What About Lazarus?

 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2 KJV

Now, we are all familiar with the story of Martha complaining to Jesus that she was doing all the work, and most know about Mary pouring perfume on the Lord’s feet, but we don’t really know much about Lazarus. The Bible doesn’t tell us even one word that he ever said. In some ways Lazarus reminds me a little of my grandmother. She once told me, “When I was young, I was my father’s daughter.” (The local doctor.) When I married, I became my husband’s wife, (my grandfather was a U.S. Navy Captain.) When I had children, I became the mother of my kids: (Both my mom and one of my uncles became somewhat well-known writers.) “What I want to know, is when I can just be me?” Like my grandmother, we don’t know anything about Lazarus personally. We first hear about him only as the brother of Mary and Martha. Later on, all we know is that he got sick and died. We aren’t told whether Lazarus was married, had any children or even what kind of job he had. But we do find out one very important thing: Jesus called him out of the grave! His life may not have been impressive, but the lesson that we learn from Lazarus is because, we are loved by Jesus Christ. We don’t need to have the best grades, the highest paying job, or a perfect family to be special to Him. To Jesus, none of those details matter more than the simple fact that He chose give His life for us and that, if we believe in Him, He will also call us from our grave. Then, just like Lazarus, we will get to sit next to Jesus at His table in heaven forever and ever. And that is pretty impressive if you ask me!

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Saint Augustine
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Table of the Lord – Part Three

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Luke 22:14-15 ESV

This time when we come to the Lord’s table, it is not a feast in a green pasture, nor is it a banqueting table under a beautiful banner. This table where Jesus invites us was where He ate His last meal on earth, sharing it with His closest friends. Here is the table where Jesus took bread and blessed it, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” Later, as dinner was ending, Jesus took His cup and said, “This cup is poured out for you which is the New Covenant in my blood.” This is the table which He ate at while His enemies watched. This is the table where the banner of His love was spread over us. So, let’s take a moment and lift up our hearts in praise because, at this table we are asked to remember the terrible price that He paid for our salvation. Let’s worship Him in amazement, because this is the table overflowing with blessings that He has earnestly desired to share with us. But before we eat and before we drink: we are cautioned to ask, “Have we prepared our hearts for this table which Jesus has prepared for us?” If not, He invites us to seek His pardon, trusting that He will never turn away any child who comes with faith and a repentant heart. Here at the Lord’s Table, is the good news that He has done all that we need to make us ready to share this table with Him!

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Abba Father!

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 NLT

Call me old fashioned, but nothing irks me more than to hear people call their parents by their first names. According to recent estimates, there are eight billion folks on earth who can call them “Bob,” or “Barbara,” but only their children can call out “Mom!” or “Dad!” Today’s verse reminds us that as God’s adopted children, we receive the privilege to call Him “Abba, Father.” God has many names in the Bible like “Mighty God” “Prince of Peace” and Wonderful Counselor,” and these all tell us what He does. But we who have been adopted into His family, can call Him “Abba.” Because of who He is to us.

Fifty years ago, I walked into a hospital room and saw my wife holding our newborn son. As I looked in amazement at his tiny, wrinkled face, God gave me much more than a new job: He gave me a new name: “Dad” When we put our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are adopted into God’s family and can begin to call Him: “Abba Father.” But in that very same instant, as God looks down at our faces, He also gives us new names and calls out “Welcome home son.” and “Welcome Home daughter!”

Have you been adopted into God’s family? You can be today! The Bible says, "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 NLT
Believe in Him and accept Him as Lord and you too can call Him "ABBA!"