There is a lot of superstition aboard a ship. For instance, for centuries it was believed that having women aboard was bad luck. Since death was a common occurrence in the Age of Sail, another superstition called for the dead body to be placed in the man’s hammock and two cannonballs placed at his feet. These prevented the departed sailor from following the ship. The sailmaker sewed thirteen stitches to close the hammock, and his last stitch pierced the departed’s nose. This guaranteed that the sailor was truly dead, kept his body in its coffin, and thwarted his ghost from appearing on the ship’s decks after burial. As silly as all that sounds, it is not hard for some people to fall into superstition. If only it were that easy for people to believe in miracles. Unless they see it with their own eyes, most people find the miraculous hard to believe. Miracles today are not as visible as they were in the Bible days. Yet, even then the people needed to see huge, unexplainable miracles in order to believe.
In John 11, it talks about Lazarus and how Jesus raised him from the dead.
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” (John 11:4 NIV).
Jesus loved Lazarus, yet he waited two days before going to him, even though He knew that Lazarus was dying. Why? Because God had a plan. A miracle needed to occur and Lazarus was going to be a part of that miracle.
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17 NIV).
By this time, Lazarus was buried and his body was already beginning to decay. This did not matter to Jesus, because He knew the Father’s plan for this day. Even though Jesus knew He could and would raise Lazarus, he still felt the emotions of those around Him (in verse 35, Jesus wept.)
Not only were the people about to witness a miracle, they also saw just how much Jesus loved Lazarus—and them.
Then we have the actual miracle:
Verses 43–44: When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
I wonder what was going through Lazarus’ mind? After all, he awakened in a tomb all wrapped up in burial clothes!
We may never know what he was thinking, but we can imagine ourselves in his place. How would we feel? How would we respond? To be a part of such an amazing miracle! What an honor it was for Lazarus to be chosen for this example of God’s power.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28 NIV).
Debbie Mitchell