Who asked Jesus to remember him? This question echoes through the pages of the New Testament, capturing a profound moment of human longing and divine grace. It was a man named Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, who made this heartfelt request. The story of Lazarus and his resurrection is one of the most poignant and miraculous accounts in the Bible, illustrating the power of Jesus’ love and the eternal significance of His memory.
Lazarus, a man of Bethany, along with his sisters Mary and Martha, had formed a close bond with Jesus. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus, who delayed his journey to their home. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Despite the circumstances, Jesus instructed His disciples to take Lazarus out of the tomb and prepare him for His resurrection.
As Jesus approached the tomb, He instructed the stone to be rolled away. When He reached Lazarus, He cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!” The man who had been in the grave for four days emerged, still wrapped in his burial linens. The crowd was astounded, and Jesus’ words to them were profound: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
It was in this moment that Lazarus’ sister, Mary, approached Jesus with a request that would resonate through the ages. “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died,” she said. Then, with tears in her eyes, she asked, “But even now, I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again.” Mary, misunderstanding the words of Jesus, said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus, knowing her heart, answered, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he dies, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:21-26)
Who asked Jesus to remember him? It was Mary, a woman of deep faith and unwavering love. Her request was not just for the resurrection of her brother, but for the remembrance of Jesus’ promise and power. In this act of faith, Mary acknowledged the eternal life that Jesus offered, a life that transcends the temporal and the physical.
The story of Lazarus and his resurrection serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith and the transformative power of Jesus’ love. It teaches us that, like Lazarus, we too can be raised from the dead, not just physically, but spiritually. And as we come to Jesus in faith, we can also ask for His remembrance, knowing that He will never forget us or the promises He has made.
In the end, the question “Who asked Jesus to remember him?” is not just about the past, but about the present and the future. It invites us to reflect on our own lives, to embrace the love and grace of Jesus, and to ask for His remembrance in every aspect of our existence. For in doing so, we too can experience the resurrection and the life that Jesus offers.
