"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  II Corinthians 5:17
 
After Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, he waited two days before announcing his plans to go see about Lazarus. However, Jesus' disciples attempted to talk him out of going into Judea again by saying, "the Jews of late sought to stone thee." When Jesus told his disciples that "our friend Lazarus sleepeth", they responded by saying, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." No doubt they were shocked when Jesus informed them that "Lazarus is dead."
 
The story of Lazarus brings to mind a story I once heard about three caterpillars sitting on a tree branch discussing how terrible it was to be a caterpillar. They were complaining about such things as how ladies would shriek in terror whenever they saw them, how little boys were always trying to step on them, etc. After listening to his two caterpillar friends complain for awhile, the third caterpillar piped up and said that he was hearing rumors about how some caterpillars were being turned into new creatures. However, upon hearing such a ridiculous claim, the two "faithless" caterpillars laughed at him and crawled away while continuing to complain about all their problems. However, the "faith-filled" caterpillar said to himself, "I'm tired of simply being an ugly, old caterpillar, and I believe what I've been hearing. God can change me into something better." Therefore, he remained behind on the branch and began to spin a cocoon. Several weeks later, the two unbelieving caterpillars were back on the same branch discussing their old friend and wondering why they had not seen him around for some time. Suddenly, the branch began to tremble, and they looked over to see a beautiful butterfly crawling out of a cocoon. They did not even recognize their old friend until he spoke to them saying, "This could have also happened to you if you would have only believed." He then spread his beautiful wings and flew away to begin a new life.
 
Have you ever wished you could live the last 10 or 20 years of your life over?  Are there some things you would do differently? I once saw a person wearing a t-shirt that said, "When it comes to guilt trips, I'm a frequent flier." So many people are consumed with guilt because of past mistakes. However, Jesus offers everyone the opportunity to walk away from an unfulfilled life and the guilt past mistakes and have a new beginning!
 
David knew he deserved God's judgment because of his terrible sins.  However, because David repented and asked for God's forgiveness, when he looked back over his shoulder he did not see the judgment of God following him. Because of his willingness to repent, when David looked back over his shoulder at his past he could say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." David was not being followed by the judgment of God. Instead, he was being followed by the goodness and mercy of God.  Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us just how merciful and forgiving God is when it states, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning..." When the sun rose this morning, the Lord was standing ready to offer a fresh, new supply of compassion to all those wanting to have a new beginning today! 
 
When Martha met Jesus, she tried to lay a "guilt trip" on him by saying,
"Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Jesus responded by telling Martha that her brother would rise again.  Martha informed Jesus that she was fully aware that Lazarus would rise at the resurrection in the far, distant future. However, Jesus declared, "...I am the resurrection." A person does not have to wait until next year, next month or even next week to walk away from the past and experience a new beginning.  Jesus offers that brand new life today! When Mary met Jesus, she was even more emotional than her sister Martha. When he saw Mary and everyone around her weeping, Jesus wept. How it must grieve the heart of God when we forget about his power to raise people who are "dead in trespasses and sin" up into "newness of life!" 
 
When Jesus commanded, "Take ye away the stone", Martha quickly tried to reason with him by saying, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." You may be thinking, "My situation is pretty bad.  I have made some big mistakes in my life."  If that's the case, why not roll away that stone covering your heart and see what Jesus can do with your bad situation? Alchemists used to search for ways to turn a worthless metal into gold or silver. Jesus is the "divine alchemist" that can turn sorrow into joy, mourning into dancing and a terrible situation into something beautiful!
 
Lazarus, wrapped in graveclothes, looked like a giant cocoon lying in that tomb. When Jesus "cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" that cocoon began to tremble. Suddenly, Lazarus came hopping out of the tomb still wrapped from head to foot. When Jesus said "Loose him and let him go", Lazarus came forth to start a brand new life. How about you?  Are you ready to leave the unfulfilled life and the failures of yesterday behind? Today is your day to let old things pass away and let all things become new through the resurrection power of the Acts 2:38 experience. Today is your day to have a new beginning!