How’s Your Monday?

“And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” – Mark 16:6

Easter 2022 was such a joyous day! Many families gathered together for a special meal, while children often hunted for colorfully dyed eyes to put in their Easter baskets. Additionally, many people started their Easter with a time of celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in their churches. Worshippers filled the air with songs like “Because He Lives” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” while pastors shared the good news of the risen Christ.

But now it is Monday, and the excitement of Easter is over. How are you doing today? Our pastor preached a message about living a “resurrected” life, and used a very familiar story from the Scriptures to explain. Let’s take a step back in time and “see” the events of John 11. This is the Biblical account of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus was the beloved brother of Mary and Martha, and he had been very sick when Jesus was summoned by the sisters to come restore Lazarus to health. However, by the time Jesus had arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. John records the conversations between Jesus and Lazarus’ sisters before  the Lord finally commanded Lazarus to come forth from the tomb. What a glorious moment that must have been for everyone, including Lazarus!!

I wonder how Lazarus might have lived after being resurrected by Jesus. Do you think he went back to doing the same old things he did before he became sick? Or do you think maybe that brief glimpse of paradise radically changed how he lived his life after being called forth from the tomb? Did he live a “resurrected” life after understanding the reality of all that Jesus had ever shared with him?

I have to agree with my pastor. I believe Lazarus’ entire point of view about death took a dramatic turn after he returned to the world of the living. Of course, the Bible doesn’t expound upon what Lazarus thought or did after he was raised from the dead, but I imagine he wasn’t the same man as he was before his sickness and death.

It is highly likely that Lazarus no longer feared dying because he knew what was coming! I believe he told his sisters all about his experiences in the “after life.” In fact, I believe he told everybody that crossed his path about the glories he had witnessed! His previous work, whatever that may have been, no longer was the first priority in his life. Instead, I believe he focused on spiritual things… eternal things… and shared that message with his friends and acquaintances. After all, he wouldn’t want anyone he cared about to miss what he had seen firsthand simply because they hadn’t heard about Jesus. Being resurrected surely must have had a profound effect on him! I believe he was emboldened to share what Jesus had done for him without any reservation at all!

What about Mary and Martha? How were their lives impacted by their brother’s resurrection? I am sure they were amazed and overjoyed, and like Lazarus, they must have told everyone they knew what had happened! If they could have, they probably would have been shouting it from the rooftops!! While they hadn’t witnessed what Lazarus had seen, they were eyewitnesses to his resurrection! What an amazing testimony those two ladies must have had, and I believe no one would have been able to keep them quiet about the miracle they had seen at their brother’s tomb.

Fast forward to today once more. What are your thoughts about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it real to you? Real enough to share with others? Real enough to shout it from the rooftops?

Real enough to live a resurrected life?

Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! (He arose)
He arose! (He arose)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(from “Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” – John 11:25

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If you know your Redeemer liveth, as Job proclaimed (Job 19:25), share it with someone today!