Lenten Reader | Day 32

April 10th, 2025

Glory of God

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

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.”

John 11:38-44

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is one of the most profound miracles in the New Testament. It not only demonstrates Jesus’ divine authority of life and death but also sets the stage for His own resurrection.

When Lazarus became ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus, letting him know, “Lord the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “The 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).

Rather than racing to his friend’s side he waited until the fourth day to appear at the tomb in Bethany. You see, the Jewish culture did not deem a person dead until three days passed. It was believed Jesus wanted to delay his trip to the village of Bethany so there would be no doubt whatsoever that Lazarus was dead.

When Jesus arrived at the side of the tomb, he commanded that the stone be “taken away” even though sister Martha warned of a bad odor. Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?”

Do you allow the threat of “stench or odor” to keep you from believing in the glory of God? In my younger years my grandparents kept a “slop bucket” where all the recyclable garbage was placed to later be transferred to the compost pile. Then in the spring of each year the compost was used on the family garden for fertilizer. Thus…something stinky and gross turned into something green, fresh, and luscious.

In this Lenten season, I challenge you to clean up your compost pile and use it for the God’s glory. All those dead and decaying parts of our lives – fears, rotting resentments, and doubt. Turn those doubts into glorification and remember the best fertilizer for growth stinks!

Ann Blake