Think of how trees seem so barren in the wintertime. Nothing on the outside of the tree indicates life, and yet on the inside the tree is very alive. That is when the sap (much like blood to our bodies) is being produced and moves the strongest, bringing a life flow to every branch and twig. Then spring comes, and the trees turn beautiful with blossoms and leaves. All of the life on the inside is now flowing out.

Do not underestimate the winter times. Life is at work in the destitute, dark, and gloomy moments. Remember that when times seem their darkest, life is building up from the deep places. Soon, just as the trees blossom and create the beauty of spring, summer, and fall, the time of prosperity will come.

When we see everything prospering around us, it is easy to think only of how great and how wonderful that is. But remember this: During the times of prosperity, all the life is flowing out. That would not be possible without the life that is developed deep within during the dark winter seasons of life.

"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her

sister Martha."�

"(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)"�

"Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."�

"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."�

"Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."�

"Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again."�

"His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest

thou thither again?"�

"Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world."�

"But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."�

"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 11:1-11)."�

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."�

"But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."�

"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again."�

"Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."�

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"� (John 11:21-26).

"And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."�

"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."�

"And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."� (John 11:42-44).

Lazarus was sick and he died. When people are sick, they are taken to the hospital. When they are dead they go to the funeral parlor, and then they are buried. We were not born into this world to meet Jesus Christ as sick people but as spiritually dead people"”people who are without a source of eternal life until we meet the Savior and are born again.

God quickens those who believe on Him. Even though we were dead in trespasses and sin, He meets us in death, where His resurrection power takes over. And, whoever believes on Him lives and never dies again.

That is what Jesus was trying to explain to Martha in the midst of her grief over her brother Lazarus' death. She was upset that Jesus had not visited earlier as He had so many other times.

"Look, Martha, I am the resurrection and life, right now!"� He told her. "All that I will be tomorrow, I am today. All that I was yesterday, I am now. I am resurrection and life, Martha. He who believes on Me, though he was dead, he shall yet live. And whoever believes on Me will never die."�

Jesus was led to the gravesite of Lazarus. He saw the unbelieving Jews wailing over the

man's death. There was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, falling at Jesus' feet saying,

"If You had been here, my brother would not have died!"�

With that, Jesus groaned in His spirit and wept, for He so well understood the pain of sickness and death and the pain of their sorrow.

Standing near the grave, Jesus asked that the stone be removed. "What?"� He was asked.

"Surely, the body stinks."�

Behind the stone was a rotting, smelly corpse. The Lord wanted these people to get close so they could get a good idea of what sin smells like and what happens when bodies die and decay.

"Come close to the grave,"� Jesus was saying here. "Get a good look at what sin does to a body of death."�

Finally, Jesus spoke, saying to Lazarus, "Out! Now!"� That is exactly what He said, according to the original Greek text. At that moment, life came back into Lazarus, and he came forth from the grave. Jesus then told the people who stood there in amazement to help him get out of his grave clothes. The Lord brought in resurrection life and released the grip of death.

Reading on into chapter 12 of John, we find Lazarus alive and enjoying fellowship around the Gospel. Martha and Mary were back serving Jesus Christ.

What a beautiful story of life coming out of death.

Taken from the booklet, A Cross for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, published in 1996 by Grace Publications.