Resurrecting Hope in Hopeless Situations

UV 2889/10000 Resurrecting Hope in Hopeless Situations
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died
John 11 v 32
Mary and Martha had given up hope now that Lazarazus, their beloved brother, was dead four days. They had enough faith in Jesus that He could have kept him alive, healed him of whatever illness he was dying of but they did not believe that He could raise him from the dead so long after he had passed on. They had accepted the fact of the death of their dear brother Lazarus. Yet, the Lord often acts in our lives when we have given up on our hope, when it seems too late. He can turn facts into miracles, problems into amazing opportunities to reveal evidence of the glory or greatness of the Lord.
Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could heal but they did not know or believe that He could raise the dead. Lazarus was not only dead but decaying fast as it was the fourth day, past seventy two hours when not only have the internal organs begun decaying but the whole body bloats up and the internal blood with foam begins to leak all over with a foul smell. All the mourners who remained even after four days were afraid of the smell of death and decay but Jesus asked them to remove the shroud and clothes in which Lazarus was wrapped to set him free. Jesus thereby proved with convincing evidence that not only did he have authority and power to command healing but the authority to resurrect the long dead and gone. Even at our point of helplessness and hopelessness, Jesus is able to act. It is never too late or too early to call Jesus into our desperate, near dead, dead or long dead situations and circumstances in life. Jesus merely thanked the Father ahead of the resurrection of Lazarus for having heard Him and He said it in order that those who heard Him would believe that He was sent by the Father. Mary, Martha and others present there had underestimated the greatness of the power and glory and identity of Jesus. We too underestimate every day and in every situation the authority, power, glory, greatness, love and compassion of Jesus in our lives.
There is an English expression- “too little, too late.” Jesus is never too little, never too late. He acts just in time. He acts justly. The resurrection of Lazarus was a foretaste of His own resurrection in the run up to the events leading to His crucifixion. The Lord can reverse any situation or circumstance in our lives. He can restore and redeem. Like Mary and Martha we should not give in to our sorrows, regrets, disappointments too soon. There is nothing that Jesus cannot end or mend or bend in our favour. He is the Resurrection and the Life we need every moment and every day and in every hopeful and hopeless situation.

Prateep V Philip