Awakened to Life: When God Calls Us Out of the Tomb

A football match once stopped for a reason no one expected. On 17 March 2012, Fabrice Muamba collapsed during an FA Cup game. His heart stopped. For 78 minutes, he was clinically dead. And yet—he lived.

Later, in his book I’m Still Standing, he simply says, “Thank you.” Thank you to God. Thank you to those who helped him. Thank you for life.

Moments like that change everything. When life is given back, you begin to see it differently.

That story echoes a much older one found in John 11, where Lazarus dies—and is called back to life by Jesus.

When Life Feels Like It’s Slipping Away

Many of us know what it feels like to stand in the shadow of loss. Whether sudden or slow, grief has a way of overwhelming us. That’s where we meet Martha and Mary of Bethany—grieving the death of their brother.

And into that grief, Jesus walks.

Here’s the hard truth: life doesn’t always go the way we expect. We lose people. We lose health. Sometimes we feel like we are losing ourselves. There are moments when life feels fragile, uncertain, slipping through our fingers.

And it’s not just physical. Spiritually, we can feel dry. Empty. Like we’re just going through the motions.

The prophet Ezekiel describes it as a valley of dry bones—a powerful image of lifelessness. That’s often what faith can feel like in the middle of routine, stress, or quiet despair.

Left to ourselves, we drift. We cannot revive our own hearts. Dry bones cannot breathe life into themselves.

When Jesus Speaks Life

But the story doesn’t end there.

Standing before the tomb, Jesus Christ calls out: “Lazarus, come out!”

And he does.

This is more than a miracle—it’s a revelation. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not just a giver of life, but life itself.

Resurrection is not only a future hope—it begins now. Yes, we look forward to the day we celebrate at Easter, when death is fully defeated. But even now, through faith, we are made alive in Christ.

This is the heart of the Gospel:
You are not stuck in the tomb.
You are not defined by death.
Jesus calls you by name—and brings you to life.

Living as Resurrection People

Resurrection life doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes easy. Lazarus still walked out wrapped in grave clothes. And we still carry burdens, struggles, and grief.

But we carry them differently.

We live as people with hope. People who know death does not have the final word. People who trust that even when we feel dry or lost, God is not finished with us.

Every day becomes a gift. Every breath, grace.

So if you feel weary—Jesus calls you.
If you feel empty—God breathes life into you.
If something in you feels like it has died—hope, joy, faith—listen carefully:

“Come out.”

Because the same voice that called Lazarus still speaks today.

And in response, like Muamba, like Lazarus, like all who have encountered new life—we can simply say:

Thank you.