LAZARUS MUST DIE!!!
The Gospel of John
John Chapter 12
Scripture: John 12: 10 – 11 (New International Version)
So the chief priest made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
Observation: How could he hide, Lazarus was a celebrity? Every where he went people would talk, whisper, point and even touch him. The questions always came from the bold ones, “What was it like? Was there a bright light? Did you see anybody? Did you know that you were dead? So many questions and then the most important one of them all, “Do you really believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ?” Lazarus had become a living, walking billboard advertising Jesus as the Messiah. You couldn’t debate this, there was no argument. Lazarus had been dead for at least four whole days. It was no coma, no swoon, the man was dead! Now he was alive and everybody knew it and they knew that Jesus had raised him from the dead. The news was spreading and even more people were believing in Jesus. In chapter 12 verse19, the Pharisees said, “See how the whole world has gone after him!” Something drastic had to be done Jesus must die and the Pharisees decided that they needed to kill Lazarus as well. After all, if Lazarus was gone, the people would eventually forget, they would be confused. As the leaders of the people, they could argue away the whole episode if only the indisputable evidence had disappeared. Yes, Lazarus had to die his testimony was just too hard to fight!
Application: What an incredible story a person raised from the dead by the Messiah. Nobody could argue the results. The evidence was too staggering to deny. He was dead and was now alive! Wow, if only we could have the same story to tell? If only we could see this for ourselves? But wait a second, hold on there, think about it? Our testimony is really the same as Lazarus. II Corinthians 5:17, tells us that if anyone comes to Christ they are a new creation. In this twelfth chapter of John verses 23 – 26, Jesus is very clear, to live you must die, there is no other way. The one who hates his life (loses it) in this world will keep it for eternal life. Without dying we cannot live, we cannot reproduce ourselves; in dying we give God glory. This is powerful, people will see how God gives us new life, and they will see the evidence. You won’t be able to dispute it, when someone truly surrenders their life to Jesus, you can tell, you can’t debate it, they are different! People will talk; whisper, and point and some will even want to touch them. Even the bold will ask, “You used to do what, you were like that? Then the most important questions of all will come, “Will Jesus do for me what he did for you?” “Will you tell me what I need to do?” You see, no one can deny the evidence and debate your testimony, you were dead and now you are alive and Jesus can be seen in you!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I show others your life today? May my life today, reveal your incredible love, your power to raise the dead and prove to all who see me, how you give new life. May the evidence of you in my life be indisputable!
John Chapter 12
Scripture: John 12: 10 – 11 (New International Version)
So the chief priest made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
Observation: How could he hide, Lazarus was a celebrity? Every where he went people would talk, whisper, point and even touch him. The questions always came from the bold ones, “What was it like? Was there a bright light? Did you see anybody? Did you know that you were dead? So many questions and then the most important one of them all, “Do you really believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ?” Lazarus had become a living, walking billboard advertising Jesus as the Messiah. You couldn’t debate this, there was no argument. Lazarus had been dead for at least four whole days. It was no coma, no swoon, the man was dead! Now he was alive and everybody knew it and they knew that Jesus had raised him from the dead. The news was spreading and even more people were believing in Jesus. In chapter 12 verse19, the Pharisees said, “See how the whole world has gone after him!” Something drastic had to be done Jesus must die and the Pharisees decided that they needed to kill Lazarus as well. After all, if Lazarus was gone, the people would eventually forget, they would be confused. As the leaders of the people, they could argue away the whole episode if only the indisputable evidence had disappeared. Yes, Lazarus had to die his testimony was just too hard to fight!
Application: What an incredible story a person raised from the dead by the Messiah. Nobody could argue the results. The evidence was too staggering to deny. He was dead and was now alive! Wow, if only we could have the same story to tell? If only we could see this for ourselves? But wait a second, hold on there, think about it? Our testimony is really the same as Lazarus. II Corinthians 5:17, tells us that if anyone comes to Christ they are a new creation. In this twelfth chapter of John verses 23 – 26, Jesus is very clear, to live you must die, there is no other way. The one who hates his life (loses it) in this world will keep it for eternal life. Without dying we cannot live, we cannot reproduce ourselves; in dying we give God glory. This is powerful, people will see how God gives us new life, and they will see the evidence. You won’t be able to dispute it, when someone truly surrenders their life to Jesus, you can tell, you can’t debate it, they are different! People will talk; whisper, and point and some will even want to touch them. Even the bold will ask, “You used to do what, you were like that? Then the most important questions of all will come, “Will Jesus do for me what he did for you?” “Will you tell me what I need to do?” You see, no one can deny the evidence and debate your testimony, you were dead and now you are alive and Jesus can be seen in you!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I show others your life today? May my life today, reveal your incredible love, your power to raise the dead and prove to all who see me, how you give new life. May the evidence of you in my life be indisputable!
Actually when I read the headline I was thinking initially that Lazarus had to die the first time in order to be raised from the dead and that sometimes God has to things in our lives that we don't like in order to bring about good.
Even though it didn't follow my own thought process, I loved your blog today. See you later!
Posted by
chickefitz |
8:02 AM