Immeasurably more

I find myself in a season of waiting. I am in the process of determining next stages of care for my mother. I am unsure of what that will look like or where it will be. But I am trusting God to show up and show me. As I am waiting, and trying not to worry about the what if’s, I am reminded of the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. And Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. Boy did Jesus do that with Mary and Martha!

In John 11, we read where Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick and requesting him to come. They knew that if Jesus came, he could heal Lazarus. In John 11:21 and 32, Martha and Mary both stated, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Their expectation was Jesus could heal their brother. That is what they asked for. But Jesus had so much more in mind. Something beyond anything they could imagine. He proved he was the resurrection and life! He raised Lazarus from the dead, after he had been dead for 4 days. The Jewish people believed the spirit hovered near the tomb, waiting to re enter the body but at 4 days it would leave because the body would be unrecognizable. Lazarus walking out of the tomb, – Immeasurably more than could be imagined!

And not only did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life, he set the stage for his own death and resurrection. Word spread throughout Judea about Lazarus and the religious leaders began plotting Jesus’s death. Because of Jesus’s physical death and resurrection, he defeated death for all who believe in him.

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26.

Immeasurably more than what was asked and what could have been imagined. Mary and Martha just asked Jesus to come heal their brother of physical illness. He brought spiritual life.

Do you have the assurance of spiritual life? Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved,”