February 27, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 9 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.62 through 4.63 (pages 120-122)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Lent day 9
Lenten Day 9
Jesus said “I am the resurrection. I am life. Everyone who believes in me will have life, even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never really die.”
This is the greatest promise given to us by Jesus, our Savior.
The Life of Jesus 120-122.
“I am the resurrection. I am life. Everyone who believes in me will have life, even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never really die.”
Personally one of my favorite quotes from Jesus in scripture.
What can you say about Lazarus that hasn’t been said. To hear and know Jesus voice when we die. I AM. The resurrection and the life The one who believes in me will live even though they die. !!! How can pride be so strong as to witness this miracle and plot to kill Jesus. There’s no way I could lay my head on a pillow that night and not know who did this
The people “saw” and believed. WE “see” through our faith and belief in this same Jesus. And though He knew He would bring Lazarus back to life, He cried tears of compassion and love for Lazarus and those that were saddened of his death. ❤️
As Jesus said, “ I am the resurrection. I am life. Everyone who believes in me will have life, even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me, will never really die.”
Lazarus along with his two sisters {Martha and Mary} are good friends of Jesus. Lazarus gets sick so his two sisters send word to Jesus that he is sick. Jesus states that this will not end in death and God will be glorified in it. Having hearing of Lazarus sickness; Jesus delays for two more days. The people around Jesus must had been puzzled at Him not leaving right away. But He knows what He is doing. As He said earlier; this would be to the glory of God. For by the time that Jesus arrives Lazarus has already been dead for four days. So there was no question that Lazarus was dead. Again Jesus isn`t hurrying for first Martha comes out to see Him and then goes back and tells Mary that Jesus wants to see her. Of course both sisters say to Jesus that he wouldn`t had died if He had been there right away. It is interesting that Jesus delayed again just so He could have a moment of compassion with them even crying for Lazarus. He tells them that He is the resurrection and the life and that He will arise Lazarus from the dead. Then they bring Jesus to where Lazarus is buried. Then He commands Lazarus to out and the glory of God is shone. To God be the glory.
The Life of Jesus 4.49-4.63
“Jesus wept”
A commonly known fact is that this is the shortest verse in the whole Bible. But one thing I heard about this verse that I find very moving is Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet he still wept. So even though we always have hope that God will make good out of our difficult circumstances, it’s still okay to cry at the sad parts.
“13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Lenten 2024-Day 9
Day 9 4:62-4:63
Grandson for 4 days. Limited commenting ability!
4.63
Jesus cried.
I love the account of Lazarus and his sisters, starting with Jesus deliberately waiting 2 days to make sure Lazarus was assuredly dead. Everyone could understand Jesus healing Lazarus, but He wanted to do something that would build everyone’s faith and be able to see more fully just what power He had that revealed just who He is. Even the disciples’ faith will be enhanced as it clearly falters when they warn Jesus of the danger He is in by going to Judea and yet Jesus is not concerned because following God’s will is like walking in daylight where danger is easily seen and dealt with. Both sisters express what everyone else knew..but again, Jesus is doing a greater miracle hear that will affirm the very truth He shares with Martha. I am the resurrection and the Life, he who believes in Him will never die. Easy words to say..but clearly shown to be real in how He resolves the situation. And yet as others have pointed out, even though Jesus knows the end of the story..He weeps. What compassion He had and has for people. He knows and cares about our pain and heartache. There is no better Savior and Lord than He!
I love the emotion we see from Jesus in this situation. He shows compassion for His friends, He cries for the loss even though He knows He can and will raise Lazarus from the dead. It is just more opportunities for us to see how Jesus knows how we feel when we are sad, frustrated, even impatient. He has lived these emotions Himself, experiences the hurts and the happy times. Overwhelms me to think that He has experienced all we do and did it all without giving in to the emotion. So often it is our feeling and emotions that we use to justify sin and Jesus’ example shows us it does not have to be that way!
Martha, the one who was distracted by all the chores that needed to be done, dropped everything and went to see Jesus. It must have been difficult for her to do so when there was so much going on after her brother’s death. This time she wasn’t caught up in all the preparations that had to be made. She chose what was better, and she left her house to see Jesus.