“Mr. Albert! Come quickly!” a voice called at the window.
Mr. Albert looked at his watch and saw that it was 5:30 in the morning. Why would someone be calling at his window so early?
When he looked out, he saw a neighbor, Juan, was there.
“My wife is very sick!” he said. “Please take us to the doctor at once.”
Mr. Albert got his jeep and went around to the neighbor’s house. Juan’s wife had a terrible sore throat, and now she was losing the use of her right arm. They rushed to the hospital, and as soon as they got there they called to the doctor, “Doctor! We have a very sick lady here!”
As the doctor took them quickly to the emergency room, another group of people arrived and called out, “Doctor! An emergency! A man has been killed!”
The doctor didn’t stop what he was doing. He didn’t even turn his head. All he said was, “Over there is the room for dead people.”
Why did the doctor act so quickly for the sick lady and not move at all for the man who had just been killed? Because there was nothing at all the doctor could do to help a dead man. The only thing left to do for the dead man was to fill out a death certificate. No one could help the dead man.
And that’s just what Mary and Martha in Bible times thought when their brother died. They knew that if Jesus had been there when their brother Lazarus was sick, Jesus could have healed him. But when Jesus wanted to open the grave, Martha said, “Lord, by this time he [smells]: for he [has] been dead four days.” After all, who could help a dead man? But Jesus had told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:2525Jesus 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)).
The doctor couldn’t help the dead man at the emergency room, but Jesus can help even a dead man! All Jesus had to do was speak a word, because Jesus is God. He said, “Lazarus, come forth.” And the dead man heard and obeyed! Today the Lord Jesus can still speak to dead men. He speaks to men (and boys and girls) who are dead in trespasses and sins. Just as He gave life to Lazarus, He can give life to those who have no life towards God. “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-54But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4‑5)).
Have you ever heard the voice of Jesus speaking to you? He speaks to you through His Word, the Bible. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). The Lord Jesus wants to take you from being dead in your sins and give you everlasting life. Listen to Him today.
Even though the doctor couldn’t help the dead man, he was able to give medicine to Juan’s wife. She had a bad case of tonsillitis and could not move her arm because her throat was so swollen that a nerve was pinched. After a week she was back home with her family and able to eat. Lazarus, the dead man who lived again, was also having supper the next time we read about him. And who was he with? Jesus! If you already have eternal life, then you also need to spend time with Jesus. He loves you and likes to see your face and hear your voice. Have you spoken to Him today?
ML-05/25/1997