It’s an unexpected scene that comes at the end of a movie … the very end. It comes after all of the credits have rolled. All of a sudden, the screen lights up and there’s one more scene. And in that scene is the set up for a future story line, a sequel, an eye-opening glimpse of what’s coming next. With the raising of Lazarus, God gave Martha, and us, a joyous glimpse of what's to come.

In a criminal trial, the jury is charged with determining a defendant's guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s the kind of trial made famous by such characters as Perry Mason on TV. It’s the type of trial where the judge then asks the foreman of the jury, “Have you reached a verdict?” Here in Romans, a verdict is about to be read. However, in this case, we’re not seated on the jury. We’re the one whose life hangs in the balance. But before we get to that, let’s back up and review the case.

Episode Art: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Having shown Ezekiel a vision of a valley filled with bones, God explained, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’" And then He asked, "Can these bones live?" And when you and are crushed with guilt for things that we’ve said or done our redemption comes down to a matter of will. However, it's not your will or mine that brings it about. It's God who describes for us His gracious and merciful will.