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About-Him Devotional 11-06-04
Http://About-Him.Com The the life of Christ, from His baptism to His ascension, following the Harmony of the Gospels. Thank God for a Savior who knows every fiber of our being and feels our deepest pain. He can identify with our hurts and struggles because He walked this earth as a man. He knew heartache, rejection and sorrow. In our segment below, He grieved at the tomb of Lazarus, but he had the answer to the situation. He simple spoke, "Lazarus come forth." We can be confident that He will also speak to any situation that we present to Him. 154: The Feast of Dedication - Jn. 10:22-40 http://about-him.com/life/life_11.html#154 155: The Trip Beyond Jordan - Jn. 10:39-42 http://about-him.com/life/life_11.html#155 156: The Raising of Lazarus - John 11:1-46 1 ¶ Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. Jesus had fled across Jordan, away from the center of religious activity, to avoid being killed before His time, which was fast approaching. While there, He received word that His close friend Lazarus was critically ill and near death. When Jesus heard the news, he simply stated that the sickness was not unto death, but only that the glory of God might be manifested. He then remained two more days in this area after which He announced to His disciples that He desired to go to Judea again. His disciples reminded Him that the last time he was in Judea, the Jews tried to stone Him. Jesus simply replied that there were twelve hours in the day when one had available light to work. It was necessary to do the work of the kingdom when it presented itself. He then told His disciples, "Lazarus is dead." Thomas, declared to his fellow disciples, that they should all go up to Jerusalem with Jesus and die together with Him there. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jewish tradition held the soul of the departed hovered near the body for three days, during which there was hope of life being restored.. The house was full of friends and comforters while the traditional mourning was in progress. Insincere professional mourners would cry and wail endlessly. Martha heard that Jesus had been seen coming up the road. She ran out to meet him as He approached. No doubt thinking of the many miracles Jesus had performed, she said, "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.. She continued, "Even now God will give you anything that you ask." Jesus said, "Martha your brother will rise again." "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus then made a strong statement affirming his Deity. " I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Do you believe this Martha?" "Yes Lord, I believe you are the Christ , the Son of God, whose coming has been foretold." Martha ran back to the house and told Mary, "The Master is here, He is calling for you." Mary ran out to meet Him and stated once again that if Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died. Jesus asked where Lazarus had been buried and they proceeded to take him to the tomb. He was touched by the weeping of Mary and the others who were with her to the point that He wept Himself. There was much commotion as Jesus viewed the tomb. Many there began to criticize Jesus saying that if He had opened blinded eyes, surely He could have kept Lazarus from dying. Jesus ignored them all and commanded that the stone be rolled away. Martha reminded Jesus that it had been four days and surely the body was decaying. Jesus reminded her that He had stated before that if she would only believe, she would see the glory of God. They rolled away the stone and Jesus began to pray. He thanked His Father that His prayer had been heard. He then commanded with a loud voice, "Lazarus come forth!" Lazarus came out of the grave bound from head to foot with grave clothes. Jesus sad, "Loose him and let him go." Conclusion and Application: When Jesus received the news of the illness of Lazarus, He had no doubt as to the final outcome. He waited for a sufficient time so that there would be no doubt that a miracle had taken place. Even though He was the omnipresent all knowing God, Jesus was touched with the grief of Mary and Martha to the point that He wept Himself. Perhaps He saw in Lazarus a symbol of us all, dead in sin and trespasses and help captive by the grave. He is indeed the resurrection and the life; not just in the future but right now. We do sit in heavenly places with and in Him (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus did not hesitate to put His life in jeopardy for the sake of His friends. He returned to the very area where the people had tried to stone Him. Thomas seems to be remembered for expressing doubt of the Lord's resurrection. We should also give him credit for his willingness to die with the Lord. Strong tradition tells us that Thomas did indeed die for His Lord, being run through with a spear in southern India. Death could not hold Lazarus when Jesus cried, "Come forth!" He does indeed have the keys to death hell and the grave (Revelation 1:18) which He purchased with His own blood. A future day is coming when graves are going to give up their dead, at the sound of His voice (I Thessalonians 4:16). In About-Him Humor Two hunters were driving through the country to go bear hunting. They came upon a fork in the road where a sign read "BEAR LEFT" so they went home.
"Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods." - C.S. Lewis Keep Looking Up! Don & Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries
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Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh.
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