Jesus is in the house.

As Pastor Chris Dahse (First Baptist Church, Ingram, Texas) preaches through the Book of John, today was chapter 11 verses 28 through 37 about Lazarus, who has died, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, and Jesus, there was one particular thing that resonated in my spirit:  As with Mary and Martha, who were grieving for their dead brother, Jesus’ great desire for us is to get to that point where we realize that “bad things” happening to us or in our lives just doesn’t matter.  Our “bad things” are minute in His presence.  In light of the fact that “Jesus is in the house,” He desires for us to come to the point where we realize that “bad things happening to us” is irrelevant.  Bad things are going to happen to us.  We are not always going to be happy, but when we trust Him, fear flees.

God doesn’t need to prevent us from dying an earthly death; He created us, for Pete’s sake.  He has the power to resurrect us today or when He returns, it’s His call and it just doesn’t matter which one He chooses.  Whatever brings Him the most glory.  In the case of Lazarus, Jesus chose to resurrect him to reveal his resurrection power, not because He wanted Mary and Martha not to be upset with Him anymore for delaying His arrival or because He felt sorry for them.

He resurrected Lazarus because He wanted those present to recognize Him correctly. 

Do we recognize Jesus correctly today?

God is not a Preventer, God is the Creator.

Jesus was so moved as to be angry, because the people there did not recognize Him correctly, that He wept. 

He wept because we have such low expectations of Him, The Creator.  How high should our expectations be of The Creator?  Can they be too high?  I don’t think so.  Mary and Martha tried to bring Jesus down to their level of expectations: “Jesus if you had been here, our brother would not have died.”

He wept because His friend, Lazarus, is in heaven with God, The Father, and Jesus must is going to bring him back to this old earth… all because He loved those grieving for Lazarus.  He loved them so much that He wanted them to recognize Him correctly.  He resurrected Lazarus, not because He wanted Lazarus to be walking on this earth again, but to reveal His power.  In a few days, he’s going to be in a tomb Himself and He wants us all to remember His resurrection power… to see Him correctly.

I’m not sure that I have adequately related to a reader the “light bulb” moment I had this morning.  It may not happen for you and that’s okay.  Maybe it will depend on how much bad “stuff” you’ve been through.  I’ve been through quite a bit and I learned a long time ago that it’s not about me being happy.  It’s about me trusting God.  It’s about the intimate relationship He knows I need to have with Him, which by the way, does bring joy and peace.  It’s about the furtherance of the Kingdom.  It’s about others.  It’s about love, forgiveness, grace and mercy.

God is so BIG, that it doesn’t matter what bad stuff happens to us… JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE!!!