Alive & Stinking No More

When Jesus stood before Lazarus' tomb and asked for the stone to be removed, we can only imagine how shocked the crowd must have been. For sure Jesus had lost it, and just in case He was overtaken with grief and had some momentary lapse, Lazarus' sister Martha was quick to reminded him, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days" (John 11:39, KJV). Ah, the stench. Martha's claim was legitimate because after 4 days in the grave, the body was in a state of decomposition and its smell would have been very foul. However, that did not stop Jesus who was intent on demonstrating the glory of God (v.40). We know how the narrative ended. They rolled the stone away, Jesus called Lazarus by name, and "he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (v.44).

There must have been a wave of emotion on the part of those watching; shock, bewilderment, tears, laughter, and possible relief. But nowhere in the narrative was concern about the smell mentioned again. In the presence of Jesus, and the resurrected Lazarus, it was a non-issue. A stinking smell was representative of something that was dead; Lazarus was alive! The power and glory of God was revealed.

In this story is a snapshot of ourselves. Dead in sin, and stink to the core, God was nevertheless determined to bring us back to spiritual life. Jesus, sent by the Father, came to sin stained earth, not as a spectator, but that through His obedience we "might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b). He ignored the stench, called us by name, and God “who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us … quickened us together with Christ, ... raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Alive and stench-free! God called us out of our stink and funk to sit in heavenly places with Him. That's more than enough for me to shout and rejoice over. How about you? I believe today is as good a time as any to give God some praise.