Mindful, Mighty, and Miraculous

Snowy branches – photo by Jill Rushbrook

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11: 41, 42

There is a specific spot in our nation’s capital called a whispering gallery where if you stand in the center of the room, you can hear others clearly on the outer parts of the room even if they whisper. As much as I am amazed by this phenomenon, I am even more amazed and awe-struck that God hears every single prayer uttered by every single human being. How is this even possible? How does he distinguish voice from voice, prayer from prayer, and cry from cry pleading to him? In the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, this passage in John describes how Jesus thanks God for hearing him although he knows that he always hears him. He wanted to share that amazing fact about God the father with the many witnesses who were around him. And why does God hear every single one of us? Because he is mindful of us! “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8: 3,4 This ponderance is ages old but never gets old. The fact that the God of the universe cares for each of us is a call for reverence. 

Not only is our God mindful, but he is mighty! And not only does our God care for us, but he is FOR us. “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Roman 8:31 Any circumstance, challenge, adversary, or insurmountable obstacle is no match for God. In the story of Lazarus, many of the witnesses were skeptical and thought Lazarus’ fate was sealed in death. They knew Jesus had healed others and questioned why he didn’t heal Lazarus before he succumbed to his illness. But Almighty God had other plans. We may think our fate is sealed or that challenging circumstances will define our existence. Or we may give up and think that life has handed us too many blows, knocking us down one too many times. But if God, who created the very planet we live on, who will take care of the birds in the sky, who hears all the prayers of all the people…if this very God is for us, who or what can possibly be against us?

And with his might, he is a God of miracles. After Jesus thanks God the Father for hearing him, he tells the dead and lifeless Lazarus to rise from the dead. “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. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43, 44 Some of us may have heard the story of Lazarus so many times that the miracle has lost its wonder. Lazarus was dead for four days. He was probably already in the decomposition process, which I’m sure none of us wants to think about. Martha was worried if they rolled away the tomb stone that the odor would be too overwhelming. Nothing is too overwhelming or can overpower the might and miraculous power of our God. In a moment, this dead man was walking. 

How much do we need to remember that our God is mindful of us, hearing our every prayer?  How much do we need a reminder that God is for us and nothing can compare to his might? How much do we need to recall that the God who raised a man who was dead for four days is the SAME God today. He still does miracles and although they may not always make the news or be trending on social media, our God is a miracle-working God. And his greatest miracle of all, sacrificing Jesus Christ his son and raising him from the dead, allows us to access his greatness, goodness, and guarantee that he always hears us, is for us, and can do amazing things in our lives.