Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Thursday November 5, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 10-11 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-5
Today's Message: Yield to His Word
We often have beautiful visions of what God has promised, and we may even quote them, but these alone do not measure our faith in the power of God's Word. It depends greatly upon our surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. If we truly desire God's best, we must truly yield to His Word.
The "occasion of grief" introduces us to one of the few homes where Jesus was lovingly received while He was on earth. But, at this time, its occupants were grieving as Lazarus' two sisters watched helplessly as their brother lay dying. Mary and Martha searched for Jesus and asked Him for help. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” - John 11:1-4. Jesus is telling Mary and Martha that although Lazarus was dying he will not be taken away from them, his sickness has come to prove the glory to God and to show the miracle that the Son of God would perform so that He will be glorified as truly the Son of God. Often God will use a sickness or death to prove that He truly is God and still has the power to produce miracles.
Jesus heads toward Mary and Martha's house, but Lazarus has already died, knowing this, Jesus continues, but even His disciples question Him. They just did not understand when Jesus was talking about Lazarus sleeping, so Jesus spelled it out for them, Lazarus is dead. “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” - John 11:11-15. It was important that He arrived when Lazarus had died, if Jesus was there and touched Lazarus, he would have been healed, but then the lesson that Jesus would be teaching would not be given. Raising Lazarus from the dead would show once and for all that Jesus was the Son of God, and all power from God was given to Him. No one had ever been raised from the dead after they had been dead four days. The body would even be decomposing, and rotting by that time. There would be no way that anyone could accuse Christ of putting on a side show, or pulling a trick on the people by this miracle. It would be through this miracle of bringing Lazarus to life that Jesus would show Lazarus as well as Himself resurrected and doing fine.
Martha, meets Jesus as He was nearing the home and informs Him that he died. Although a little disappointed that Jesus had not gotten there sooner she inform Him that she still has faith in God. “Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this” - John 11:17-26. Jesus’ statement that “I am the resurrection and the life” was meant to convey the idea that eternal life is real to Jesus as God. It is not something He gives as if it were real to Him, rather it is a part of His essence that we partake when we are brought in union with Him through belief.
“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” - John 11:39-44. Jesus lifted up his eyes, not as if he applied to his Father for assistance. There is not the least show of this. He wrought the miracle with an air of absolute sovereignty, as the Lord of life and death. But it was as if he had said, I thank thee, that by the disposal of thy providence, thou hast granted my desire, in this remarkable opportunity of exerting my power, and showing forth thy praise. Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but awake also. In order to strengthen their faith that He was the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus had delayed His arrival until four days after Lazarus' death. At Christ's Word, death set free its prisoner and Lazarus came forth from the grave. It is time to truly trust in the Lord and wait for Him!
Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina
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