In the story of Lazarus' death, Jesus arrives at Bethany 4 days after Lazarus has died, and Martha comes running out to meet him. The first word she says to Jesus is, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" John 11:21
We may be feeling that right now amidst all this uncertainty of COVID-19, “Lord, if only you had been here…” but I want to assure you that the Lord IS HERE and Easter is an opportunity to remind us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16
The greater miracle was not in making Lazarus well when he was sick but in raising him from the dead! As much as we may wish this virus never occurred, the greater miracle is perhaps walking through this together. To see people come together to show others the love God has shown us. Some by staying home, some by going to work day after day exhausted because they care about others. Others are phoning those who are alone to encourage them or picking up much-needed supplies.
Psalm 86:11-12 says, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”
May in this time of isolation from the world draw us ever closer to the “friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24
