Remove the stone of your grave.

 Meditation John 11:31-40

1. The Jews who were in the house with Mary saw her hastily rising up and going out followed her saying that she is going to the grave to weep there. (V31)
2. Mary came to the place where Jesus was and fell at his feet saying if he was there his brother would not have died. (V32)
3. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping too he groaned in his Spirit and was troubled. (V33)
4. Jesus asked them where they have laid Lazarus and they said to him to come and see. (V34)
5. Jesus wept and the Jews said to themselves how much he loved Lazarus.  (V35,36)
6. Some people said if Christ can open the eyes of the blind He could have stopped Lazarus from dying too. (V37)
7. Jesus groaned again and he came to the grave. The grave was a cave and a stone was laid on it. (V38)
8. Jesus told them to remove the stone. Martha said to him that Lazarus will stink and he was dead four days ago. (V39)
9. Jesus said to her again that if she believes she will see the glory of God. (V40)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Moving the heart of Christ:

There is something very striking in this chapter about Mary that moved the very heart of God to do a miracle which was not there in Martha, that the spirit of God shed his light upon. Let us dig in a little deeper.

1. Be still:

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John:11:20

I would like to compare this to the sower's parable. Some seeds sprout easily but faded fast, but some patiently gave fruits in its time.

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Matthew:13:5

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew:13:6

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke:8:15

Are we able to bring forth fruit with patience? Are we able to be still and wait for God like Mary did ? Let's examine ourselves.

2.  Rising up and going out:

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
John:11:31

Mary rose up and went out of the place of mourning. She refused to  identify herself with the mourners but rose above that level to find the one who can make things whole.

Are we willing to shake the shackles to meet our creator? Are we still seeking comforter among the mourners or are we willing to look up to the hills from where our help comes from?

3. Mary's eyes were opened:

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:11:32

There is something very interesting in this verse.
Mary came to the place where Jesus was. She did not meet him on the way as Martha did.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John:11:20

So where was Jesus when Mary met him? Let me take you further into the deeper waters. The word of God says,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians:1:20

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Ephesians:1:21

Yes! Halleluyah! Mary rose up to meet Christ in the heavenly places as the king of kings and Lord of Lords seated on the throne and her eyes was opened to see him as the King.

The  eyes of Martha was able to perceive Christ as a man. But the eyes of Mary was opened to see  Christ as God in all his glory, that she could not but bow down and fall at his feet and beg for mercy.

Dear Child of God!
 1. Are you willing to shake your shackles?
2. Are you willing to rise up to the heavenly places where Christ is seated through praise and prayer?
3. Are our eyes opened to see Christ as the King of kings and Lord of Lords and humble ourselves at his feet? Then our miracle is very close to us.

 4. The attitude:

Both Mary and Martha asks the same question to Christ. But let us probe into the attitude difference.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John:11:21

Then when Mary came 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:11:32

Mary exhibits a high degree of humility as her eyes are opened to see Christ as God and falls at his feet.

Are we able to see Christ as the Lord of our situations? Let's examine ourselves.

5. Mary wept:

Nothing moves God's heart more than tears. He loves us so much that when Christ sees our tears he groans in his heart and he chooses to weep with us.

When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
John:11:33

Let us see some more examples from the scriptures as to how God's heart is moved with the tears of his people.

A. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third-day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
2 Kings:20:5

God heals Hezekiah seeing his tears.

B. And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and beseeched him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Esther:8:3

Esther be sought the king for mercy with tears.

C. Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Psalm:56:8

Our tears are collected in the bottle of God.

D. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah:25:8

God himself will wipe away our tears.

E. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exodus:3:7

God remembers our very tears. He loves us. He weeps with us in our sorrow. He is not a distant God. He loves us intimately and passionately.

So let us humble ourselves and with a steadfast faith, We will cry out to God. He will definitely reward us and grant us our hearts desires.

 THE DEAD DREAMS :

All of us are born and grew up with lots of dreams. But in the meanwhile, most of our dreams and visions died because of various situations.

We get educated with dreams in our minds to do well. We get married with dreams of a beautiful home. We get children dreaming of someday they will be the best on Earth... We go to a job that someday we will be rich. ...

Our whole lives surround these dreams. But in reality when situations are not conducive our dreams slowly fall sick. They begin to fade and one day comes when they die.

We bury them thinking they can never be a part of us.
But then Christ comes to the cave where we buried our dreams as he went to meet Lazarus. He asks us,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
John:11:34

Can we today call Christ to see the grave where we buried our dreams? Or are we going to say like Martha that Lord it has been four days there and it stinks?

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
John:11:39

Today is the day! Christ wants to interfere in the very dead and decomposed dreams and situations of ours. All it needs is a simple formula.

HUMILITY+FAITH= MIRACLES.

The RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Next meditation John chapter 11:21-30

1. Martha said to Jesus that if he was there her brother would not have died. (V21)
2. Martha said that but still whatever christ asks of God, God will give to him. (V22)
3. Jesus said to her that her brother will rise up again. (V23)
4. Martha said to him that she knows that her brother will resurrect on the last day. (V24)
5. Jesus said to her that he is the resurrection and life. He that believes in him though he was dead shall live. (V25)
6. And if one lives and believes shall not die. Jesus asked her if she believes it. (V26)
7. Martha said to him that she believes that he is Christ the Son of God which is to come into the world. (V27)
8. Martha after saying these words went her way and said to Mary secretly that the master has come and is calling for her. (V28)
9. Mary as soon as she heard that she rose quickly to meet him. (V29)
10. Jesus by then did not enter the town but remained in the place where Martha met him. (V30)

 Life application:

 Identifying with Martha:

Reasoning the problem with a human mind:

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John:11:21

Many times when we come to God with our problems we ask these questions. We ask,
1. why am I in this situation?
2. If God was in the midst of this situation then this would not have happened?
3. Is God really in control?
4. Does God really cares for me? If Yes, then why do these problems happen only for me?

These are the few questions we ask in the midst of bad times. We try to reason, we try to solve and we try our best to look strong and settle in all with human strength.

2. Looking out for intercessors:

When we are done with trying to reason, we look out for people to intercede and cry for us and with us. We want someone to pity on our behalf and pray for us and thus feel a little at ease.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
John:11:22

3. The word of God In power:

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
John:11:23

Then the word of God comes directly hitting us with all power, hitting the very soul of ours dividing the soul and the spirit that God is going to work miracles and that those dry and dead bones shall come back alive.

4. Trying to identify with the natural:

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John:11:24

Many times we compromise with the promises God gives. We say it is okay to have lack. It is okay for me in this same state... how are these situations going to change....? May be as days goes by I will get adjusted without it...Maybe it might happen later in God's time.... or maybe it is not the will of God for me to have this blessing...... and on and on and on......

5. The Resurrection and Life:

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

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John:11:26

This is where Christ works on our unbelief. He says, HE IS THE RESURRECTION and HE is the LIFE. He says to our dead situations that he will not resurrect them but HE himself will be that resurrection and he himself will be that life in us. Do not give way to unbelief dear child of God.... because God works in supernatural and then brings it to pass in the natural.

The resurrected Christ lives in us as our living hope. We will take victory over this situation too.

The battle has to be won in the spiritual realm through faith. Faith is the currency in the spiritual world. We can tap on to every miracle through faith. If we can believe we will see the glory of God in this impossible situation of ours too.

6. Words of faith:

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John:11:27

God is just waiting for some words of faith uttered from our lips... that he can take those words of ours and work out miracles for us.
Today, can we speak a few words of faith.
A. Are you in lack, acknowledge God as your PROVIDER
B. Are you disturbed emotionally? Let him be your PEACE.
C. You want God to speak on your behalf, let him be your ADVOCATE.

Faith can move mountains. Faith can restore unto you everything lost. Our faith joined to that of Christ brings healings and miracles.

 If we lack faith let us pray that God will give us faith enough to believe for a change to happen.

Let us not stagger in faith. 

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Romans:4:19


He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans:4:20

If we do not stagger in faith we will receive what God has promised for us.

Let the spirit of God fill us more with his faith that we will conquer those areas and receive those mighty miracles right from the hands of God. Amen.

The Impossible God and the Finite man

 Meditation John 11:11-20

1. Jesus said to them that their friend Lazarus is sleeping and that he is going to wake him out of his sleep. (V11)
2. His disciples said he will be well if he sleeps well.(v12)
3. Jesus was speaking to them about his death but they were thinking that he was talking about his sleep. (V13)
4. Jesus then said to them that Lazarus was dead. (V14)
 5. Jesus said to them that he was glad for their sake that he did not go there that they may believe. (V15)
6. Then Thomas told to the other disciples let us also go with him that we may die with him. (V16)
7. When Jesus came he saw that Lazarus was laid in the grave for four days already. (V17)
8. Bethany was near to Jerusalem.  (V18)
9. Many Jews came to Mary and Martha to comfort them regarding their brother. (V19)
10. Martha, when she heard Jesus coming, ran to meet him while Mary stayed in the house. (V20)

Life application:

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
John:11:11

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John:11:14

We serve a God of impossibilities.

Dear Child of God,
We serve a great and mighty God, for whom death means sleep.

Let us see below some seemingly impossible situation for man that CHRIST made it possible.

1. Abraham:

God promised a child for Abraham and fulfilled it when he was a hundred years old.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews:11:11

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Hebrews:11:12

2. The dead dry bones coming to life:

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Ezekiel:37:4

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel:37:10

Many times our situations are not only dead but also dry. But when the spirit of God breathes upon us we can become a great army too.

3. Paul raised the dead man.

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Acts:20:9

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Acts:20:12

4. Jesus raised up the daughter of the ruler who was dead.

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
Matthew:9:18


But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
Matthew:9:25

5. Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain.

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Luke:7:12

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Luke:7:13

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
Luke:7:14

And he that was dead sat up and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Luke:7:15

 Dear children of the most high God! Time has come for every death to be raised. When Christ can have compassion on the widow of Nain his bowels will move for our cries too. So let us not give up crying out loud to the worker of all miracles.

Now let us see some dead areas in our lives that needs the touch of God.

1. Forgotten as the dead:

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Psalm:31:12

We may be forgotten as a dead man and a broken vessel by every of our loved ones. But Christ still loves us and want to build us up.

2. The dead do not praise  God.

Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
Psalm:88:10

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
Psalm:88:11

The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
Psalm:115:17

Are we spiritually dead that we cannot praise God.? Are we dead that we cannot see the wonders of God in our lives and his loving-kindness? Let us pray today that the spirit of God will quicken our spirits that we may become alive to praise.

3. If we are wandering away from the right way we are becoming one among the congregation of the dead.

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Proverbs:21:16

Let us ask the Spirit of God to lead us in the path everlasting.

4.  There is no hope for the dead.

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Ecclesiastes:9:4

If you do not have any hope... you feel you are dead... remember you are still alive in Christ and he can still make you live.

5. Dead men are in desolate places.

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
Isaiah:59:10

Is your situation dead and desolate.? Christ died for us that we will not live a life of desolation.

6. Spiritual and physical barrenness

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Romans:4:19

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Romans:4:17

We have a mighty God who quickens the dead and calls things which be not as though they were.

7. We were dead in our trespasses and sins but Christ quickened us up.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians:2:1

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians:2:5

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Ephesians:5:14

8. We may be dead in our works.

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews:9:14

Dear Child of God,
Dead does not mean a physical death... it can be  spiritual too. We can have so many dying situations not having any hope to live. But whatever be it impossible it is possible with God.... let us not give up till the good Lord avenge for us. Amen.

Do you Dare to love like Christ?

 Today's meditation John chapter 11:1-10

1. There was a man named Lazarus In Bethany the town of Mary and Martha and he was sick. (V1)
 2. It was this Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. Lazarus was her brother. (V2)
3. Mary and Martha sent to  Jesus that Lazarus whom he loves was sick. (V3)
4. Jesus said that his sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that CHRIST may be glorified in him. (V4)
5. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. (V5)
6. When Christ heard that Lazarus was sick he tarried in the place he was and abided there for another two days. (V6)
7. Then Christ said that they ought to go to judèa again. (V7)
 8. The disciples said to him how he can go there again to the Jews who tried to stone him. (V8)
9. Jesus said there are twelve hours in a day. If a man walks in the day he stumbles not because he sees the light of the world. (V9)
10. But the man stumbles in the night as there is no light in him. (V10)

 Life applications:

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John:11:4

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
John:11:5

The amazing Love of Christ:

In this meditation, God opened my eyes to see a glimpse of the amazing Love of Christ.

1. The love of Christ comprehends the big picture:

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John:11:4

The love of Christ was deeper to analyse the issue in the light of God and comprehend what God wanted to do in that particular situation.

Dear Child of God... do we see the hand of God in our difficult situations? Are we able to trust in God in seeing the big picture as Christ did.?

 Let us ask for more of the love of Christ in us that we will be able to love him and trust him more in overwhelming situations in ourselves and in others.

2. Love of Christ is tough:


When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
John:11:6

The Love of Christ is tough enough not to be shaken by any emotional outbursts.

the love of Christ sees physical things spiritually by-passing all emotions.

Jesus tarried and spent another two days in the place where he stayed, that God's will be accomplished in Lazarus.

Dear Child of God,
Do you feel God does not have compassion on you and is tough as you cry out to him day and night?

Cheer up! This waiting is also a part of the big plan. This is also a characteristic of the great love and wisdom of Christ.

3. The love of Christ submits to the direction of the Holy Spirit in respect to time and space.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
John:11:7

Christ gives us a beautiful example of how to surrender to the leading of the holy spirit.

Many times we with emotional decisions and looking at situations around or hearing to people make haste in decisions not heeding to the gentle voice of the holy spirit.

The spirit of God wants our soul to be at peace in all situations that we can listen to the leading of the holy spirit clearly each time.

 4. Love of Christ is daring:

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
John:11:8

Halleluyah! The love of Christ is daring enough to face the cross for us.

 He chose to go to Judea again in spite of an outrage opposition in that place.

Dear Child of the most high God!
You have a heavenly father whose hands will reach out to you even if you are in the midst of hell surrounded by a thousand demons.

Do not be disheartened... you have a loving heavenly father who dares to go any extreme for your cause.

5. The love of Christ gives us a sound mind:

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
John:11:9

Christ is light. If we walk in the light of Christ,  in the direction of the Holy Spirit we will not stumble. The Love of Christ never confuse us.

A. The Lord himself shall be our light and we shall not stumble.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm:27:1

B. The word of God is a light to our path.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm:119:105

C. Christ himself is that light that will bring us to the sanctuary of God.

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Psalm:43:3

D. There is a light inside of us... even our conscience through which God can lead us.

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm:18:28
 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs:20:27

More than anything... if we are walking in the love of Christ we are walking in the light.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John:1:7

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John:2:10

To GOD BE THE GLORY.... amen.