This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Unbelief, The Key To Failure In The Ministry", Mark 9:14-29

 UNBELIEF THE KEY TO FAILURE

Mark 9:14-29

DON’T ARGUE THE WORD, TEACH

Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up to the mountain where Jesus was transfigured and

met with Elijah and Moses. They heard the voice of the Father from the cloud who said

this is my Son who I love, Listen to Him. When Jesus and the three came

down from the mountain there was an argument with the religious leaders.

V:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

When doing the Lord's work you can't allow yourself to get distracted by nonbelievers.

Jesus had given his disciples the authority to cast out demons (Mark 6:13). In this case

they may have forgotten the rule to shake the dust from those who will not receive you.

You don’t argue with nonbelievers. They should have separated themselves with the

father and his non from the crowd. The devil was not only in the boy but in the minds

of those who opposed the Word of God.

DON’T GET DISTRACTED BY UNBELIEVERS

16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."

Notice Jesus directed His question to teachers of the law but got no response. Only the

father with the need for his son spoke up. Perhaps the teachers of law knew they had

no chance of winning an argument with Jesus.

The father explained to Jesus what was happening to his son by the demon that

possessed him. The disciples were unable to cast out the demon and thus the

argument with teachers of the law. I can imagine the teachers of the law held

that no man can cast out a demon. Jesus’ disciples probably responded that

they had cast out demons but couldn’t do it this time. There will always be those

who will not believe your testimony.

UNBELIEF IS THE KEY TO THE FAILURE OF THE

MINISTRY

V:19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

Jesus had proved over and over again His power over demons, over all kinds of sickness

, and nature which they had witnessed. Our inability to do as Jesus asked is our

unbelief. Unfaithfulness is a sin against Jesus because it allows to ignore the

commands of God. The original sin of Adam and Eve was a result of their unfaithfulness. The disciples failed to go in prayer as a team and call on the

authority given to them. We may not be able to see Jesus but we must know

his presence in our situations. The question is how many times must we see

Jesus work in our lives before we believe He will always work for us?

The first command is to bring the problem to Jesus.

THE DEVIL’S OBJECTIVE, BLOCK YOUR

RECOVERY

V:20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

When you bring your problem to Jesus the devil gets busy trying to discourage you.

Satan will not give up easily when you are on the road to recovery. He will attempt to

to strong arm you to show his influence. Sometimes the situation seems worse in

the recovery stage.

THE LORD’S OBJECTIVE, TRUST IN HIM

V:21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

To unbelievers. Jesus first establishes a relationship to those who come for help.

Unbelievers who come to us for help need to feel that we care about their

situation and are willing to help. We must take time to listen and understand

what they are dealing with. Unbelievers need to understand that God can do

what others can't do.

The father poured his heart out but still doubted that Jesus could help.

Jesus put the problem on him as it is on all of us. It is not Jesus's inability

or His willingness to help. It is our unbelief. This is a profound true statement

that we all must take hold of. “Everything is possible for him who believes”.

The Lord will do what we believe He will do. No prayer is too big or too small

for Jesus to act on. Notice our recovery, our blessings, and our help is on us.

“If we can believe”.

OUR PRAYER, A MEASURE OF FAITH

V:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Notice the first step to our recovery is belief. We need God's strength

to solidify our belief. Belief in the power and authority of Jesus does not

come easy. Our stumbling block is what we have seen man do and can believe

in our human thoughts. The Lord is compassionate enough to allow us to grow by our

ignorance.

A PRIVATE PRAYER, A PRIVATE RECOVERY

V:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

The Lord does not need our approval to do a miracle. He can do one in plain sight

or He can perform it before we realize it is done. To avoid vain glory. Jesus cast

the demon out before the crowd could get to him.

At Jesus' command the demon came out, but not before trying to kill the boy.

Even when the devil is busy, God is in control. The devil can do only what

God allows. Jesus can undo anything the devil does. Jesus performed three

miracles at once. He cast out the demon, he gave the boy his voice and his hearing.

Jesus does not do a half job, He does a full restoration.

CONSTANT IN PRAYER, CONSTANT IN GOD’S

DIRECTION

V:28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

It is good to schedule some private time with Jesus. We need to get away from

that which distracts us. We should all learn from our failures. There are times when

we need to review what worked and what didn’t work. Failure is part of our growth.

Jesus is on our side and has planned our success. An occasional failure keeps us

from being overconfident. Failure keeps us grounded and dependent on the Lord.

Failure keeps us on our knees in prayer.

We cannot take our prayer time with the Lord for granted. It is our vital

communication with the Lord. He will reveal to us what we need for

success in the ministry. Prayer is the time when the Lord gives us guidance

and directions.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Bible Study Series. "What Happen To You At The Cross:

 WHAT HAPPEN TO YOU AT THE CROSS

Sometimes we treat the cross as it was a thought that came after man

was created. God knew the need because man would be

made with the ability to think reason and make decisions.

At some point in man's life, he would corrupt himself and

need redemption.

The cross was God's sovereign plan in eternity past

I can imagine a counsel meeting between God the Father

God The Son and God the Holy Spirit

He decided to create a world to manifest His Love,

Man would be the centerpiece of His creation, and the object

of His Love, He created man in His image and likeness.

Angles were created first to sing praises and glorify the

Holy Trinity. One angel, Lucifer, cherub would be left

to his own devices to corrupt himself through pride. The

trinity cast him from the heavens

Lucifer would be allowed to corrupt man and thus the need

for a cross to reconcile man back to God.

God gave laws for man to live by to maintain fellowship with

Him. Starting in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam

one command which he did not keep because he allowed himself

to be influenced by Lucifer. Lucifer became known as Satan

the father of all lies. The sin of Adam separated him from God

and thus the need for a Savior.

From one man Adam, came all mankind. God grew Israel

into a nation under 400 years of slavery. On Mount Sinai

He Gave Moses His commandments and established the Levite

tribe as His worship team. He designs the movable tabernacle

as the place of worship.

The Tabernacle was the place where animals were

religiously sacrificed for the temporal atonement of sins.

This was just a symbol of Jesus' death on the cross, a one-time sacrifice

for the sins of the entire world, past, present, and future. On the cross

Jesus' death became a substitute for all those who faithfully followed

the law given to Moses before His birth and all those who put their

trust in Him after His death and resurrection.

Jesus' death and resurrection is the foundation of our faith.

Man after Adam was born in sin and shaped in iniquity, The only

way back to God is through faith in the cross, which is Christ Jesus.

The way back is simple, confess with your mouth and believe in your

heart, Jesus as Lord and Savior. That is the surface, Since any man

in Christ is a new creation several things happen in our transformation.

These things happen to each believer who is the building block of

body of Christ.

1. Believers are regenerated

1 Peter 1:3-4

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great

mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never

perish, spoil, or fade — kept in heaven for you.

2. Jesus became our death

He took our place on the cross. In our baptism, we died with Christ,

Romans 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still

sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Jesus became our resurrection.

We were raised in the newness of life in Jesus

Ephesians 2:6-7

6 And God raised us with Christ and seated us with him in the

heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

4. Jesus became our justification

Romans 5:18

18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for

all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification

that brings life for all men

5. Jesus made possible our reconciliation with the Father

Romans 5:11

11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus

Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

6. Jesus is the atonement of our sins

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason, he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order

that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to

God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

7 Jesus became our satisfaction

Luke 6:21

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

you will be satisfied.

8. Jesus is our freedom from sin

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason, he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order

that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God,

and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

John 8:31-32

"If you hold to my teaching, you are my disciples. 32 Then you will

know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

9. Jesus is our strength

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

10. Jesus made forgiveness from the Father available

Ephesians 1:7-8

In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in

with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom

and understanding

11. Jesus is our High Priest

Hebrews 9:11-13

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,

he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-

made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by

means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy

The place once and for all by his blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

12. Jesus is our eternal love

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

13. Jesus became our intercessor

Hebrews 7:25

25 Therefore he can save completely those who come to God

through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Miracle At The Cross", John 2:1-12

 THE MIRACLE AT THE WEDDING

John 2:1-13

MARRIAGE, GOD’S FIRST INSTITUTION

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

What is important about the third day? When was the third day?

We are sure. There are some possible explanations.

Since the story is a continuation of the Last part of Chapter 1, It could mean the

third day after the call of His first three disciples.

It could mean the third day of the week. In Jewish times the day began at

6 PM. The first day would be Sat/Sun. The Second day would be, Sun/Mon

and the third day would be Mon/Tue. The time could have been 6 PM Monday.

A wedding celebration would last a week. To run out of wine early in the

celebration would be an embarrassment to the groom and family.

Mary may have been invited because she was a relative of the family. Jesus

and His disciples were invited because He was considered a rabbi and to

celebrate the beginning of a new family. Probably, Jesus arrived

later in the day.

It is fitting that Jesus' first miracle was a wedding because His relationship to

the Church is the bride-groom. We are His bride. Wine was the celebratory drink.

We celebrate our faith in Jesus by drinking wine, a symbol of His atoning blood

shed on the cross for our salvation.

Three is a divine number, the Holy Trinity. Jesus rose on the third day. There were three

disciples in His inner circle, Peter, James, and John. Noah had three sons.

Peter denied Jesus three times during His trial.

Jesus is the author of marriage, the keeper of marriage, and the protector

of marriage. Marriage is the first divine human institution formed by God.

Jesus' presence represents the love he has for the Church

Running out of wine represents our continuous need for the provisions of Jesus

and our continuous celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Mothers are the first to show compassion for their children. They are concerned

about the needs and desires of the family. When we have a need or desire we ought

to make our requests known first to Jesus. Before we try to work things out we need

to be confident that Jesus has already planned it out.

JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGH YOUR

 EXPERIENCES

V:4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet co."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

To call His mother a woman was not disrespectful but a change in position. Jesus was

not just her son but the Messiah of mankind. Mary was not just a mother, but a servant of

the most high God. Jesus was beginning the building of His Church. He is the chief

cornerstone.

Jesus time had not come to be seated at the right hand of the Father with all power

over heaven and earth and to be our intercessor before the Father. While our desires are

Jesus concern, our most pressing need to hear the good news and accept Jesus as

Lord and Savior.

The first miracle Mary the the mother of Jesus experienced was the conception of Jesus

in her body by the power of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps she remembered her

visit by the angel Gabriel telling her the good news of being chosen to

be the mother of Jesus by Holy Spirit conception. She was sure of the

power of God by her experience. If God could create a baby of flesh and

blood in her body without the hands of man, He certainly could supply wine for the marriage.

Notice Mary did not doubt Jesus would answer her prayer. She was so

confident that she directed two servants to do what Jesus asked. When we

make a request to Jesus in prayer, don’t limit what He can do by our

knowledge. Never doubt the power and creativity of Our Lord and Savior.

My son has a saying; If you pray don’t doubt, If you doubt don’t pray.

There was no wine in the community, and they didn’t have

time to make wine. It was Monday evening, there was no place to

buy wine. A problem for me. But not for Jesus.

I GOT JESUS, IT IS ENOUGH

V:6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Notice our greatest blessing starts with obedience to God’s Word. We will never know

where God will lead us or what He will do for us until follow His commands.

FOLLOW JESUS TO YOUR BLESSINGS

V:8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

Why would Jesus choose water jars used for washing hands and feet? Was it

acceptable to drink? God uses what you have to bless you. What He makes

clean is clean. Water is a precious resource. Water represents the spiritual

purification of Jesus. The six jars, 120 to 180 gallons of water represent the

endless supply in Jesus. Jesus is our storehouse.

When Jesus gives you a command, follow it to your blessing. Not only are you

blessed, but others around you are blessed. The servants didn’t know what to expect,

so it required no faith on their part. Mary's faith was Jesus would supply the wine.

She didn’t know how, she knew He would.

When did the water become wine? Was it when the pots were filled, or was it

when it was taken out of the pots? We may never know, but the miracle took

place at the command of Jesus. To validate the quality of the wine it was taken

to the master of the banquet. Anybody can make wine. It takes skill and time to

make quality wine. Jesus doesn't operate on human skill or time. He operates on

His divine power.

Notice, that Jesus didn't command the water to become wine. It became wine according

to the obedience of the servants to His directions. There are hidden blessings in

Jesus that you don’t know about until you take your prayers to Him.

There was no formal praise and worship going on at the wedding. They were having a

party. Praise and worship begin with faith and obedience. The only party you ought

to attend is a party with Jesus.

JESUS GIVES YOU HIS BEST

V:9 They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Whenever Jesus does something, it will always far exceed what man can

do. The best in our lives will always be with Jesus. Jesus does not shop at Walmart

or your local grocery store, He calls the best out of nothing. He takes what He created

and makes it what we need.

THE JOB OF GLORIFYING THE FATHER

V:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

The family ought to always be first. God's family and everything else second. This miracle

at the start of Jesus's public ministry emphasized family and family development. Jesus should be the center of your family. There is a song that says Jesus is the center of my

Joy. Start your day in Jesus Joy and you will continue in joy.

The first three disciples were introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. It is our personal

experience with Jesus that grows our faith. There is no mention of the disciples being involved in the miracle. It had to be revealed by Jesus to them. We have to believe

what the Word says. Faith comes by hearing and not by sight. You don’t have to see

an event to believe Jesus is involved. We see horrible stuff all the time that Jesus protects us from.

Our first objective in the morning ought to be to give God glory. If you start your

day praising God, you will end in His glory.

DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM

V:12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus started His ministry near His hometown. There is not much discussion

in the Gospels about Jesus’ family life. This text indicates that Jesus kept in contact

with His family. Jesus created a family, and His maternal family was

important to Him. Jesus spent quality time with His family. Many of His miracles

were in that area. We must spend quality time with our families. It is believed that

Capernaum was the central base of Jesus's operation.

Never forget where you came from. Your early life experiences are an important part of who you are. Jesus was the son of a carpenter, and a fisherman, raised in a family devoted to God's commands. He built His church, fished men out of darkness, and molded the family of God.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus, The Great Subsitute, Luke 23:33-44

 

THE GREAT SUBSTITUTION

Luke 23:33-43

THE TIME, THE PLACE, AND THE METHOD OF

 OUR

SALVATION

In studying the events of Jesus's crucifixion, there are several questions

I needed answers for clarification.

V33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

THE PLACE OF THE CRUCIFIXION

Why was the place called the Skull?

1) That it was a spot where skulls were to be found lying about and probably, therefore, a public place of execution. This tradition apparently originates with Jerome (346-420 A.D.), who refers to (3), to condemn it, and says that "outside the city and without the gate there are places wherein the heads of condemned criminals are cut off and which have obtained the name of Calvary-that is, of the beheaded."

THE METHOD

How did the Roman soldier bind Jesus to the cross?

What do we know about the history of crucifixion?

In the following article, "New Analysis of the Crucified Man," Hershel Shanks looks at evidence of Roman crucifixion methods as analyzed from the remains found in Jerusalem of a young man crucified in the first century A.D. The remains included a heel bone pierced by a large nail, giving archaeologists, osteologists, and anthropologists evidence of crucifixion in antiquity.

What do these bones tell us about the history of crucifixion? The excavator of the crucified man, Vassilios Tzaferis, followed the analysis of Nico Haas of Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem suggesting Roman crucifixion methods: a contorted position: arms nailed to the crossbeam; legs bent, twisted to one side, and held in place by a single nail that passed through a wooden plaque, through both left and right heel bones, and then into the upright of the cross.

HIS DEATH

Whether the victim’s arms were tied, rather than nailed to the cross is irrelevant to the manner of his dying. As Zias and Sekeles point out:

“Death by crucifixion was the result of the manner in which the condemned man hung from the cross and not the traumatic injury caused by nailing. Hanging from the cross resulted in a painful process of asphyxiation, in which the two sets of muscles used for breathing, the intercostal [chest] muscles and the diaphragm, became progressively weakened. In time, the condemned man expired, due to the inability to continue breathing properly.”

 The Biblical Archaeology Society

GOD’S DIVINE PLAN IN ACTION

Why were two criminals crucified with Jesus?

This was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12

Isaiah 53:12

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus, on the cross, was making intercessions for you and me.

The first intercession was the prayer of forgiveness, He made it

possible for our salvation. Our sins were covered by His blood.

The second intercession was His death was a substitute for us,

His death satisfied God’s demand for justice for the sins of man for

all times.

The third intercession was giving all believers a measure of faith to

accept Him as Lord and Savior,

What clothes did Jesus have on for the soldiers to divide up?

John 19:23-25

V:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture, they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

When soldiers went to war they took spoils, Jesus' clothes were the soldier's portion,

The thing Jesus had that was worth the most to the world was the seamless coat. It was labor intensive and took skill to make a one-piece coat by hand. It showed that there is value in anything that touches Jesus. It was the touch of the hem of His garment that healed a

woman by faith.

What is the significance of the conversation of Jesus with the criminals?

INSULTS TURNED TO BLESSINGS

V:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

Sometimes when we look at someone's condition we see what we want to see

and judge by what we have heard not knowing right from wrong. Notice the

rulers who wrongly accused Jesus made the most noise in their accusations

stirring up the crowd for their benefit. They proclaimed the good Jesus did (Saved others), but turned it against Him in the same breath (can He save Himself).

There will always be people who will be envious and jealous of you and will

do what they can to destroy you. The Lord may allow it for your benefit and

the benefit of others that He may get the glory.

Jesus' humble humanity was exposed for all to see. His family and His enemies

saw the Savior hanging naked for the shame of us. They knew his sentience

and cruelty was at the hand of man, but didn’t understand the mercy at the hand

of the Father was displayed for all to see.

PUBLIC NOTICE THAT JESUS IS KING

Verse 38-43

V:38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Any conversation with Jesus or about Jesus will be profitable even if was not

meant to be. While some were insulting Jesus, others were learning from Jesus.

The sign above Jesus was plain for all to see in three languages. The leaders

confirm who Jesus was with their sneer. As a result, the conversation continued with the two criminals hanging on the cross beside Jesus. The one on His right proclaimed

Jesus' innocence while the other on the left influenced by the crowd denied His

kingship. The one on the right received his salvation while the one on the left died

in unbelief.

While we still have breath, our job is to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. You

never know who is listening and who will be drawn to Christ by your

testimony,

Those influenced by Christ and the events of the Pass Over Festival and His

crucifixion were His disciples, criminals on the cross, Roman

soldiers and devout men from every nation under the sun

Jesus' crucifixion was planned by God and executed by Him fulfilling all of the

prophesies concerning Him.

John 10:17-18

Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Hebrews 1:3-4

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

THANK GOD FOR JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Being Raised From The Dead" John 11:38-44

 

BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD

John 11:38-45

INTRODUCTION

Our text starts in the middle of a drama between Jesus and a family He loved.

Jesus was in Bethabara 30 miles from Bethany, the home of Mary and Martha.

The sisters sent a message to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. According

to my minimum thinking it was a day's journey to Jesus and Lazarus was probably

dead by the time the message got to Him. Jesus stayed in Bethabara two more days

before making in the journey to Bethany.

Jesus, ever present in our lives and knowing our condition could have healed

from a distance and had no need for a messenger. Whatever Jesus does is

for our good and the good of non-believers. His delay was no delay but for the

glory of God. The Lord is never late and always on time.

Lazarus's four days in the grave were planned by the Lord to strengthen the faith

of Mary and Martha and to draw other mourners and bystanders into belief

in Him. This would show Jesus' power over death and glorify the Father.

THE COMPASSION OF JESUS

V:38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

When Jesus gives a command, never object based on your limited thinking and knowledge. You and I cannot judge the decisions of the Lord or know the

outcome He planned until it happens. Most often we make decisions on limited information.

Jesus had met privately with Martha and then with Mary who expressed their belief that

if He had come sooner, Lazarus would not have died. He had explained to his

disciples as He did to Mary and Martha that Lazarus' condition was not about

death. Death to the Lord is just a state of sleep from which we will be raised.

Jesus wept because of the unbelief of His disciples who walked with Him,

Mary and Martha who He loved, and Israel who rejected Him.

It appears that Mary and Martha saw Jesus as a prophet, a teacher, and a healer, but

not the Messiah. They knew He could heal if He was present. They did not perceive

that Jesus could bring Lazarus out of the tomb alive. We should never put any

limits on what Jesus can or will do.

Jesus came to Bethany and went to the tomb at the request of those He loved,

not to fail, but to honor their request. Don’t expect Jesus to answer

your prayers in the way of your limited human thinking. Jesus can do

things in ways you cannot imagine. When we come to Jesus with our prayer

requests, we must leave them in His hands to answer in His way.

Mary and Martha blamed Jesus for their brother's death not knowing that

Jesus saw death as a temporary state.

The first thing Jesus told the men who accompanied Him was to roll away

the stone from the cave. When Jesus tells you to do something don’t be quick

to object to His business. The sisters knew their brother was dead and the body

decaying. What they didn’t know was Jesus had preserved their brother

in a four-day state of sleep.

FAITH THE KEY TO CONFIDENCE

V:40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

Jesus confirmed His mission to Martha for coming to the tomb. Faith in Him brings

dead things alive. We were once dead in our sins, but now through faith are alive

in Jesus. We may still have some dead things in our lives. Dead relationships, dead

aspirations, dead opportunities, etc. If our faith is in Jesus, dead things can come

alive.

THANKS BEFORE EXPECTED BLESSINGS

V:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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."

We must believe that when we pray in the name of Jesus, the Father always hears us.

Looking back at our past prayers we must be confident that the Father

has always heard our prayers even if they have not been answered the way we wanted.

There is no point in praying if you don’t believe.

James 1:6-8

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We must share our testimony with others about the prayers God has answered so the Father gets the glory. Others may be encouraged by us when they

face trials and tribulations.

JESUS’S POWER OVER DEATH

V:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Notice; that Lazarus was dead, but death does not prevent Jesus from performing

miracles. Jesus is the author and the creator of life. He created man out of the

dust of the earth. Not much for Jesus to revive life in a dead body.

Everyone with Jesus knew Lazarus had been in a tomb wrapped in grave clothes

for four days. Jesus called out in a loud voice so everyone could hear His

command. A command to the death angel to release Lazarus back to life.

The loud call was for the doubters to see that Jesus has power over death.

My question is this. Since Lazarus was wrapped in cloth, how did he get up

without the use of his hands? How did he come out of the tomb with his feet

bound with cloth? Several miracles are presented to us. The dead

coming alive. Supernatural power is given to lift one without help while

completely wrapped and coming out of the tomb unaided.

So that others could participate in the miracle, Jesus commanded men to

unwrapped Lazarus. They could see, touch, and hear his breath. The

witnesses and mourners could see Lazarus alive and well.

Some believed in Jesus and others were alarmed at the miracle. People can

see the same thing and react differently. Some are influenced by the

Holy Spirit and others are influenced by Satan.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT INFLUENCES YOU?

IS IT THE WORD OF GOD OR THE WORLD?

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Maturing Faith In Jesus", Luke 8:45-58

 

MATURING FAITH IN JESUS

Luke 8:40-58

EXPECT JESUS TO COME WHEN YOU CALL

V:40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The text presents two

people who had serious problems that they brought to Jesus. They heard about

Jesus and may have witnessed others being healed by Jesus.

Faith comes by a report. The report is the divine message of God. The report must be

believed by the hearer. Many hear the report but do not believe and there is no faith.

Faith does not necessarily come by seeing if the seeing does not result in the belief

that it is a message from God or the Work of God, Many witnessed the miracles but

did not believe it was the work of God.

The word faith means to trust someone other than yourself meaning Jesus.

Trust means forsaking all others in favor of Jesus' will for our lives.

Trust means relying totally on Jesus, and not on ourselves

Trust requires the believer to wait patiently for the timing of Jesus.

Trust requires us to take our prayers and requests to Jesus first with the

confidence that what we ask will be done according to His will

A large crowd was waiting for Jesus to arrive by boat on the Sea of Galilee

The crowd was so large that they choked the walking of Jesus. Jairus had to

wait for Jesus to navigate the crowd.

Jairus the ruler of a synagogue may have known Jesus to be the Messiah but kept

silent until his daughter lay dying. He may have heard the report of Jesus reading

the scripture in the Synagogue in Nazareth and the people’s attempt to throw him

down a cliff ( Luke 4:28). When people have need they forget about their fears

and the opinions of others and come by faith to Jesus. Sometimes Jesus allows

situations in our lives to drive us to Him.

YOUR PUBLIC WORSHIP GETS THE ATTENTION OF

 JESUS

Notice Jairus, the synagogue ruler in full view of the people fell on his knees

and pleaded with Jesus for mercy. This may have encouraged others to

worship Jesus. When leaders show courage and respect they influence others

to do the same.

V:42 As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

This was a woman desperate to be healed and a woman of deep faith.

She violated the law to get to Jesus. According to Leviticus 15:19, anyone she

touched would be uncleaned. To get to Jesus in the crowd she would have

touched many people making them all unclean. Jesus did not expose her illness

or her breaking the law, He focused with compassion on her faith. Her faith in Jesus

made her clean and everyone she touched clean.

It was her faith in the touch of Jesus’s Garment that caused the miracle to take

place. She may have thought she could sink into the crowd and remain hidden.

V:45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

We are taught here that our testimony of the grace of God is important to all

those around us. Anyone we touch may be influenced by the work of

Jesus in our lives

V:45 b When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

To the disciples, most likely Peter, this was a silly question. People were all around

bumping into each other. Jesus. Unlike us, Jesus was aware of everyone in the crowd and every thought and action they had.

The woman’s touch was a tough of desperation. It was a touch of hope, It was

a touch of faith. Every piece of fabric on Jesus was completely intertwined with

His heart, mind, and soul. The woman's touch of the garment was a straight line

to the heart of Jesus. Power flowed from His heart to the flowing blood of the woman,

stopping the flow out of her body. It all occurred at once upon her touch of faith.

The woman who was healed had no plan to reveal the work of God in her life

Jesus called her out because He knew no one would admit to touching Him.

Jesus emphasized the importance of our testimony.

V:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Had Jesus not called her out, the woman would have gone away without giving

Jesus the public praise and worship He deserved. Again Jesus shows us the

proper way to approach Him. We should come trembling and fall at His feet

with our confession and then praise and worship. We should make some noise

proclaiming the goodness of the Lord in our lives.

We should not miss the point that it is our faith in Jesus that makes us well.

The word says the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. The mountain

for the woman was 12 years of bleeding with no end in sight. It was only

when she recognized who the real doctor was that she came to Jesus. It was 12

years of learning that she could not trust a man for her help. 12 is the number in

The biblical time when adulthood began. The woman became an adult leaning on

Jesus.

DON’T LET CIRCUMSTANCES CONTROL YOUR

 FAITH

V:49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore."

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

Jaruis came to Jesus first but had to wait as Jesus dealt with the woman

and her healing. The woman may have been encouraged by the Jairus

humbleness before the Lord. Jairus may have been encouraged by the

women's healing and testimony,

It is no coincidence that Jairus daughter was well for 12 years and then her

sickness brought him to Jesus and the woman was sick for 12 years before coming to Jesus. They both had a sickness that brought them to Jesus by faith.

While Jesus was dealing with a woman with the issue of blood, Jairus received word his daughter had died. His messenger gave up hope of a recovery and decided he didn’t need Jesus. The Lord always has the last word.

Death is no closed door for Jesus, He created life and can restore life at

His will.

Jairuswas told by Jesus to believe the impossible. What is impossible for man is

possible for God. No delay can keep Jesus from fulfilling His purpose.

God’s delay is designed to teach us to be patient. His ways are not our ways and

His thoughts are not our thoughts. I can imagine Jairus' hope growing as he

made his way with Jesus to his daughter.

Jesus could have healed Jairus’ daughter from where He was, but He was invited to

his house. Not only did Jairus need to believe, but his household needed to believe.

DON’T HANG WITH UNBELIEVERS

V:51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the child's father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

It was customary when a loved one died, that paid mourners came to mourn with

the family. They had seen the child lying dead and were doing their job.

Jesus shut the mourners up and announced that the child was not dead but sleeping.

Death is just a state of rest until Jesus calls us to life again. Jesus gave us a preview

of His death and resurrection and our resurrection into immortality at His second

coming.

MATURING IN JESUS

V:53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Unbelievers laugh at the impossible not knowing that nothing is impossible for

Jesus. Life rests in the hands of Jesus and is never lost to the world. The daughter’s

spirit had left her temporarily but was returned by Jesus. At 12 years old the daughter

died to the world. At 12 years old the daughter came alive in Jesus. Can you imagine

the growing faith of Jairus and his wife and the growing faith of Peter, James and

John as the girl came to life by the touch of Jesus.

The woman with the issue of blood reached out in faith and touched the garment of

Jesus was healed. Her sickness was 12 years old. At 12 years and some seconds,

the woman with the issue of blood became an issue of healing in Jesus. She died to

the world and became alive in Jesus. It was Jesus who proclaimed her faith had

made her well,

The hand of faith moves upward both ways. Left from us to Jesus and right

from Jesus to us. The power of faith joins us together with Jesus in one body.

Jesus arranges the circumstances in our lives so we mature in Him.

WHAT IS YOU TESTIMONY?

HAVE YOU PROCLAIMED IT TO THE WORLD?