What's "4" to you?

A prevailing folk religion in the mainland China is superstition. For example, the number "4" rhymes with "death", so it's not a good number. And the number "8" rhymes with "wealth", so it's most desirable. Children are instructed these superstitions even at a young age. Many Chinese supermarket or banks give out calendar that shows what activities are "good" and what activities are "bad" each day.

It seemed that people are aware of some invisible forces that are out of our control but will influence what will happen to us. We hope a good number will help us to move the forces to do good to us. However; the truth is not defined by the many Chinese supermarkets, nor the Chinese pronunciations, but defined by God. The number 4 will not bring you death -- to the young man named Lazarus (the name means "God is my Helper", Jesus raised him from the dead after he died for 4 days! Rather than "death", 4 is the best life-giving number in Lazarus' life; and it is the paramount number in biblical miracles.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, (he is the brother of Mary and Martha)... The sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 4 days. ... M any Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ... (But Jesus said to Martha): "Your brother will rise again."

(Jesus came to the tomb and said), "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" ... (After the people) took away the stone, then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." (John 11)