"PrayerPower"

Prayer Power

June 2007

I Am – The Resurrection and the Life

Death is one of the most difficult crises we face. Have you experienced the death of someone you love? If you have, you know the feelings that accompany death: denial, anger, self-pity, depression, confusion, grief, loneliness, the list goes on and on.

When Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus, died, his sisters were grief stricken. (John 1:1-43) Intimate friends of Jesus, they sent word immediately when Lazarus became ill. Jesus especially loved these three friends (verse 5); they’d watched Him heal many sick people.

Yet four days passed before Jesus showed up! Why? The sisters didn’t understand and accused, “Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

But Jesus spoke with the women and said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26)

Then, arriving at the tomb where Lazarus had lain four days, Jesus commanded the stone that sealed the mouth of the cave to be rolled away. To everyone’s astonishment, Jesus called, “Lazarus, come out!” And he did! Alive again!

Jesus is resurrection and life if we believe. What can this mean? We all must die.

Resurrection in Greek means anastasis: a literal resurrection from the dead; a standing up again; raised to life again.

Jesus allowed Lazarus to be an example of His power over death on earth.

Jesus is our eternal resurrection, eternal life, for those who die with faith in Christ. “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep (alive or dead), we may live together with Him.” (1 Thess 5:10) “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Rom 14:9)

John 11 says Jesus wakened Lazarus from sleep (death) for these reasons:

· For God’s glory, and that God’s Son, Jesus, would get glory (John 11:5)

· That those watching might believe (John 11:15,42)

· That Lazarus would live again (John 11:23)

· That people would see the glory of God (John 11:40)

Are your prayers without life? Do you have another god in your life besides Jesus, God’s own Son? Are your prayers answered by your god or left unanswered?

In Jesus Christ alone there is resurrection and life, for this world and for eternity. When you pray to Him, asking Him for the eternal life that only He can give, then He will come to you, then He will answer your prayers. He will call you by name, remove you from your grave clothes and give you life.

God wants you to live. God wants to get glory from your resurrection, just as He got glory when Lazarus walked from his tomb. He wants those who know you to believe in His power and see His glory.

Will you choose life? Will you choose Jesus? “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here I am.” (Is 58:9)

There is power in prayer when we pray to Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. In Him alone we have life.

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Petey Prater is a Beaverton, OR, writer and speaker and can be reached at peteyprater@yahoo.com. She writes articles, poetry, and devotionals, and has contributed to three books.

Prayers for Troubled Times compiled by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers and

101 Stories of Answered Prayer by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers