jesus, for raising me from the dead."
Mary and Martha,
The Rich Man, Abraham,
Jesus, and the Pharisees
Played Their Part.
This is curious. Lazarus was the recipient of a mighty work while people around him seemed the more involved. Mary and Martha had their part. The rich man who had died had his part. Abraham had his part. Jesus had his part. Even the Pharisees had their part by plotting to kill Lazarus again.
As a result of Lazarus being raised from the dead, Jesus must have had a greater purpose. Remember, Abraham had already said that the rich man's brethren, whom I perceive as the ruling class of the Jews, would not hear Lazarus, even if he rose from the dead. Nevertheless, Jesus wept and called Lazarus forth. Why?
Look at John 11, where it says in verses 39-40, Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? That's why Jesus did it. He did it to show the glory of God. That's our purpose in living a life of righteousness, to show the glory of God. But what about Lazarus? If Lazarus had not been raised from the dead, then the glory of God would not have been shown at that time. Thus the reaction of the enemies of Christ would have not been urged to do what they did to secure their own power.
When Lazarus came forth, he was unwrapped and let go. Verse 45 of John 11 says, Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Jesus Should Die
For that Nation.
Many believed but not the brethren of the rich man, the Chief Priest and Pharisees. Look at verses 49 -51 of this same chapter. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
They not only plotted to kill Lazarus, again, who has yet to say or do anything, but they also have decided that Jesus must die. This is the fulfillment of scriptures as in Isaiah 53:8, He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
That's why Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He knew it was time that men should see the glory of God. The glory of God was embodied in this testimony that all men should see that the Son of Man hath power over life and death on earth.
The Power of Resurrection.
Praise be to God, if Lazarus had remained dead, the scriptures would have not been fulfilled for men to see that Jesus indeed had the power of resurrection and that whosoever believe on him, though they were dead, shall yet live.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead so that men could lift Him up, crucify Him, and bury Him, that God would raise Him from the dead. The difference here is that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus had a new life, but did nothing with it. He had a readjustment period to go through, but never had the chance.
When God raised Jesus from the dead, He arose with all power and the keys to heaven and hell.
But what about Lazarus? I'm glad you are so persistent. Lazarus is you and me. We were lost and now found, blind but able to see. We were dead in our sins, and Jesus gave us new life. His grace made it possible for us to receive renewed knowledge from the Holy Spirit, and now, a new day has arrived.
A New Creature.
We can't sit and be spectacles for others to see. We must rise from the table and make way for the preparation of the bride. We've got to adjust to this new life. It's not good enough for us to say, "Things I used to do, I don't do any more." We've got to live and show that there is a new creature in us, that we have a new way of walking. Show it! We have a new way of talking. Show it!
Surely, there are those who plot for our demise. Yet, with our life of abundance, we run and faint not, we are not weary, because no weapon formed against us shall prosper!
We are in the knowledge of life and death. Anybody need healing? Stand up and wave your hands and claim it, Lazarus! Anybody need deliverance? Stand up and claim it, Lazarus! Anybody want to be blessed and blessed indeed? Stand up and claim it, Lazarus!
Get up from the table. You can't eat the food that the dead eat. You have a new bread, a new water of which if you eat and drink you will never thirst or hunger again!!
Somebody's got to say praise the Lord or I will burst! Stand back! I've got to get up from here! I've got to dance. I've got to dance a Holy dance. Here I go! Every time I step, I'm stomping on the enemy. He's under my feet! Dance with me! Get up Lazarus! Get up!
Give God Some Praise!!!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Rev. Bingham
can be reached by E-mail at
jamesrbingham@juno.com.
His phone number in Memphis is
901.785.5691.