Tag: John 11:25-26
All God’s Benefits!
Scripture reading for September 21: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””
King David wrote this psalm as a worship prayer and aid to remembering and focusing on God and His many benefits. David was thankful for God’s forgiveness of many besetting sins. He had asked for mercy when he committed adultery and then had his partner’s husband purposely killed. (Psalm 51) David had suffered sickness and God had healed him many times. David also realized that his sins would lead to eternal suffering in the pit and that God’s great mercy had spared him and given him what he did not deserve, steadfast love and mercy. (Psalm 40) David declared his faith in eternal life and joy in God’s presence forever. (Psalm 16) This is possibly the reason behind his declaration that his strength would be renewed to youth like the eagle. This was a powerful metaphor taken from nature and God’s restoration of the eagle.
As Mary and Martha were dejected at the passing of their brother Lazarus, Jesus came and declared that He was the resurrection and the life eternal in God’s presence. Jesus said this at the grave of His friend Lazarus who had been dead four days. He then called Lazarus out of the grave, renewing his strength as a testimony that still speaks to us today. Jesus is the source of all God’s benefits and blessings. He deserves our worship and total trust.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings and provisions given me by grace through believing in Jesus Christ. He has forgiven all my sins, healed all my diseases, redeemed my life from the pit and destruction and given me eternal life in His presence! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Amen!
“I Know My Redeemer Lives”
Scripture reading for August 18: Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me.”
John 11:25-6 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Over two thousand years separate the faith confession of Job and the truth Jesus declared to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Job was in the midst of a trial of sickness that he felt could take his life. Satan had obtained permission to test his faith and God had agreed. Satan threw his worst attack on Job’s health and faith through accusations from his wife and friends as well. Job maintained his integrity and did not blame God or curse Him.
But God was at work behind the scenes as well. Job’s faith was maintained through revelation knowledge of the unseen world. God had revealed a Redeemer Who would one day stand upon the earth and be made visible to those of faith. Job had a revelation that even if he died and his flesh and skin was destroyed, yet he would behold this Redeemer for himself and his own eyes would see Him. The only way Job could know this was if God revealed it to him. This has been God’s mercy towards those who humbly seek Him and trust in Him.
Jesus Christ stood at Lazarus’ grave and declared that He was the resurrection and the life. He was that Redeemer, that whoever believed on Him would live, even if dead. Those that lived and believed would never die! What amazing revelation knowledge revealed by Jesus, Son of God! The real question for us all, “Do you believe this?”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great mercy in revealing Jesus Christ, Your Son, as the way to live forever and find assurance that even in death, we will be made alive in Him! With Job of old, ‘How my heart burns within me!’ Amen.
“Lazarus! Come out!”
Scripture reading for November 1: John 9-12
My son Marshal and I visited Bethany as a part of our Bible history and geography study class that spent three weeks in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. At Bethany one morning, we visited a place that was a probably like the tomb that Lazarus was laid in. Marshal and I went down a narrow passageway carved out of the rock and entered the musty cave where there were some niches carved in the wall as places to lay the bodies. The tomb was illuminated by an electric light. After reading the Scriptures about this incident, I turned to leave first and right after I got out, I took my camera and called out, “Marshal, come out!” I got real visual of what that might have looked like to those gathered around that tomb with Jesus!
Jesus often stayed at Lazarus’ home in Bethany, less than two miles from the Temple in Jerusalem. (John 11:18) Lazarus had two sisters, Mary and Martha, who also loved Jesus and loved their brother. They had sent word to Jesus that their brother was deathly sick, but Jesus purposely delayed coming. (John 11:3-6) When Jesus arrived, Lazarus was already dead and entombed for four days. Martha came to meet Jesus and told Him that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died. She also made another key statement, “But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask.” (John 11:22)
Jesus gave her a Word of knowledge: “Your brother will rise again.” (John 11:23) Martha’s understanding of the resurrection had come from studying the Old Testament Scriptures. (Possibly Daniel 12:1-3, 13) Jesus spoke again to her prophetically, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) This time Martha confessed that she believed that Jesus was the Christ, Son of God!
Jesus went to the tomb and wept! (John 11:35) What compassion Jesus showed for this man that He loved! The One Who was the “Resurrection and Life” was about to demonstrate the power of faith. Jesus was deeply moved a second time and ordered the stone taken away from the mouth of the tomb. Martha protested, but Jesus reassured her faith! After thanking His Father that He always heard Him, Jesus spoke, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came out, grave clothes and all!
We are encouraged to simply believe that whatever Jesus said or says will be heard by the Father! He is praying for us now and listening! Why not ask Him for what He has promised? Faith is always rewarded!
Rejoice in a living Redeemer!
Scripture reading for May 19th: Job 17-20
Key Scriptures: Job 19:25-27 “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes! How my heart yearns within me!”
Job was kept through his terrible suffering during this test by revelation knowledge of a God who was alive and a redeemer! He so trusted in his Redeemer that he believed that even if he died and his body was consumed by the grave, that one day, in his body, he would see God with his own eyes! Job had resurrection faith!
Rejoicing in our Redeemer: Jesus promises to redeem all those who believe on Him from the penalty of sin–eternal death! “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:25-26)