Verse of the Day 5/26

Through the Bible - 1 Chronicles 18-20, John 11:1-27

 

Good morning,

Radio personality Paul Harvey passed away a few months ago after broadcasting his daily program "The Rest of the Story" for over sixty years.  It was estimated that the number of listeners to his program averaged over 22 million weekly.  What kept listeners coming back was the unexpected turnarounds and stories that would give hope and lift the listeners spirit.

 

Today's New Testament reading is in John 11, where we have the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  We'll go there for today's verse, you should then read the rest of the chapter to know "the rest of the story".

 

John 11:4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this." 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.   NLT
or from the NKJV

John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

 

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

It is an amazing, remarkable chapter.  Much like Luke 15 and the prodigal son, each time you read it you come away with something new to consider, to ponder.

 

Jesus knew that Lazarus would die.  He also knew that he would raise him up again.  Mary and Martha sent for Jesus knowing that He could heal their brother.  Verse 5 says that Jesus "loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, He knew the situation, yet He withheld His mighty healing hand.  He loved them, "so He stayed two more days". 

 

The sickness brought about death but it didn't end there.  Lazarus would be raised and in doing so Jesus would bring hope to Mary, Marha and all of us that Jesus has the power over life and death.

 

MacArthur writes, "The delay was because He loved the family (v.5) and that love would be clear as He greatly strengthened their faith by raising Lazarus from the dead.  The delay also assured that Lazarus had been dead long enough that no one could misinterpret the miracle as a fraud or a resuscitation."

 

Jesus' "The Rest of the Story" has been told for two thousand years and is read by millions every day every year.  What does this story bring to you?

 

Over the weekend we considered the song "Through it All" about learning to trust in God in the trials of life.  Many times the answers to prayers don't seem to come.  But as with the case of Mary and Martha, it wasn't because He didn't care.  It was because He loved them and had something better ahead for them, that would bring joy, peace, hope and rest.  We can have that for eternity.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

John 11:1-15

 

The Death of Lazarus

 

11 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

 

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

 

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

 

8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"

 

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."

 

12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

 

14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."
NKJV