Kingdom Perspective
John 11 v17 “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.”
V3 “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
v14 “So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
From our earth’s perspective all we know is sickness, death and the grave.
That’s all we can see and understand.
From heaven’s perspective it is so very different.
This story of Lazarus reveals hidden kingdom principles. It is not solely about the fact that Jesus heals and raises a man from the dead. If that’s what it was about then it didn’t last because Lazarus did die eventually, we all do.
It is so much more than that.
- It is about God’s Glory and God’s Son, v4 “it is for God’s gloryso that God’s Son may be glorified.”
In the context it was definitely about proving that Jesus is the Messiah and the cross on which he would glorify God the Father on. It was this miracle which meant that Jesus had to go into hiding and it increased the desire of the Pharisees to arrest him. This miracle took Jesus to the cross. Though difficult perhaps to understand the cross of Christ is the Glory of God. For those who belong to God earth’s pain is heaven’s glory.
- It is knowing we are loved and a friend of God, v5 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” V11 “Our friendLazarus”
One of the earliest songs we remember in church is ‘Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.’ Some battle all their life to find love and friendship. Doing life knowing you are loved and a friend of God is another dimension to those who search for it in many disappointing desires. Knowing whatever happens this never changes even in the most difficult of times is what helps many to get through the darkness.
- It is understanding the language of heaven, v11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
The psalmist said in 3 v 5 “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” The apostle Paul understands this in 1 Thessalonians 4 v14 “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
For those in Christ the language is asleep not death. Death is final and it never happens for those in Christ, it is a kingdom principle.
Missions Paul 