176th BDS – December 4, 2025

Scripture Reference: John 11:1-4, 5-6, 11, 14-15

Truly by the grace of our Father in Heaven through our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, we are blessed! Thinking back on just how far GOD has brought me from is enough to make me break down and cry while writing this. Who else can reach us no matter where we are, but Him? Many times any one of us could have been left to die in our sins, but the mercy that our Heavenly Father has for us, stretches even beyond the grave. As the Scriptures for this session show us, there’s absolutely zero limits that hold our Creator back from rescuing us from the deepest of depths, including the grave!!!

So, let’s dive in!!!

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Much like Lazarus, we too are loved by our LORD, so much so that He Himself gave His life for a World that still does not receive Him. JESUS was told that His beloved friend was sick and literally on his death bed. JESUS simply replied that the illness would not keep Lazarus among the dead, but that by the supreme power of our Father in Heaven, JESUS Himself would be the example of the glorious resurrection to come. (Notice that JESUS did not allow them to remain in their thoughts of the present moment, but rather He took the opportunity presented to give honor to His Father and the power that He holds.)

“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

JESUS could have easily made it to Lazarus’ rescue, but instead He chose to stay right where he was. Many of you have heard the phrase: “..He may not come when you want Him to, but He WILL be there right on time.” Right? Riiiiiight!!! This in itself should make us think on our own impatience at times. We have been wired (especially here in the USA), that whatever we want should be available whenever we want it to be. News flash: our GOD doesn’t move that way.

“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” ‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

JESUS never acknowledged the death of Lazarus at this point purposely. Why? Because He already knew what was about to take place. Bring in: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭51‬ ‭KJV‬‬

JESUS was actually foretelling not only His own resurrection, but what is to take place on the day that He returns to gather “The Church” which are those who have been chosen to be joint-heirs with Him through eternal life with GOD our Father!!! (Romans 8:17)

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

JESUS finally had to be quite frank with His followers by saying that Lazarus was indeed dead at the moment. He followed it up and let them know that He was pleased to have the opportunity to show them just so that their belief in our Father in Heaven would increase that Lazarus soon to be brought back to a living, breathing state of being would be awakened.

Final Thought: If our Father in Heaven through JESUS CHRIST our LORD can reach beyond the grave and revive a dead corpse, open our blind eyes through the truth of His Word, pull us out of the messy lives that we used to live (some may still be living), stop a needle full of narcotics from hitting the right vein, slap the bottle of alcohol right out of our hands and clean up our bloodstreams, move through the club and pull us off of the dance floor, stop the nicotine from destroying our lungs, take away the desire for promiscuous sex with multiple partners, clean us up from the inside out and make us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17).. then who or what can stop Him from, REACHING YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE?!!!

-Minister Marchand, Founder and Overseer of JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES-JIGM and JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY-JIGMIA