March 12 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

In March we read the gospel of John. John wrote his gospel so that his readers would know and believe the claims of Jesus. Those who do have everlasting life here and now.

Bible Reading:

John 11:38–44

Bible Text:

Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:43).

Devotional:

When Jesus and his friends arrived at the grave, Jesus asked for the stone to be removed. The ever-practical Martha protested, "Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." However, Jesus had not only come to weep over human corruption; now he would display the incorruptible glory of God.

The prayer that follows is actually Jesus' public confession of his oneness with the Father. The power to raise the dead belongs to the Father and to the Son, as Jesus had taught earlier (5:21).

Then it happened. "Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out."

Apart from his own resurrection, this is Jesus' greatest sign that he is the Son of God. Here he exercises the power God entrusted to him for the last day. For "a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out" (5:28-29).

I used to know a person who suffered from an illness that repeatedly left her comatose. She could be revived only by a blood-purifying operation. But whenever she slipped into that darkness, she could still hear her mother's voice.

In the same way, none of us will ever sink beyond the reach of Jesus' voice. Someday he will say our name and tell us to come. Whether he calls us in this life or hereafter, we will hear his voice and go to him without fear.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.