Jesus Teaches Us How to Serve

Jesus Taught Us How To Serve

Book of John Chapter 13

If you are keeping up, then these things take place on Wednesday, where Thursday would begin at 6PM in the week that Jesus would be crucified.

The Disciples had been arguing about who should be the highest rank in the government that Jesus would set up and they did not even realize that this was far into the future in the time of the Millennial Kingdom.

We can just imagine how Jesus felt for He had just a few days left to teach them, and they were bickering about things they did not yet understand.

Just like most all of us, these men were still yearning for ambition, power, and authority and they were to begin the Church by first laying all these things aside as meaningless.

We should be able to see just how important it was when Jesus washed the feet of these men.

They still had to be humbled so they could serve the Lord!

This is a great lesson for us all.

Mar_9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

2Ti_2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

Then Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, taught these disciples a very valuable lesson.

*****Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

These things could have taken place in the "Upper Room" where many important events took place even though some say these things took place in the house of Simon the Leper.

These things took place just before the last Passover that Jesus would take part in, because the Lord Jesus Christ is our Passover!

The most important thing on the mind of Christ was that He was going home and 11 of these men would continue in the ministry of the church, once they were filled with the God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was departing but these men would continue to be exposed to this evil world.

The last great lesson they needed to know was a lesson in humility.

Jesus had chosen these men with a purpose that only He knew, even Judas who would betray Him, had a purpose and the Lord knew this even when He chose him.

The Lord did not even set Judas apart at this time but loved him till the end.

When Judas betrayed the Lord, he could never lay the blame on the Master.

Jesus would depart out of this world because there is the world where He lives, a far better world.

Jesus loved His own. His own are not just those disciples but all those who believed upon Him in all generations.

Remember God is self-existing in a place of no time but in eternity.

We should also understand that until the exact hour, the enemies of the Lord could only plan, for they could not lay hands upon Him until it was His time!

Jesus knew these 11 men would not realize the importance to their ministry until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would come upon them.

Even as these things were going on, the Devil was working on Judas.

Judas wanted a King and not some man who was going to die and he could never grasp what Jesus was saying until after he had betrayed Him, and he still could not find it in his heart to repent.

*****Joh 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

We should understand that Satan did everything possible to keep Jesus off the cross.

When Satan was defeated, he then began to try to destroy the Church, and now Satan is trying his best to cause harm to every believer!

We should not be deceived, this was not the time of the "Lord's Supper" nor the Passover meal, this was just Jesus gathering the 12 for some last-minute teaching.

Jesus knew His hour had come. What had Jesus been doing?

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

This is the same thing these disciples were trained to do, and it is the same things that that every Christian is to do. We are to do God's Will every day.

Jesus had loved His own.

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Jesus gave all disciples the command to continue in His love as He had the Father's love.

Knowing the enemy.

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

We must realize that as soon as we give the Word of God to some stranger or even some family member, Satan is ready to discredit the Word of God.

Knowing all these things should increase our faith and it should show in what things God has given us to do.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

It would be many days before these men, who would shake-up this world, would realize the purpose behind what the God of Heaven had done when He washed their feet.

*****Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

If we think we are being the greatest of all God's servants, then we need to understand what Jesus has done in this passage!

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The Lord our God promises to do this again to certain believers. Are you one?

Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

There was always a large basin made available for this service and it was the job of the lowest slave in the house or the lowest servant.

It was the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who washed the feet of these 12 disciples. Judas had not yet gone his way to betray the Lord so even his feet were washed.

The Lord knew this, but He still washed the feet of Judas.

Even while Jesus did these things, He knew God the Father had given Him all power to do as He so chose to do and the first thing He chose to do, was to wash the feet of 11 disciples and 1 traitor.

Allow that to sink in for a moment!

For a few moments in our time the Lord and Master of all things chose to become a slave!

There is a real dignity in humbling ourselves to meet the need of others!

But then comes Peter.

*****Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

We should understand that until we are cleansed by Jesus, we are still a dirty rotten sinner.

Once we are washed by Jesus then we need only to be cleansed from our daily walk in this evil world.

Jesus has no sin Himself but as long as we are in this world, we are still in the flesh of a sinner who needs to repent every day!

If we are not a part of Christ, then we can never serve Him!

Peter loved the Lord, but he did not understand what He was doing.

Peter felt it was just too humiliating a task for Jesus to wash his feet, but it was also a very humiliating thing for the Lord to humble Himself and go to the cross for our sin not His, He had no sin!

We should understand that if Jesus could wash the feet of Judas, we should see the love the Lord has for the believer but also His enemies!

When Peter spoke up, he was telling Jesus that He did not know what He was doing and of course Peter was wrong again.

We can be sure the other disciples were just as astonished as Peter but were not about to speak up for they were not as bold and would allow Peter to speak for them all at times.

The boldness of Peter was a trait that the Lord would take advantage of after Pentecost but for now Peter just needed to watch and learn.

The lesson for us all is that we may have to humble ourselves to the work of Jesus, but with all our heart we are to submit to the will of our Father in Heaven.

We must submit to the will of Lord, to be Christian!

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

A study of the Words of Jesus is a great study, but we will not understand everything that Jesus did until our "faith" leads us to the truth and we are filled with the Holy Spirit who does know all the things of Jesus Christ and He will explain these things as it becomes necessary!

We should see that everything that Jesus did was an example of the things that we must do, to be disciples.

Joh_8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

*****Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Joh 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

To be saved is to be washed completely by the Blood of Jesus.

To be regenerated is to be washed by the Holy Spirit.

To be a servant is to be washed completely in the Word of God.

We cannot hold back any part of our body in this process but once this has taken place, then we need only wash away the filth of this world as we travel in it, day to day!

Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

The reason Jesus said that not all were clean was because Judas was still in the room and as we know Judas had sin in His heart!

The other disciples did not know this at this time, but the Lord certainly knew.

The Lord knew, and He had always known from the day He had chosen Him to show us whosoever will can be saved.

Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Our life is about choices and it was Judas who chose not to believe.

Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Act 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

John wrote in another place.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

So now Jesus says to them all, including Judas:

*****Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Notice Jesus asked them, but Jesus did not wait on an answer, Jesus gave the answer that He was expecting!

If we recognize Jesus as Master,(Rabbi) which means the Master teacher then we are to believe what He says.

It seems that many a church of today has forgotten this.

If this is not enough then we know that Jesus is our Lord which means we must obey the things He tells us or commands us.

Again many of the churches of today have rejected this for their own laws.

We must learn the lessons taught by the Lord who is our ALL!

Again when Jesus says, "I Am", He is saying that He is Jehovah, YAHWEY or YHWH!

We must never doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, Emmanuel, God come down from Heaven in the flesh!

We are never to address the Lord Jesus without showing respect. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior, but He is still the Almighty God!

Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Above all it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our true example! To be like Christ is to be Christian.

How much do we all fail in being like the Lord!

*****Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Over and over the Lord Jesus has taught us this lesson:

Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We know that God does not like to repeat Himself and He should not have to but to be Christian is to do the things that the Lord Jesus did!

We are foolish to rebel against the Word of God.

We are foolish to put our man-made words above the Word of God, like the Pharisee and these Hard-Line Jews.

This also is a lesson we are to learn!

We exist to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are to administer to the Spiritual needs of others but also to their physical needs when we are able.

And as Jesus says, when we know all these things, we should be happy to do them.

We should feel the joy of knowing we are following the example of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nothing makes our Father in Heaven happier than following in the ways of His Son with the fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Just knowing the truth is not nearly enough, we must also walk the talk!

What did the Prophet Jeremiah say?

Jer 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

We are not serving the Lord until we do as He did!

When we do not do the things of Jesus, then we have become a Judas!

Let that sink in!

*****Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Rock that is the foundation of the Church, so in reality Judas would soon commit treason against the Church.

TREACHERY is a violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence.

This why the Holy Spirit causes us to remember another Psalm.

Psa 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

We have talk about God placing someone into the future as the woman at the well and the blind man that was blind since birth who had recently become 30 years old.

We see now that Judas was also someone that God had placed into the future to be as an unruly horse who would try to kick the one who fed him.

The betraying of Christ was not accidental, or a thing that happened by chance it was Satan confusing the mind of someone close to Jesus Christ.

It was the Father who ordained the cause of our salvation, to reconcile us unto himself in his Son, and the Son willingly and voluntarily obeyed the Father.

If we have not seen by now, every step that Jesus took from the day of His birth had been planned by Him before we hear those words "In the beginning God".

The Lord washed the feet of Judas, but Judas could not be cleansed by the washing because he had on him the filth of Satan the deceiver and had no faith.

Satan cannot be cleansed but all those under his influence still can if they will call upon the Lord with a true heart!

The title of our lesson is "Jesus Taught Us How to Serve" and He did, but He also taught us that some of our enemies could be those that we trust the most!

Amen

Let's Pray!

King of the Jews

The King of the Jews

Book of John Chapter 12

How do we know Christ will be King of the Jews and King of this world?

Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Because God said so!

Psa 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Psa 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Psa 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Over and over again the Bible says so.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

This day comes after the Rapture and the Rapture of the Church is the next thing on God's agenda!

Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Let's begin:

*****Joh 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

Our story begins with Jesus returning to Jerusalem for the last time.

He had fellowship with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus who the Lord had raised from the dead.

Mary had anointed the head of Jesus as preparing Him for His death.

Judas had shown his true colors over the money.

And we know the poor will always be with us, so we will always have someone to help.

The Chief Priest had decided that not only would they kill Jesus, but they would also kill Lazarus because he drew a large crowd of onlookers.

Many of those that had been at Mary's and Martha's house decided to go to Jerusalem with the Lord.

Of course this would be the last Feast of the Passover that Jesus would observe, and the Lord began this trip on Sunday.

Many had come to Jerusalem for this feast and many more had come because they had heard Jesus would be there.

The Jewish historian Josephus estimated that over 2 million people came to this Passover. it is known that at least 256,000 lambs were sacrificed at this Passover and each lamb represented at least 10 people who were cleansed of their sin for one more year.

Many Gentiles were there also.

We should understand that all these things were known of the prophets and were told to the Jews throughout their many generations.

Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

*****Joh 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

These palm branches were a symbol of victory and we certainly have victory in Jesus but for the Jews it was not time. We should also understand that this was a command of the Lord for this particular feast.

Lev 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

That word Hosanna means "save now Lord, save me now".

Even through all these things, Jesus was not considered to be the Messiah, but it was OK if Jesus would come as the King if He could take away the tyranny of Rome.

We must understand that Jesus would never come to be the Conqueror nor to straighten out the problems on this earth!

Jesus did not come to be the Provider, to feed, to house, and to give good health!

Jesus did not come to accept all mankind, no matter what each man does!

Jesus did not come so men could continue to do as they please!

Jesus came to save a world that was lost in its own sin!

Jesus came to reconcile all sinners back to God!

Jesus came to teach us that God is Holy, God is righteous, and God is pure, and this is the only way God will accept us into His household. Only by Jesus the Christ!

The truth is most of mankind are not interested in being set free from their sin.

We all hold on to our sin like it is the most important thing we can do even when it is destroying us and our families!

*****Joh 12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

Joh 12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

There is a great story about this young colt:

Luk 19:29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Luk 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

Luk 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

Luk 19:33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

Luk 19:34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Luk 19:36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

Riding this young colt that had never been ridden tells us a lot about Jesus.

1) He surely had control of all animals.

2) The colt is a noble animal and it was used by Kings and their emissaries, to symbolize that they came not to conquer but they came in peace.

They were showing that they had peaceful intentions.

Jesus is certainly the promised King but first He as the Messiah was coming as the Savior and truly peaceful intentions.

We see that God is a God of love and reconciliation.

These people should have seen this also, but they were too blind to see!

Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

3) Just as a colt is used to serve and carry the burdens of mankind, Jesus came to serve His Father and carry the burdens of all who will believe upon Him.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

4) This colt, that had never been ridden, was also a symbol of sacredness.

Animals and other things that were used in the Jewish system of worship, had to be animals that had never been used in any sort of labor before.

Num 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

Jesus Christ is that Sacred Hope for all people, the Messiah promised of God!

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Even the chosen 12 could not grasp the meaning of these things at this time.

*****Joh 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Not until the Lord had resurrected from that grave did the chosen 12, well maybe just the 11, because Judas had taken his own life, begin to understand these things that Jesus had taught them.

It is a wonderful thing to wake up to the fact that God has used you to help someone else to realize the truth of God!

This is what the Holy Spirit will do once He enters into the "Born Again" believer!

As we read and study the Scriptures the Holy Spirit will show us the meaning of those Scriptures and bring them to our attention in that hour of need.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In fact since the recorded death of Christ Jesus and the known resurrection of Christ Jesus, no one can have an excuse for not understanding the mission of Jesus Christ and yes, He will return to this earth to complete His mission!

If the Holy Spirit abides in you, you will understand these things!

If we remember these same disciples who became the Apostles were of no use to the Church until they became filled with the Holy Spirit at that Pentecost that followed the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So what is the truth of the death of our Lord?

*****Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

One seed properly planted will yield a great quantity of that same seed. That seed had to die in order to do this thing.

It is the same with the death of our Savior. Christ Jesus had to die before He could produce the many followers who are called Christ or like Christ Jesus.

It’s important that we understand that Jesus had to die but He also had to resurrect!

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

There are some things we must overcome before we can know the Lord and the main one being, we must die to ourselves.

This flesh that houses our soul will certainly die but while we are living, we must die to our flesh. This is the purpose of being "born again"!

The Bible even says to mortify our flesh, be done with it!

It is the cross that Jesus bore that leads us to take up our own cross and follow Him!

Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

*****Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

If you love your life more than you love obeying the will of God, you will certainly lose that life that you cherish so much for an eternity.

Most people do not understand that our life is in our "soul" and not in the flesh!

Our flesh is no more than jacket covering our true self!

Our soul was given to us by our Father in Heaven and our soul is hungry to return to Heaven caring not for this place we call earth.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

God will soon call all His Sons and daughters back home!

*****Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

The Lord gave His life for all those who live in this world. It has been more than 2000 years since this took place because our Father in Heaven has prepared for a crowd.

The sad fact is that the death of Jesus Christ will not give new live to everyone because in the salvation plan of the Lord, He chose to add "Faith". and many will not believe.

The Lord has more than enough "Grace" to save all those in entire world but only those who believe will know God's "Mercy" and God's "Grace"!

We must accept the Lord for "Who He Is"!

We must accept the Lord for "What He Says"!

We must accept the Lord for "What He Has Done"!

When we do these things, our Glorious Father in Heaven will honor us, and we will be allowed to join Him in Heaven!

Then the Lord Jesus knew His time had come!

*****Joh 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Jesus had already said "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit".

The one thing we know for sure is that Jesus was not having second thoughts on what He had come to do!

Jesus had never known sin and the hour had come that He was to take on to Himself, all the sin of this world, past, present, and future.

This thing was staring Him in the face, the time had come to do this thing.

Jesus had come to die, and it was now time to do this thing.

There will never come a time that the Trinity of God will show any disagreement because these three are One.

God is absolutely perfect, so there is no room for change.

The Lion had to become the sacrificial Lamb in order for the truth of the Gospel to be real.

Our God has the absolute power to make us all believers but in order for "faith" to emerge then His death must be real, and it would then be our own choice to believe or not believe, which are the two groups of people that will remain.

Right now there is a third group and that group has not yet heard the "Gospel" this the job of the Church to tell the world that there is a Savior and His name is Christ Jesus!

Jesus willfully obeyed His Father to show the world that we to are to be obedient to our Heavenly Father!

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus knew that only in complete obedience could He be glorified because this would glorify His Father and He would then also be glorified because they are One God!

Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

God came to this world and took on a body of flesh that He might establish a New Covenant with every believer, a Covenant of Peace and then Life, not a life like we have now that is fading away, but eternal life that will last forever!

*****Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Joh 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

God will answer every prayer that is in His will! Notice God answered in an audible voice but only those who believe can understand what God says.

Jesus prayed according to God's will and this is another example that God will do as He says!

1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

God accepted the prayer of Jesus on behalf of all mankind but not all would believe.

You see when the Lord prayed out loud then our Heavenly Father had to obey His Son or the Scriptures would not be true!

You know there is coming a day where all believers will hear that sound of a trumpet and leave this world behind. I do not know what the unbeliever will hear, all I know is they will have missed a great opportunity for being so stubborn, clinging to their sin!

*****Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Why is this world so confused about the Lord Jesus Christ when everything He did, He did for us all!

These people heard a response from Heaven when Jesus ask for a response. These people were confused about the Lord, so they were confused about the Father in Heaven and nothing Jesus would do would change this but one thing we know is that Jesus put every effort into reaching these Jewish people, but they would not listen.

One thing we must consider is that the Our Father speaks from Heaven then something changed. God does not use empty words!

God accepted that Jesus would die for all our sins and all our sins would be blotted out in the books He keeps on each one of us but only if we believe in the things that Jesus did for our salvation.

We already know that these same people had recognized Jesus as the King of the Jews that the Prophets had written about, but they were not sure that Jesus was the Messiah that was also told of by these same prophets.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Verse 31 says Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

We must understand this world we live in is not what it should be because it is under the influence of that old serpent who is Satan!

This world we live in will be destroyed and the Lord will make a new world and we need to understand this truth.

It is true because God says so and God cannot lie!

We must understand that when Jesus was lifted up upon that cross, it set all these things in motion.

The beginning of the ending of this world that will lead to the beginning of eternity in a brand-new world!

Jesus Christ has judged this world to be imperfect.

Jesus Christ has judged that this world is short of God's glory and God's will.

In other words, because of God's holiness we could never live in this world with Him for eternity.

God will create a perfect world.

Because Satan rebelled in Heaven then Heaven would also have to made new, a perfect Heaven!

Because Satan spent time in the heavenly bodies then they too would be made new and perfect.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

It was the cross that set all these things in motion!

*****Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

If we follow Jesus with our own cross, then Satan has been defeated in our lives as well!

It was on the cross where Jesus destroyed the power of Satan.

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

It was at the cross where we can claim victory because Jesus Christ is our victory!

*****Joh 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

The people misunderstood the coming of the Messiah.

It is certain that God cannot die because He is self-existing.

God had to take on the form of man in order to defeat Satan because Satan had defeated mankind by deception.

The man that had been blind since His birth was the example Jesus chose for us to understand.

Just like that blind man we are all spiritually blind from our birth.

This man would only live a short time before his death.

It is the same for each of us. Once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior our flesh can still only live a few years before our death.

Without the everlasting Light of the Lord, we would again walk in darkness.

When we are children of the Light, no darkness can come upon us and if we burn brightly our light may shine so some others can also become children of the Light!

Only truth can defeat a lie!

Even though Jesus had done so many miracles and had spoken all these words of truth, He could not be accepted as the Messiah.

The truth is if you can be satisfied with the things of this life then nothing the Lord says will change your mind.

It takes faith in something much better, and hope in the promises of God that sets the Christian apart from this world.

*****Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Jesus could have been accepted as King, but it was not time for that to happen.

In reality, to be an unbeliever makes no sense at all.

God has done everything He can do to cause us to believe!

His miracles were not enough for these people.

His compassion was not enough for these people.

His help was not enough for these people.

His signs were not enough for these people.

His healings were not enough for these people.

His truth was not enough for these people.

These are the same things that we have to decide upon.

Is God's "truth" enough for us to place our "faith" in Jesus Christ.

What say ye?

Amen

Let's Pray

Jesus the Ressurection and Life

The Resurrection and the Life

Book of John Chapter 11

We all need some place to unwind and it is very possible that Jesus used the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to do this. Remember the flesh side of Christ felt everything that we feel.

In our lesson today we will see Jesus express love for His friends. It is in this chapter where we find the shortest verse in all the Bible.

John 11:35 says Jesus wept.

Jesus did not cry out in excessive grief. This crying was not a sign of human weakness. It was Jesus sharing in the grief of this family He loved.

They were dear friends He had met and enjoyed their company.

The New Testament records three times that Jesus wept.

1) In this passage we are studying today.

2) Jesus wept as He entered Jerusalem for the last time.

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

3) Not many talk about it, but Jesus wept just before the cross.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The most important thing we can learn from this lesson is that Jesus revealed Himself as "The Resurrection and Life".

It is easy for us all to see that Jesus had compassion. Another word for compassion is pity.

The Lord expects each and every one of us to show compassion and have pity on all our brothers and sisters.

Mat_18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Bethany is about 2 miles from Jerusalem and by the time Jesus had walked to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days.

Jesus did not go directly to the home of Lazarus but stayed just outside the little city and sent word that He was there.

Let's begin our lesson at verse 18:

*****Joh 11:18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

Joh 11:19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Joh 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

What we must understand is, that when we believe that have reached the point of endless sorrow, this is when the Lord can do His greatest work.

Isa 33:10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

We should understand that the Jews had a wrong belief that it was possible for someone to be raised from the dead if they had been no more than 3 days dead, but no one could be raised from the dead after 4 days or more because their body had begun to deteriorate.

Even today there are many who say this story is just a parable or some story and it never happened, but it did.

Jesus did many things that only God can do!

We should also understand that this family was ranked high in Jewish society because many of the Jewish hardliners had come to comfort this family, but they were the enemies of Jesus.

This did not stop Jesus from raising Lazarus from the dead and Jesus did not do this thing to impress these men.

We should also know Jesus did not raise Lazarus from the dead to make some big public statement.

This was another lesson for the 12 disciples and a lesson of faith for Mary and Martha.

There are many who believe in some sort of resurrection but if we do not put our faith in the only One, Jesus Christ, who is the "Resurrection and the Life" then we will only see a resurrection of the dead.

The key to eternal life is only in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can believe that Jesus was unwilling to mingle in that crowd of mourners, many of which were paid to act like mourners which was the custom.

If you going to be around Jesus, then you better be real, Jesus did not like hypocrites nor did He like people who were paid to seem like your friend!

Martha went to meet Jesus while Mary stayed at the house.

*****Joh 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Martha had enough faith to believe that had Jesus been in Bethany when Lazarus was sick that He would have healed him.

Martha gave no thought to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

Martha had enough faith to know Jesus was her Savior but just like many today she questioned why Lazarus had died.

It should be obvious that we do not completely understand the plan of God, but we must realize that the Lord never does bad things.

This is another place where God placed a certain person into the path of Jesus.

With Lazarus, Jesus would raise him from the dead but in doing so Lazarus would have to leave paradise or Abraham's bosom.

Martha did not have the "faith" of Abraham:

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham knew that if he had killed Isaac his covenant would be broken with God, but he was certain that God would raise Isaac up from the dead to keep the covenant God had made with Him!

Many will teach that this is why Jesus wept and it could be true, but one thing is sure, the Lord has compassion for all His children!

The thing we must all do is, just place our lives in Jesus's hands and serve in the complete will of the Lord!

Martha may have spoken harshly to Jesus for a moment, but she was convicted by her own words and said, "whatsoever thou will ask of God, God will give thee" and we had better believe this is true because God the Father told God the Son not to lose any of His children!

We also see with this statement that she placed Jesus at a level below God the Father and Jesus had already said many times that what the Father did then He did the same, "for they are the same in every way".

We all have a tendency to do this from time to time.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost all share the same power, in fact the same everything!

Not three persons but One God in three persons!

We can also see that just believing in what Jesus says, will cause our "faith" to grow!

*****Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

We will not understand why God does what He does until we get to Heaven and then we will understand.

We must trust that everything God does is the right thing to do, because the Lord does not make mistakes!

We must also understand that to a child at the death of their parents, some resurrection in the far future is not much consolation.

Only the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the love of other family members and friends can help them.

At the loss of every loved one we will experience a change in our life, but we must remain close to the Lord to have peace.

Martha did not really know Jesus as well as she thought, and we do the same thing. We make the Lord to be small when the Lord is great in all power but also in compassion.

Martha did not want her home to change while she was still living but none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.

Every Father wants to die before any of his children and it is the same for the mother just as it is the same for every oldest son or daughter.

We just do not want our family to ever leave us!

We must place our lives in the hand of the Lord and know that He will do right!

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

We must know that true life comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

What is the greatest truth of the Christian? We live a life that has triumphed over death!

Joh_10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

By the power of the Godhead, Jesus did this very thing.

What we should understand is that the atonement of Christ did not end with His death.

The atonement of Christ only came to a climax when He "resurrected" from that death.

There was so much power revealed to us at this moment of the Lords death and then His resurrection that there was enough "Grace" to be sufficient for the sins of this entire world, but it was effectual only for those who believe.

We were saved by the power of the Triune God and we are kept saved by the Triune God and we must not make the power of God too weak to sustain our life throughout eternity.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Almost every one of us make our God to be weak when we cannot know the strength of His power other than observing all His creation.

Rom_1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

It is by God's own power that we can be at peace with Him.

Reconciliation truly means that God by His power, not ours, has removed that barrier of sin that has been against us, since the time of Adam.

The reconciliation becomes effective once we believe.

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Jesus made all this much simpler when He said He was the "resurrection" and He is "life".

Martha said she understood but in reality, she lacked faith, but in many ways, she puts us to shame.

After this Martha went to tell Mary that the Lord had arrived.

One of best examples of the compassion the Lord shows to us all is the fact the He will weep with us in the time of our trials and tribulations.

We have a loving, caring, compassionate God!

*****Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.

We must remember, God was still God, but He was also human, and the human side showed the compassion that God had for this family.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

It is a fact that there can be tears of joy but in our life, we shed more tears because of sin but the tears of Jesus were out of sympathy for those around Him but also from a deep sense of misery sin had brought upon our nature.

Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

It would have been easy for the Holy Spirit to have left this passage out, but He wanted us all to know the love of God for each of us!

*****Joh 11:37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Joh 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

We must understand that God gets no pleasure at all in the death of anyone!

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

At the same time it is a precious sight for God to witness the death of any of His saints.

Psa_116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Jesus was groaning "in" His Spirit as He approached the grave of Lazarus.

It always comes up that if Jesus has this much love for us, then why did He allow this to happen?

We must understand that the nature of this world is corruption which we see every day, but also trials and tribulation, suffering and pain, death and hell.

Many times it is these things that allows an opportunity for God to do a great work.

God did not cause the death of Lazarus, and I'm sure that Lazarus did not want to be brought back to life, but because so many would witness this great miracle it was a great opportunity for the Lord.

Many believed but many fled to tell the High Priests and the Lord knew who these were.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

It is easy to see that Jesus lived the way He preached!

We must believe that God never does unnecessary things!

We must also believe that God never speaks unnecessary words.

When Jesus was upon this earth Jesus never did an unnecessary deed or miracle open to the eyes of those around Him.

God will never show us another sign that He is real until just before He returns other than what we see every day!

Once we are saved, God gives a place to reach out to others and He allows us the time to do as He says, but we must do the rest!

We should be very clear, God will never do something that we could have done ourselves!

We must never be a stumble stone, but we should remove the stumble stones in the path of others whenever we are able!

*****Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

Our "faith" has not grown until we know, that we know, that we know, we are saved.

We must never doubt our salvation!

We must also know that we are to be busy about the work of the Lord.

Our Hope must be built upon the promises of God knowing that He has never broken a promise that He has made.

We must not grow weary in well doing nor complain about the things God has given us to do.

Mary and Martha were still growing in their faith and we need to be growing in our faith every day.

We must be at rest and at peace with the Lord and "faith" that what we lack God will provide.

The Lord Jesus did everything His Father ask Him to do and we need to do everything Jesus ask of us knowing that His words are the words of His Father!

The Father has always listened to us just as He listened to the prayers of His Son.

We are to approach God as a child calling upon his father.

Jesus said, "I thank thee that thou have heard me" and we should have this same confidence when we pray in fact it does not hurt to thank God ahead of time before we receive what we are asking for.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

Jesus spoke these things out loud, so these people would know more how to to pray and to show those Jews who were among this group that He still claimed to be the Son of God.

What was His proof?

*****Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

This thought from someone else reminds me of the truth.

By speaking loudly to His Father, Jesus put God in the position of answering His request or denying it.

If Lazarus remained in that tomb, then Jesus would be an impostor.

We should also understand that all the prayers of Jesus were heard by the Father and it is the same for all those who believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many of the lost believe their prayers are heard and maybe God hears them, but He will not respond to the prayers of this person.

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Jesus cried with a loud voice because He wanted everyone there at that time to hear Him. The truth is if Jesus had not called Lazarus by name then all the dead that died having the faith of Abraham would have come forth and that would have been the rapture.

Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but also awake.

This is what we call sleeping in Jesus!

Death had to give up to the commands of the Lord.

1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But the rapture is for the Church only!

The Church would not begin its, life until after the ascension of the Lord back to Heaven.

So what happened?

*****Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Notice Lazarus came forth still in his grave clothes and they had to be removed and I imagine someone had to loan him a cloak.

Lazarus remained alive to again suffer a natural death.

It will not be like that for the saint of God when God calls His church out to go home.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

This is the promise we have from the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should remember what Jesus has already said:

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

You see, this is the truth of the Word of God!

Amen,

Let's pray!