52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Ever been so certain about something only to discover that you were dead wrong? I have. The people “wailing and mourning” in the above verse had. Many other examples of Scripture flood my mind right now dealing with this exact same issue. Let’s just take a look at a few of these. I believe we will be encouraged by our quick glance! Let’s first begin with Sarah, elderly wife of Abraham. Upon overhearing the Lord discuss with Abraham the following and what ensues:10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Gen 18:10 (NIV)
Being well advanced in years and past the age of childbearing, Sarah reasons:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Gen 18:12 (NIV)
The Lord replies to Abraham regarding her thoughts: 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh." Gen 18:13-15 (NIV)
The scene almost appears comical – “I did not laugh”; “Yes, you did laugh”. Thank God such human nature is portrayed in Scripture so that we will not grow weary ourselves and loose hope! I don’t know about you, but I can certainly relate to Sarah here! By the way, Sarah does have a son – the next year. His name is Isaac meaning one laughs or laughter! Let’s take a look at a New Testament example, Mary and Martha and, what they presumed to be their deceased brother, Lazarus. The story unfolds in the following manner: Lazarus was sick. Mary and Martha send for Jesus stating:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." John 11:3 (NIV)
Jesus responds in the following manner: 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. John 11:4-6 (NIV)
When the time had fully come, He states to His clueless disciples: 7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." John 11:7 (NIV) 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11:11-16 (NIV)
Upon arrival to the scene, Scripture tells us that Lazarus has been dead for four days. Martha approaches Jesus stating the following: 21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." John 11:21-22 (NIV)
Mary, when she reached the place where Jesus was fell at His feet and said the same thing: 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." John 11:32 (NIV)
We know the story all too well. Jesus orders that the stone be taken from the entrance to the tomb. Martha resists stating that there would be a bad odor since he had been dead already for four days. But Jesus gently reminds her: 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40 (NIV)
They remove the stone. Jesus calls the dead man out by name (Augustine once remarked that had Jesus not specifically stated Lazarus, all the other dead would have come forth too!). Clad in his burial clothes, Lazarus comes forth. Jesus responds: Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." John 11:44 (NIV)
This is a vivid picture indeed! We are all called to remove the stone that blocks the entrance to our belief of all of God’s good promises towards us. We need to take off those grave clothes and go forth in the power and in the sweet aroma of Christ.