Feasting and Persecuted
We've spent two weeks in Uncle Bud Robinson's book The Story of Lazarus. We've seen ourselves in Lazarus - his death and burial representing our own spiritual death and burial; his resurrection representing our new birth and sanctification.
Today we see where the journey leads - to a feast with Jesus. And to persecution.
Feasting With the Lord
Shortly after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, we read: "A dinner was given in Jesus' honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him." (John 12:2)
After everything Lazarus went through - the sickness, the death, the binding, the tomb, the decay - he ends up at a table with Jesus - feasting, full, free! This is the picture of the sanctified life that Uncle Bud has been building toward the whole book. He writes on page 89: "There is no way to describe the joy and peace that comes to the life of a wholly sanctified man. About the best way to describe it is in the text, just simply feasting with your Lord, and it is called the fulness of joy."
Salvation means going from the tomb to the table. What a journey! What a Saviour!
The Cost of the Feast
But Uncle Bud doesn't end the story there, because the Bible doesn't end it there. John 12 tells us that while Lazarus was feasting with Jesus, the chief priests were plotting to kill him. His very existence was a problem - because many people were believing Jesus on account of him.
Uncle Bud writes on page 95: "It is a very dangerous thing yet, in some localities, to feast with the Lord. One thing that carnality can't stand is to see a holy man or woman really enjoy the presence of the blessed Holy Ghost."
This is the reality of the sanctified life. The feast is real - the joy with Jesus at the table is wonderful. But the opposition is real too! The chief priests were not offended by a dead Lazarus in a tomb. It was the living, free, feasting Lazarus that they wanted to silence.
Don't be surprised if you burst out of the tomb and shed your grave clothes only to face more opposition than ever before.
Worth Every Cost
But Lazarus was not troubled. Uncle Bud captures his quiet confidence on page 97-98: "Not a wave of trouble rolls across his peaceful breast."
When you're at the table with Jesus, no persecution can steal your joy!
So have you seen yourself in Lazarus these last two weeks? Maybe you're still in your tomb and it's time to roll away the stone and come out as you’ve heard Jesus call you. Maybe it's time you pray more fervently for those in your life still in their tombs. Maybe it’s time to shed the grave clothes and become holy and fully free.
Either way I'm sure you'll never look at the Lazarus story the same!
I encourage you to read Uncle Bud's full book to get the full benefit of his writing. If you have enjoyed his thinking in these devotions, do have a look at some of my other devotions featuring his words.
Lazarus feasted with Jesus but also had to deal with persecution. This is the Christian life!