Read the Book: Fall Bible PlanSample

Our Lazarus Moment

Ephesians 2:4-7

One of the most dramatic accounts in all of the gospels is when Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. Compounding the weight of this miracle is that Jesus purposely delayed his trip to see Lazarus to ensure that Lazarus was indeed dead! Was Jesus simply “showing off” his power or was there a deeper reason for this obvious miracle? 

We know from scripture that the miracles of Jesus pointed directly to his power, uniqueness, and authority (Jn 1:14 5:21; Mt 28:19; Lk 7:22). The raising of Lazarus was a microcosm of all of these attributes but it also points to a day when the bumps and bruises that come with a sinfully broken world will be no more (Rev 21:1-7). But that reality has not been fully realized and today we exist in a “now and not yet” reality of life in the kingdom. Don't be discouraged though—we have already had our own Lazarus moment.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he reminds the Ephesian believers that at one time they were dead in their sin, living by the playbook of the world, followers of Satan himself, motivated by their own flesh, and actually objects of God’s wrath. But that isn’t the last word. Grace has the last word, for verses 2:4-7 communicate the particular methods by which God raises sinners out of their sin. These verses show what motivated God to bring us out of our tombs of sinfulness: His extravagant mercy (vs 4a)...His awesome love (vs 4b)...His mind-blowing grace (vs 5)...His humble goodness (vs 6-7).

You see, the raising of Lazarus provided a preview of what God always does with His children, and therefore we are never without hope. We are also reminded that if we are in Christ our new found identity is as a son or daughter of the great Author of life. Let us be thankful for His wonderful light in our darkest of tombs.

Family connection: Read Ephesians 2:4-7 as a family this week. Teach your kids that God’s great love for us will never change and that nothing in this world can separate us from it. Believing that we are unconditionally loved by our Maker is the first step toward them seeing their true, unshakable identity.