Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
v.48 Aha! The really reason that didn’t want to believe in Jesus. They would lose their power!
v.48 Aha! The really reason that didn’t want to believe in Jesus. They would lose their power!
i found it interesting that the high priest, caiaphas, prophesied that jesus would die for the nation. “and not for the nation only, but that he might gather together into one the children of god scattered abroad.”
even though he was a corrupt man, as high priest, he still prophesied rightly and truly. curious. or was he rather prophesying a self-fulfilling prophesy? i.e. prophesying that jesus would die and then taking a VERY active role in killing him.
i found it interesting that the high priest, caiaphas, prophesied that jesus would die for the nation. “and not for the nation only, but that he might gather together into one the children of god scattered abroad.”
even though he was a corrupt man, as high priest, he still prophesied rightly and truly. curious. or was he rather prophesying a self-fulfilling prophesy? i.e. prophesying that jesus would die and then taking a VERY active role in killing him.
The Message says that Caiaphas “unwittingly prophesied” which would suggest he didn’t know the full meaning of what he was saying. I think perhaps Caiaphas wanted to plant the idea of killing Jesus in the minds of the others to avoid having blood on his own hands.
The Message says that Caiaphas “unwittingly prophesied” which would suggest he didn’t know the full meaning of what he was saying. I think perhaps Caiaphas wanted to plant the idea of killing Jesus in the minds of the others to avoid having blood on his own hands.
I also find it curious that we don’t hear a word from Lazarus after he was raised from the dead.
These days anyone with an after death experience writes a best seller! Sometimes it seems like God deliberately stops the NT writers from telling us things we would like to know!
I also find it curious that we don’t hear a word from Lazarus after he was raised from the dead.
These days anyone with an after death experience writes a best seller! Sometimes it seems like God deliberately stops the NT writers from telling us things we would like to know!
It seems from the moment Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick he knew what was going to happen v.4. Also in 6:4 he knew he was going to feed the crowd.
Yet this was not always the case. Jesus didn’t appear to know he was going to turn water into wine 2:4 or that he was going to heal the Cannaanite’s woman’s daughter Matthew 15:24.
Interesting!
It seems from the moment Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick he knew what was going to happen v.4. Also in 6:4 he knew he was going to feed the crowd.
Yet this was not always the case. Jesus didn’t appear to know he was going to turn water into wine 2:4 or that he was going to heal the Cannaanite’s woman’s daughter Matthew 15:24.
Interesting!
I had thought that Jesus delayed going to see Mary and Martha for 2 days v.6 because he was waiting for Lazarus to die. Yet today I noticed that Martha says Lazarus has been in the tomb 4 days. So even if Jesus had left straight away Lazarus would have been dead for 2 days. So I wonder why Jesus waited?
I had thought that Jesus delayed going to see Mary and Martha for 2 days v.6 because he was waiting for Lazarus to die. Yet today I noticed that Martha says Lazarus has been in the tomb 4 days. So even if Jesus had left straight away Lazarus would have been dead for 2 days. So I wonder why Jesus waited?
He waited so that the power and presence of God would be shown and those who saw it would believe … MOST interesting, it was the apostles He wanted to believe. 🙂
V 14 “Lazarus is dead,and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
Uncanny
I love how Martha and Mary just believe He can get anything He wants from the Father just by merely asking. 🙂
Reminds me of this …
John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
They believed that Jesus could ask for anything of the Father and have it done… we on the other hand cower and fear that our requests are not being heard. Instead of believing that they are and acting accordingly.
Why don’t we believe?
He waited so that the power and presence of God would be shown and those who saw it would believe … MOST interesting, it was the apostles He wanted to believe. 🙂
V 14 “Lazarus is dead,and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
Uncanny
I love how Martha and Mary just believe He can get anything He wants from the Father just by merely asking. 🙂
Reminds me of this …
John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
They believed that Jesus could ask for anything of the Father and have it done… we on the other hand cower and fear that our requests are not being heard. Instead of believing that they are and acting accordingly.
Why don’t we believe?
Yes it is most interesting that he wanted the apostles to believe, which would mean the 2 days of waiting was to teach them the need to wait for God’s timing. (Actually the feeding of the 5000 was also to test the disciples 6:6).
I think Jesus could ask the Father for anything because Jesus wanted what God wanted. I think our problem is we either don’t know what God wants or we don’t want what God wants.
Yes it is most interesting that he wanted the apostles to believe, which would mean the 2 days of waiting was to teach them the need to wait for God’s timing. (Actually the feeding of the 5000 was also to test the disciples 6:6).
I think Jesus could ask the Father for anything because Jesus wanted what God wanted. I think our problem is we either don’t know what God wants or we don’t want what God wants.
no fair! val’s skipping ahead in her quotes! 🙂
no fair! val’s skipping ahead in her quotes! 🙂
nana nana naaaa na
lol
nana nana naaaa na
lol
If Lazarus had only been dead for two days, he would not have been in the tomb very long. They would first have anointed the body with oils and so forth just as they did with Jesus though in His case they had to delay final burial until after the Sabbath. I think Jesus wanted to ensure there would be absolutely no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the Jews watching that Lazarus was VERY dead! If they wouldn't believe their eyes and ears, they would definitely believe their noses!
I would love to know just how many people that day did fall to their knees and repent and believe in Jesus.
If Lazarus had only been dead for two days, he would not have been in the tomb very long. They would first have anointed the body with oils and so forth just as they did with Jesus though in His case they had to delay final burial until after the Sabbath. I think Jesus wanted to ensure there would be absolutely no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the Jews watching that Lazarus was VERY dead! If they wouldn't believe their eyes and ears, they would definitely believe their noses!
I would love to know just how many people that day did fall to their knees and repent and believe in Jesus.
As I was preparing a study in John 11, I felt strongly that the Lord was widening my thoughts to not only think about the raising of a dead man but also to consider those things that we have perhaps given up on and stopped praying for in our lives, maybe unsaved loved ones, issues we have tried to premature bury etc. I believe god wants to ensure He is given fredom to resurrect those things so that He may release us to move forward and encourage us to never stop praying for people and issues as His timing is perfect.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Rob
As I was preparing a study in John 11, I felt strongly that the Lord was widening my thoughts to not only think about the raising of a dead man but also to consider those things that we have perhaps given up on and stopped praying for in our lives, maybe unsaved loved ones, issues we have tried to premature bury etc. I believe god wants to ensure He is given fredom to resurrect those things so that He may release us to move forward and encourage us to never stop praying for people and issues as His timing is perfect.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Rob
Hi Rob,
The thought that jumped to my mind as I was reading your comments was Ezekiel 37. God told Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones and God's breath brought them to life. No matter how dry or dead something is, God can breath on it and bring it to life. So I think you are right. God wants us to know, nothing is so dead he cannot resurrect it, so we should not give up praying for lost ones.
Also I was reading somewhere recently that there was a school of thought around in Jesus' day that believed the spirit of a dead person didn't leave until the fourth day. Meaning Jesus waited until everyone knew Lazarus was really dead.
Hi Rob,
The thought that jumped to my mind as I was reading your comments was Ezekiel 37. God told Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones and God's breath brought them to life. No matter how dry or dead something is, God can breath on it and bring it to life. So I think you are right. God wants us to know, nothing is so dead he cannot resurrect it, so we should not give up praying for lost ones.
Also I was reading somewhere recently that there was a school of thought around in Jesus' day that believed the spirit of a dead person didn't leave until the fourth day. Meaning Jesus waited until everyone knew Lazarus was really dead.
v.25-27 The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Martha, like Peter (Matthew 16:16), makes a statement of faith.
v.25-27 The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Martha, like Peter (Matthew 16:16), makes a statement of faith.
v.35 Jesus wept
Seems unusual since he was about to raise Lazarus from death. So perhaps he wept over the consequences of living in a fallen world, broken by sin. That although Lazarus was going to live, many others had died, would die, separated from God, as a result of sin coming into the world.
v.35 Jesus wept
Seems unusual since he was about to raise Lazarus from death. So perhaps he wept over the consequences of living in a fallen world, broken by sin. That although Lazarus was going to live, many others had died, would die, separated from God, as a result of sin coming into the world.
v.41-42 Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Our public prayers also need to be for the benefit of those hearing.
v.41-42 Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Our public prayers also need to be for the benefit of those hearing.
v.48 “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
Luke 16:31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
v.48 “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
Luke 16:31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
v.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
v.32 She(Mary) fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary and Martha said the same thing to Jesus but he responded differently. Jesus treats us as individuals.
v.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
v.32 She(Mary) fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary and Martha said the same thing to Jesus but he responded differently. Jesus treats us as individuals.
v.25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
(From Constable Commentary) “Whoever believes in Jesus will live spiritually and eternally even though he or she dies physically. Jesus imparts eternal life to those who believe in Him. He is the life in the sense that He is its source and benefactor. Whereas He will effect resurrection for those who believe and die physically, He bestows eternal life and it begins for the believer before he or she dies physically.”
v.25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
(From Constable Commentary) “Whoever believes in Jesus will live spiritually and eternally even though he or she dies physically. Jesus imparts eternal life to those who believe in Him. He is the life in the sense that He is its source and benefactor. Whereas He will effect resurrection for those who believe and die physically, He bestows eternal life and it begins for the believer before he or she dies physically.”