Will you make your dinner reservation with Jesus?

Many walked with Jesus and yet they were actually quite far away from Him.

In other words, as much as Jesus The Master Teacher taught, they still missed the essence of the intimate details of the lesson.

One of the qualities of a good teacher is that he or she will not give you all of the answers.

A good teacher will teach you the basic principles and expect that you take the basics and build upon them.  

That is how Jesus taught. He taught in pictures or parables, and when you really see what Jesus is saying, the lessons are actually bigger than life.

Lesson of Lazarus

12:1 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

What the people saw before their eyes was exactly what you see. 

You see it as amazing. Lazarus was dead, but later Lazarus was sat at a table eating. Simply amazing.

The resurrection of Lazarus was a sore spot with the Pharisees because they did not believe in life after death.

Jesus was dispelling their doctrine because Lazarus was sitting up and eating food with all of those people.

He was right there, eating, drinking, laughing, and have a good old time with everyone else.

If that is what you see, I say to you that you are so close, but also so very far away. 

For what you see is the temporal of what Jesus wants you to understand today. 

There is the bigger picture. That dinner date was more than about Lazarus, at that time. It was about another time to come. That dinner date was about you and me. What am I saying right here?

Well, Jesus was teaching something here that must not be missed. You have to catch it! 

The lesson presented here is that like Lazarus, you will be raised up and eat dinner or supper with Jesus. 

Did you get it? You and I are being encouraged to know that after death there is a dinner date. You and I will have a dinner date with Jesus and the saints of old.

Lazarus was sitting with his friends, and one day you and I will sit with our friends who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Jesus was trying to get them to look beyond the immediate impact of the resurrection of Lazarus and appreciate that one day there is going to be the Rapture.

The Great Resurrection shall occur, and then after the Judgment we shall eat at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God.

They see that they are sitting with Jesus. You and I must see that one day we will be sitting with Jesus too!

They missed it. They were so close and yet so far away.

They were focused on Lazarus being alive while Jesus was showing a greater picture of His followers being alive forevermore.

After death, they shall be eating with Jesus in eternity.

The reason Lazarus was alive and eating with Jesus was because Lazarus had already (in life) made Jesus his friend. 

Jesus was always able to stop by the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. 

Can Jesus stop by your house? If Jesus did stop by your house, would you let Him in?

Do you know Jesus today? Is Good Friday really good because you know the Christ of Calvary?

Will you eat hot cross buns but not know the Christ of the Cross of Calvary?

Your responses to these questions will let you know whether you will sit at the table as an invited guest of Jesus.

My advice: Make your dinner reservations now. Soon time will turn into eternity and it will be too late to make this dinner date. Choose well today.

Blessings Abound.

Dr Maria A Seaman is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, Hamilton Parish.