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Chapter 11
(John 11 KJV) "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany,
the town of Mary and her sister Martha. {2} (It was that Mary which
anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose
brother Lazarus was sick.) {3} Therefore his sisters sent unto him,
saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest 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 might be glorified thereby. {5} Now Jesus loved
Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. {6} When he had heard therefore
that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he
was. {7} Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into
Judaea again. {8} His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late
sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? {9} Jesus answered,
Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he
stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. {10} But if a
man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
{11} These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend
Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. {12} Then
said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. {13} Howbeit
Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking
of rest in sleep. {14} Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is
dead. {15} And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the
intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. {16} Then said
Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also
go, that we may die with him. {17} Then when Jesus came, he found that
he had lain in the grave four days already. {18} Now Bethany was nigh
unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: {19} And many of the Jews
came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. {20}
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met
him: but Mary sat still in the house. {21} Then said Martha unto Jesus,
Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. {22} But I know,
that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
{23} Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. {24} Martha
saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at
the last day. {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:
{26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this? {27} She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art
the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. {28} And
when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister
secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. {29} As soon
as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. {30} Now Jesus
was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met
him. {31} The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted
her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed
her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. {32} Then when Mary
was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying
unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. {33}
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which
came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, {34} And
said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
{35} Jesus wept. {36} Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! {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? {38} Jesus
therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave,
and a stone lay upon it. {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. {40} Jesus saith unto
her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou
shouldest see the glory of God? {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. {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.
{43} And when he thus had spoken, he cried
with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. {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.
{45} Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things
which Jesus did, believed on him.
I should certainly think so. But not everyone had the same reaction.
{46} But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them
what things Jesus had done. {47} Then gathered the chief priests
and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth
many miracles. {48} If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on
him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Nothing can be clearer. Their hatred of Jesus was born out of a fear
for their political lives and careers. No miracle would ever convince
them of anything. And never forget that these people were religious
leaders who, in spite of everything, hated God in their hearts. They
didn’t think so. But we know better.
{49} And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same
year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, {50} Nor consider that it
is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that
the whole nation perish not. {51} And this spake he not of himself: but
being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for
that nation; {52} And not for that nation only, but that also he should
gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
{53} Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him
to death.
Consider that carefully. They deliberately set out to kill a good man
who had raised another man from the dead. What does this say about their
character? Never forget this. They were religious men who hated God.
{54} Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went
thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called
Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. {55} And the Jews'
passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to
Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. {56} Then sought
they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple,
What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? {57} Now both the
chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any
man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him."
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The
Sinless Life
Have you ever
considered what it would mean if you could just live a sinless life?
Youth in Action
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