Time Out for God

Devotional Ministry

By Danna Appleby

www.timeoutforgod.com

 

Comforting Savior

Jesus Will Still Be There:  by Point of Grace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP4GFr0Idwk&feature=related

I, even I, am He who comforts you.  (Isaiah 51:12)

From John 11:1-44.

Lazarus was ill.  As a matter of fact, he was dying.  His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word telling Jesus that the one He loved now lay sick.  Jesus, being a few miles away in Jerusalem, didn’t get in a hurry but lingered a few more days.  Jesus told His disciples the sickness would not end in death and God’s Son would be glorified through it.  Jesus meant that man would die physically, but if he believed in Him, he would never die.  Jesus also said their good friend had fallen asleep but He was going to wake him up. 

By the time Jesus and His disciples arrived at Bethany , Lazarus had been dead four days.  Jesus sent word to the sisters that He was near so Martha went to meet him.  Perhaps Mary stayed behind to greet friends and relatives who came to their home to offer words of comfort.  When Martha saw Jesus, she wasted no time in telling her feelings.  If we could see their words in a drama, this is what we would read:

Martha:  “If you had only been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus:  “Your brother shall rise again.”

Martha:  “I know that he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus:  “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. 

Do you believe this?”

Martha:  “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ,

the Son of God, which has come into the world.”

Once the conversation ended, Martha went her way to tell her sister that the Master had asked for her.  Once Mary heard, she didn’t waste a moment and quickly left with the Jews on her heels.  When Mary saw Jesus, she knelt at His feet and repeats her sister’s words: 

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Mary’s tears couldn’t be contained any longer and she wept openly.  When Jesus saw her and the Jews weeping, His spirit groaned and He was deeply troubled.  

Jesus asked Mary where they had laid her brother and she took Him to the tomb.  Tears of sorrow overcame Jesus.  After seeing Jesus grieve, the Jews commented on the love He had for Lazarus. 

As Jesus approached the tomb, He was once again deeply moved.  The Word says, “Jesus wept.” (Jn. 11:35)  Jesus asked for the stone to be moved, but Martha insisted since her brother had been in the grave four days, there would be a bad odor. 

Jesus asked Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  So they did as Jesus said and removed the stone. 

Jesus said a prayer to His Father and with a loud voice commanded:

“Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43)

Despite the dead man’s binding graves clothes, he walked out of the cold cave of a tomb.  Jesus told them:  “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 

Can you just imagine the onlookers’ amazement at what had just occurred?  After all, the body of Lazarus had been decaying with each passing minute as it lay silently in a place of no return.  When Lazarus walked out of the tomb, do you think there were screams of terror or squeals of delight? Probably a combination! The unbelievers had to have been surprised that anything that miraculous could happen, but they just didn’t know the power of God!  The Great I Am had been on the scene.  The Believers may have been shocked even though they knew Jesus had already performed many miracles and was the Son of God.  Mary and Martha no doubt were ecstatic to see their beloved brother join the living.

Just as Jesus told His disciples before He left Jerusalem , God’s glory would be manifested.  Unconvinced Jews saw and believed that Jesus was who He said.  Others were angry and didn’t know what to do about what had just happened.  In spite of doubters, the awesome power of Jesus was shown and His glory revealed.   His Words were true. 

The Son of God had compassion on His dear friends and He wept along with them.  His inward anguish became evident to everyone in His presence.  The onlookers witnessed His sorrow over the death of a dear friend.  The heart of Jesus was touched when He heard Mary’s and Martha’s cries. 

Jesus had such a deep love for His friends that when they hurt, He hurt.  It is no different today, when we hurt, He hurts.  Our Lord has compassion for His people. 

We can look through Scripture and see where God comforted those who were mourning, downhearted or in dire straits.  When Jesus preached His infamous Sermon on the Mount, He promised that those who mourned would be comforted.  Imagine Jesus on a hillside speaking from the very heart of God words that resonated throughout the valley to anxious hearers.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 

(Mt. 5:4)

Some may think that Jesus was God so how could He possibly know about suffering or sorrow?  How could He know what a hurting human being goes through?  But Scripture tells us:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God. 

(Is. 53:3-4)

When Jesus was about to crucified, He was mocked by soldiers speaking the most despicable words to a loving Savior.  He was betrayed by one of His own.  He was denied by another. He was falsely accused by those who turned against Him.  So yes, we can truthfully say that Jesus knows about suffering and sorrow because He experienced it all. 

There have been times I was crushed with grief.  When my father, Rev. Walter C. Mauldin, Sr., went to be with the Lord in 1986, my heart was broken in two.  I didn’t understand why God had to take my dad Home, but He knew why.  For probably the first year, I cried every day.  Actually, I probably cried off and on for several years, but I felt better once I cried.  Tears are God’s way of healing us from our grief. 

Even though I didn’t realize it, God was doing His best to comfort me.  He not only sent forth His Word and healed me as I read the Bible I found in my Dad’s collection of books, but the Lord also sent therapy to His hurting daughter.  (Ps. 107:20)

I had never been artistic in my life, but the Lord sent a friend who asked if I would like to join her in doing a simple woodcraft project.  When we got together, we used a jigsaw to cut out the wooden doll holding a basket.  I was thrilled at my creation and my husband suggested I purchase a bandsaw for future woodworking.  Once we made the purchase, my friend and I got together on several occasions to cut out what we wanted to keep or give as gifts.  The therapy took hold especially when I was alone to paint my folk art.  I have looked back on that time knowing with all of my heart that God sent me the precious gift of therapy. 

During the difficult years, I read in Scripture that the Lord hears our cries of distress and sends comfort to soothe our troubled hearts.  I learned that I could call upon the Lord and He would hear me. 

For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it.  Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.  (Isaiah 51:3)

God is our Jehovah-Shammah which means “The Lord is present.” (Ezekiel 48:35)  When we’re grieving or troubled, He is present to give strength so you can carry on.  He will steady you so you can take another step.  If you are suffering today, You are not alone.  The Lord is present.  

Many times the Lord comforts His children through means of His other children to help soothe an aching heart.  Recently, I was talking to a friend who had just lost her beloved husband.  She said it seemed when she was feeling alone the Lord would always send someone to call or come by.  It was comforting to her during some very rough days.  In the beginning, there were friends from the church that wouldn’t even let her stay alone at night.  Those loving people were sent by God and actually became the hands and feet of Jesus to a dear friend in need. 

That is the way our God is, He’s looking out for His people and comforts them during dark times.  We have His promise:

As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you . . . .

(Is. 66:13)

The Word speaks of tribulation and times that will try us, but remember God is there to bring comfort when we call upon His name.  Your comforting Savior is on duty because He is a God of mercy and love.

There are some who are struggling with circumstances beyond their control and things they never thought they would have to face.  The situation came as a shock.  Life took a strange turn, but through every heartache and trial, God is there and has His loving arms around you at this very moment.  Our comforting Savior is there to help you in your time of need. 

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.  (Psalm 46:5)

Prayer:  Father, I come to you thankful that you heal us when we’re hurting.  You come at just the right time to soothe us and you do that so wonderfully.  O Lord, there are many among us who have broken hearts today because their loved one has departed this life.  I praise you that we have Someone we can cling to and as we draw near you, you draw near to us giving comfort.  Lord, touch these broken hearts today.  Give them strength to make it through another day.  Completely heal and restore.  Send power and strength from on High.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.