A long time ago there were three siblings—two sisters and their brother. One day the brother became very sick, so the sisters called a friend, a friend they knew could help their brother. When this friend heard that their brother was sick, he decided it would be best for him to stay away. While this friend stayed away, the brother died.

Those poor sisters were devastated. They were shocked, and angry, and confused; and oh, they were so very sad. 

We know this story well. This is the true story of Mary, Martha, their brother Lazarus, and their friend and Lord, Jesus. You can find this story in John 11:1-44. Reread it soon! For now, just call to mind what you know.

We know that Jesus could have healed Lazarus before He died. So, why did He stay away? Why didn’t He go to Lazarus the moment He heard from Mary and Martha that their brother was very sick? Why didn’t Jesus just show up and heal whatever sickness it was that Lazarus had?  

Jesus waited and let Lazarus die for two reasons. There may be other reasons, but these are two reasons we know from Scripture: 

First, He waited and let Lazarus die so that He could raise Lazarus from the dead and show His power over death, proving to His disciples, and to other people then, and proving to us today that He is the One True God. He wanted you and me to know and believe that only He has power to raise people from the dead. 

But more than that, He waited and let Lazarus die so that He could PROCLAIM who He is; so that He could tell people then and us today, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

If we believe in Jesus, we will live. But what does that really mean for us?

Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 says this:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins… 
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

You and I, WE ARE Lazarus. We were dead. We were dead in our sin. And Jesus raised us from the dead. Even if, like me, you can’t remember a time when you didn’t know the Lord, this is still what Jesus has done for you and me. Jesus called my name and He called your name and He said, “Come out of that tomb!”

If someone you know died today, and then came back to life next week, you’d be pretty amazed, right? You’d be blown away by that. Well, that is what Jesus has done for us and it is amazing and it should blow us away.  

We were dead and God raised us back to life. When we know and believe and speak that truth to our hearts over and over again, it changes us. And this change in us is where gospel-centered parenting begins.

Gospel-centered parenting does not begin with what we do with our children, it begins with our relationship with the Lord. If I want my children to know, love, and serve the Lord, then I know, love, and serve Him. If I want my children to spend time with the Lord in His Word, then I spend time with the Lord in His Word. If I want my children to be changed by the Gospel, then I must be changed by the Gospel.

If you want to be a gospel-centered parent, you must know and believe your resurrection story.

I encourage you to take some time today, this week, this month, this year, and for the rest of your life to remember that you were dead and God raised you back to life!