to lack of love. (John 11:5-7).

Just as you rely on your personal timing to awake for work, Jesus had a personal time for when he would go to Lazarus. How does the saying go, "God is never too early or too late, but he's always right on time."

As usual (just like us at times), the disciples were late in understanding what Jesus was doing. They typically viewed things from the natural fleshy mindset and not the spiritual mindset. (John 11:11-14).

The disciples thought that Lazarus was in a good place if he is sleeping. The Greek word (exupnizō, exupnos) from the verb and adjective means to awake. To be 'roused out of sleep. To simply wake up, awaken out of a sleep.

Have you ever heard stories about people who are heavy sleepers? Have you ever had to raise your voice to get someone to wake up? There are people who sleep soundly, or sleep in a deep slumber, or sleep like a log.

Notice Jesus didn't say, "Hey guys, let's go wake up Lazarus, his sisters are having a difficult time getting him up." No one was waking up Lazarus except one person. So, Jesus waited four days to walk 1/8 mile from Jerusalem to Bethany.

Jesus calculated his delay and still, he wasn't late, but showed up on time. For a brief moment, notice how God gets blamed for everything that befalls our own sinful nature, including the curse of death. We all eventually fall asleep (die).

Martha tells Jesus, "If only you had been here on time." "Jesus, you're late, my brother is dead!" (John 11:21-22). She did leave open that fact that God would give Jesus whatever he asks for. Please read these verses aloud in your spirit.

23} "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24} Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25} Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27} She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:23-27 KJV).

Here again, in verse 25 and 26, Jesus is speaking about the spirit. There is a natural death but there is also a spiritual death for those who reject his love gift of salvation.

The same power Jesus spoke of concerning his own death  (John 10:17-18 KJV), would be the same power he had to raise up Lazarus. Jesus has power over life and death as well as the power to forgive sins.

"Since Jesus gave us life, he, being the greatest physician on earth, knows how to restore life, amen?" Whoever believes in Jesus has a spiritual life that death cannot conquer or diminish in any way.

Jesus later told his disciples, "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19 KJV). Regardless, we fail at times to trust God fully. Again, he comes the blame game.

This time it's Mary who gets to blame Jesus for showing up late. Wherever there is tragedy, people who do not know God find it easy to blame him. They use the same words as Mary.

"If God loved us, he would not allow bad things to happen to us." Notice how those who don't know God never blame Satan for anything. But Jesus continues to stress to us that God cares for us.

Notice, when Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he, too, wept openly. (John 11:33-37). So, God doesn't care about us when grief or trouble comes? Jesus carried the same emotions we have, yet he was still God Almighty.

The people knew Jesus loved him. But there always remain doubters and skeptics. This includes Martha, who basically told him, "Forget it Lord, it's been four days, you’re too late dude!" So, Jesus has to once again remind her.

"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV). So, what does Jesus do? Something we should all do when someone is sick in our family, pray.

Not doubt or become a skeptic, or trust in man's ability over God, but pray and trust him. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Luke 18:1; Psalm 42:5,11; 43:5; 78:8; Acts 5:28-33; 24:14-15). With all this negativity around him, Jesus stayed focused and prayed.

And after Jesus acknowledged the Father, thanking him for hearing him, it was time for Lazarus to receive his wake-up call. "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." John 11:43 KJV).

Jesus could have whispered to Lazarus to come forth. But he did this for the sake of the people standing around. Notice, after Lazarus comes forth, he is still bound with grave clothes. Even his face was covered. (John 11:44).

Jesus had those who doubted him to unwrap Lazarus up close and personal so they could see his face and eyes wide open. No one unwrapped Jesus at his resurrection. Jesus is the only power we need to get us up on that final sleep.

It reminds me of wanting to stay asleep and not getting up for school. But when these mighty hands pulled back the comforter (along with a belt just in case), and said "Todd, get up, get outta that bed, you'll be late for school!"

My whole body just wanted to stay wrapped up like Lazarus. But now I know, my mother could never wake me up the way Jesus can. Hallelujah! Jesus woke up others too during his ministry. (Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:40-56; Luke 7:11-15).

So, the crowd had two groups of people. Some saw this loving miracle and believed in Jesus. Others still remained doubters and skeptics and became tattle tales to the Pharisees. Again, in relation to my siblings, they told on me.

I mean, if I tried to sleep in and wouldn't get out the bed, wrapped in my blankets, they would yell downstairs and tell my mother I wasn't getting up. When I heard those feet stomping up those steps, I got up in a hurry. (Smile).

There are many people who are suffering because they chose position and power over belief. They have been separated from God because they decided to wake-up on the wrong side of the spiritual bed, (spiritual death).


🗣📢 Last words: For you 2025 disbelievers, all I can do is offer the same factual truth about Jesus' resurrection. First, we have Jesus' own personal testimony that he was raised from the dead.

Then we have the various appearances of Jesus. Many different people saw Jesus after the resurrection. See if you can find the passages in your Bible. Wake-up to the truth about his resurrection.

The appearances were as follows.

1} Mary Magdalene. The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene.

2} Mary the mother of James, Salome, and Joanna. Jesus also appeared to these three women. This happened after the appearance to Mary Magdalene. They even touch his body.

3} Peter. Peter ran to see if what he was told was true.

4} Two Disciples. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the Emmaus.

5} The Disciples. Jesus appears to the disciples. Thomas was absent the first time.

6} All Of The Disciples. Eight days later He appeared again. He appears a second to Peter and the other disciples, Thomas was there this time.

7} Seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee witnessed seeing Jesus.

8} A mountain In Galilee. There was still some lingering doubt among some.

9} Over five hundred people. How can that many people conjure up a lie that somebody stole his body? Paul testified about seeing him.

10} Jesus appeared to his half-brother James.


🕇 These appearances convinced his disciples, beyond any doubt, that he had risen from the dead. So, for true authentic born-again believers, here's our wake-up call from the book of (1 Corinthians).

51} "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJV).

Paul says that flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Why? Because it's corrupt and sinful. So, that leaves your spirit. That must be regenerated before you sleep for the last time.

The problem with putting off Jesus, is that your never promised tomorrow. Our lives are like a drop of vapor. Before the day is out you could become a dash between two dates. (Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 39:5; James 4:14).

Remember, my beloved friends, Easter is more than some Peter Cottontail egg coloring, family feast gathering, chocolate event. It is a celebration of what Jesus endured for us so we could be with him in his glorious home.

Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, there would be no Christianity. The resurrection is central because it demonstrates that Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to pay for sin and assures us that we will also be resurrected.

The power of God that brought Jesus back from the dead will also bring us back to life. Jesus’ death was not the end. His resurrection is the beginning of eternal life for all who believe in him. (Romans 10:8-10,13).

Waking up on the wrong side of death leaves you with no hope of ever living with him. Paul had the utmost assurance he would be with Jesus. Paul understood the resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Without it, his preaching and faith was empty. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:10-11; Acts 26:22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Sleeping in Christ means we have our "Time to get up" eternal life appointment clock set.

So, that there's no confusion about sleeping in death, when you die in Christ your spirit immediately goes to be with Christ. But when Jesus returns, we will have resurrected bodies. We will have imperishable, glorious bodies. 

Therefore, Jesus is your only source of hope to be with him in the final resurrection. Many think they can bypass Jesus to get to God. There are not 10 to 20 ways to enter God's Kingdom.

[The Resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope. Jesus promised that he would rise from the dead, and because he did, we can be assured that every other promise God makes us will also come true.]

Jesus told the church at Sardis in (Revelation 3:1-3) To wake up. But wake up from what? Their wealth and comfort had lulled them to sleep. Did you know very wealthy people die every day? But do they get to take it with them?
 

They still die, and their self-satisfaction had caused them to die spiritually. You can be alive naturally, but be walking around dead spiritually. They wandered away from the apostles’ teaching. We all have to spiritually prepared and morally awake.

So, here's your wake-up call memory return of Jesus. Use it as you would your natural alarm clock.

1. Christ will return visibly, with a commanding shout.

2. There will be an unmistakable call from an angel.

3. There will be trumpet fanfare.

4. Believers in Christ who are dead will rise from their graves.

5. Believers who are alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.


So, do you now believe? Have you repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? You can do so today, on RESURRECTION DAY! Remember, my friends, Lazarus was raised from the dead, but he died again.

I realize there may be near death experiences stories out there, but those may not be experiences of turning to God. Yes, God can use them to draw people, but they could be warning experiences also.

In the final resurrection, (end of the world) there are no final near death experiences. So, do you look forward to Christ’s return, or are you afraid of it? If you hope for a favorable decision in his court, it must be at his judgment seat.

If you appear at the Great White Throne Judgement, your case is hopeless. You can put your hope in Jesus today. Jesus is the only one who can pardon you from sins grasp. Then you can rejoice that God's Son stood in your place on the cross.

Here's your Resurrection Day (Easter) Quiz. How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible? Do you have a number? Be careful. There could be a trap in your answer. (Smile).

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

 

🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to be in the resurrection. "Heavenly Father, thank you for today's alive wake-up message. Lord, there have been so many times in my life when I felt hopeless and unhappy with living.

I tried many things to feel alive. Whatever the new craze is, I soaked myself into it. But it always left me searching for more fulfillment in life. Lord, I feel like I'm dying on the inside. I'm exhausted by trying to keep up in life.

I know that each day I set my wake-up call, it feels like I'm closer to death's door. I thought suicide would make all the pain go away. But after finding out my spirit will never die and my conscience will still be alert, I need you

Lord Jesus, after seeing your word and hearing today's videos, and your mighty act on the cross, your victorious resurrection have paved the way for me to experience new life in you. Today, I am grateful for the forgiveness of sin.

I hold on to hope, knowing that the hope of eternal life, and the power to live a life transformed by your love, helps me to live a new internal resurrected life. You are the purpose and the meaning of my final resurrection.

I’m sorry for spending so much of my life fighting you. I’m accepting you as my Savior and Lord today. Bring my heart to be focused on you today and every day going forward. May your love set an eternal blaze in my heart.

My wake-up call is forever in your hands. Thank you, Jesus, for going to prepare a place for me. Because you live Lord, I will live also. I love you, Lord, and thank you for loving me. In your name, I pray, Amen.”


❤ "If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, please read the drop-down page entitled "How to know Jesus."


📣 Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.


🙏 Please remember to pray for the people in Israel. They are God's people because of his covenant promises to them. (Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; 24:8-9). ✝️



☎️ Prayer Line- Text line- 412-616-3572

​