The online KPPI (Praise and Divine Healing Service) took place again on Monday, November 30, 2020, through the Live Streaming program which can be watched on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The Word of God was delivered by Rev. Jacob B. Sumbayak, taken from John 11: 1-44 about Lazarus being resurrected.
Jesus Raised a Man Who had been Buried Four Days
Lazarus was a disciple of Lord Jesus. He was Mary and Martha’s brother who lived in Bethany. Mary was the woman who once anointed God’s feet with myrrh and wiped them with her hair. When they sent a message to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, Jesus said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus deliberately delayed his arrival, still remaining two days before visiting Lazarus. Then He said to His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” So the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
Jesus therefore said frankly, “Lazarus is already dead; but thank goodness I was not present at that time, for it is better for you that you may learn to believe. Let us go now to him.” How did Jesus know that Lazarus was dead? He is the Son of God, He is omniscient.
When Jesus arrived, He found Lazarus had been lying in the tomb for four days. John 11: 20-22 tells of when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to find Him. But Maria stayed home. So Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Martha was sure that if Lord Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died and would be healed. Martha wanted to say that the Lord Jesus was late in coming, but Martha still believed that Jesus could ask God for everything. But Martha did not understand what Jesus said that Lazarus would rise and live. All she knew and believed was that Lazarus would rise with believers in the last days. But the idea of Lazarus being resurrected that day was beyond her thinking. She didn’t think Lazarus could be resurrected, and she had never heard of Jesus raising someone who had been dead four days.
Indeed, Jesus had raised Jairus’ daughter who was 12 years old and had just died (Mark 5: 41-42). Jesus also raised a young man in Nain who might have died a few hours and was being carried to be buried (Luke 7: 11-17). But now he had been dead four days, the body already had a stance, the organs had decomposed and rotten, moreover the brain had been permanently damaged. Let’s say that, if our brains don’t get oxygen for just 4-6 minutes, it’s already permanently damaged, especially since it had been four days.
Mary, when she met Jesus, had the same thought. She fell at His feet and said to Him, “Lord, if You were here, my brother would not have died.” So at that time Mary and Martha did not think that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead on that day. Even when Jesus was at Lazarus’ tomb and ordered to open Lazarus’ tomb, Martha told Jesus “Lord he is dead and stinks.” Jesus answered, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
And having said this, and praying, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come on out!” How could the dead be called to come out? But the dead obeyed Jesus’ voice. Lazarus who had been dead and buried four days rose and walked out of the tomb. His body should have been rotten and permanently damaged, but hearing Jesus’ command he got up and walked. Hallelujah… this is an extraordinary miracle that Jesus performed.
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
Jesus is very powerful. Will you today, after hearing the Word of God, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who raised people who had been dead four days? John 11: 25-26, Jesus answered, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe this? If you believe, even though you are spiritually dead because of so many sins that you cannot afford to pay, then you will live. If you believe, you will be saved and have eternal life.
John 3:16, “Because God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have eternal life”. This is the time to believe. Jesus comes from Heaven. Who is like Him that can perform extraordinary miracles?
John 5: 24-25, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.”
And yes, the dead man could hear the voice of Jesus and was alive. He got up and walked. Will you believe in Jesus who is so powerful? If you want to believe in Jesus, there is salvation for you, because all who believe in Him, their sins are paid for by His blood and will be saved.
By His stripes We Are Healed
Isaiah 53:5, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Who was wounded for our transgressions? Jesus. Who was bruised for our iniquities? Jesus. Who receives the chastisement, agony, and torment so that we are saved? Jesus.
Who had the stripes? Jesus. It is by these stripes of Jesus that we are healed.
Have faith, while the dead four days and already decomposed was made alive, especially those of us who haven’t died, believe that Jesus Himself will heal you. See with faith that Jesus can heal you.
Jesus is a God of miracles, with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. He fed 5000 men, not including women and children. He rebuked the big waves at the lake to be calm and still and the lake was calm again.
He is the Son of God who is called the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13: 8). Whatever your illness is, as long as you believe in His name, there is healing, and you will be healed. [RS/EM]