Lazarus, Rise Up!
- Adele Creasey
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
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. John 11:43-44
Years ago, I taught Sunday School to middle school kids. One Sunday morning, we studied the passage about Lazarus. With parental permission, I took the kids to the cemetery on the hogback. I narrated the story of Lazarus and then instructed them to yell at the graves, “Rise up!” As you can imagine, no one rose from the dead. The key takeaway is that only through the power of God can anyone rise from the dead. It’s truly awe-inspiring to contemplate the resurrection of Christ and the miracle of Lazarus.
Last week, I was deeply moved by Pastor Jesse's sermon, when he encouraged us to rise up! It’s a powerful message for all of us. However, some days are incredibly challenging, and when we rely solely on our own strength, we inevitably fail. According to the scripture reading last Sunday, when Jesus entered the room where the disciples were hiding, they gained the strength they needed to continue unafraid. History proves this to be true because most of them were martyrs for their faith. May our lives and worship be under the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the one who helps us rise up, just as he did for Lazarus and the disciples! Lazarus overcame the grave, and the disciples overcame their fear and discouragement. Praise be to God for the victory we have in Jesus! Can you say Amen?
The Gaithers sang a song called “Rise Up (Lazarus).” I think the lyrics of the chorus make this point:
Come on and rise up, take a breath, you're alive now
Can't you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
You're brand new, the power of death couldn't hold you
Can't you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
Rise up, rise up, rise up
Out from the grave like Lazarus
