October 12, 2020 -- John 11:40b-44 -- Resuscitation vs Resurrection and Thanksgiving!
/And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:41b-44 English Standard Version
Do you know the difference between a resuscitation and the resurrection? This is an important point. Jesus is called the “Firstfruit from the dead” (I Corinthians 15:20 and Revelation 1:5 the firstborn from the dead). Though others were raised from death to life—the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17) and the little girl of Mark 5:41—these people would die once again. Jesus, when He walked out of that tomb, left His grave clothes behind! He was raised to life with new the resurrection body never to die again. Never to know in His flesh and mind the temptation of Satan—which at every step He’d resisted perfectly—even the possibility of Satan approaching to tempt Jesus is completely done. That is why He is the Firstfruit, the Firstborn from the dead because death no longer has power over Him! He is raised in power and by His resurrection death is defeated.
Jesus is the Firstfruit from the dead—when He rose to new life He had the glorified body prophesied in Psalm 16 and Isaiah 53:10 of one raised to new, eternal life. The grave clothes were left in place because Jesus’ body rose up through them. There was no need for anyone to unbind him from them. His body was raised in glory. His corruptible flesh was now incorruptible, a spiritual body.
This is why we, as Christians, have the greatest reason for thanksgiving—in Jesus Christ we are already now those who have glorious hope for new life—the resurrection body which can never die, never be subjected to temptation and evil. And, even more glorious and wondrous, we shall have the capacity to enjoy the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit as we ought. More than this, when sin’s corrupting power is fully broken it is our delight to worship God and celebrate Him.
This is the beginning, the foretaste of what is ahead. Christians realize the splendor of God the Blessed and Glorious and we want to worship Him. Our minds are drawn to Him. Yes, sin still clings to us like burrs and terrible distractions, but the heart is directed towards thanksgiving and praise and joy in His presence. Ah, what a glorious thanksgiving celebration we can enjoy today and forever.
Today’s prayer is the versification of Psalm 16B “I’ll Bless the LORD Who Counsels Me” If you wish to hear the tune played as you read this prayer-Psalm, the link is included below.
Verse 6
I’ll bless the LORD who counsels me,
That I may know what’s right;
Indeed, my mind has given me
Instruction in the night.
Verse 7
I’ve set the LORD before my face
That Him I’ll always see.
Because He is at my right hand,
Unshaken I will be.
Verse 8
Because of this my heart is glad,
My glory celebrates;
Indeed, my body even now
In hope securely waits,
Verse 9
Because You will not leave my soul
Consigned to depths below;
Corruption You will not allow
Your Godly One to know.
Verse 10
The path of life You’ll show to me;
With You is joy untold.
And pleasures that will have no end,
In Your right hand You hold.
https://psalter.org/sing/psalter?psalter_in=arp
