The Death of Lazarus -
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are close friends of Jesus. When Lazarus becomes ill, Jesus knows exactly what will happen. Why didn't He rush to Lazarus' bedside? Because Jesus knows just what is best for us. We want what we want RIGHT NOW. But when we realize that God's answers will turn out for our best in the end, we can trust Him & be patient to wait.
vs. 17 - interesting fact from my study Bible, "Though burial usually followed soon after death, some later Jewish sources indicate a belief that the soul hovered over the body for three days hoping to reenter it, but then gave up and departed." So, all hope is gone for Lazarus' family, he's dead & buried four days.
Martha meets Jesus on the road & expresses her faith in Him. Her statement is like a litmus test for me, "But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Wow, her faith in Jesus was strong. Can I say that about my own faith. Jesus tells her that He is the light and the life. Now Mary comes weeping to Jesus. And Jesus wept. Jesus wasn't some distant, emotionally-cut off force. He is fully human and fully God. He knows the plan laid out for Him, He is obedient to the Father, but that doesn't make Him inhuman. He still had all the same emotional experiences that you & I do. He became frustrated with the pharisees, He had compassion on the sick & lost, He loved and grieved. You can turn to Him, not only because He is God, but also because He understands. He know hurt and joy, frustration and sorrow. He knows pain. He understands.
vs. 37 - there will always be people who see the cup as half empty. Jesus weeps and these people judge. How easy it is to be judgmental - to decide how someone should act, what they should say. Don't fall into that trap. Instead, look for the positive, see the cup as half full. Notice how uplifting that attitude is to your soul.
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. How? Through prayer and true faith. This demonstration of power lead many people to believe. It also lead some to ramp up their desire to see Him dead. Some of the religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their nation. But then we read of Caiaphas' prophecy. Caiaphas was the high priest of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing body. Israel was a puppet state ruled by Rome. They were allowed there own government, as long as it was subservient to the Roman government. So, they were allowed to make laws, hold court, and maintain their religious freedom. The Sanhedrin saw Jesus as a threat to the delicate balance of government. They feared that the people would pledge their allegiance to Jesus, forcing Rome to step in and take away their rights. Caiaphas's prophecy stated that Jesus would die for the nation, this death would then gather in the lost children of God. Interesting and true prophecy. It amazes me that the Sanhedrin know this prophecy and still fail to recognize Jesus as the messiah.
One of the main points I get from the gospels is how we as a people are willing to blind our self to the truth. We pray, we rant, we demand, we plead - yet we refuse to see the answer. We want what we want, but it's not about want - it's about need. Getting what you want is superficial. It brings happiness for a little while, but then we become bored with it. It wears down and needs to be replaced. There is something always bigger & better out there. Getting what you need - that's life saving. When we stop focusing on what we think we know, what we think we need, what we think we want & start focusing on God's truth, we will find that all those other things will fall into place.
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