LOOK THE WHOLE WORLD IS FOLLOWING HIM

 JOHN 12:19

 ANOTHER FULFILLED PREDICTION- CHRIST OUR REDEEMER

The next day the large crowd that has come to the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!”

 

Jesus found a donkey and rode on it just the scripture says, “Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Here comes your King, riding on a young donkey.”

His disciples did not understand this at the time; but when Jesus had been raised to glory, they remembered that the scripture said this about him and that they had done this for him.

The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from death had reported what had happened.  That was why the crowd met him – because they heard that he had performed this miracle.

The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, we are not succeeding at all! Look, the whole world is following him.”

How often have your enemies plotted evil against you? Are you aware? Psalm 91 is our prayer, for if we dwell in the secret place of the Most High and Abide under the shadow of the Almighty, no evil will surely befall us. Psalm 5:4-5, Ps 6:10, Ps 7:14-16, Ps 9:9-10, Ps 11:1-2, Ps 12:7-8, Ps 13, Ps 14:1, 18:4-6, Ps 22, Ps 25:1-3, 27 etc.  God Most High is our Shield and our Protector.

THE PLOT AGAINST LAZARUS

 JOHN 12:9-11

A large number of people heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death.

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too, because on his account many Jews were rejecting them and believing Jesus.

 

Why do the nations plan rebellion? Why do people make their useless plot?

Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the LORD and against the king he chose.

“Let us free ourselves from their rule” they say: “Let us throw off their control……” Psalm 2:1-11

How evil can the heart of man be? The man raised to life was in danger of being eliminated by fellow creatures having been raised from death by Christ. Not only plotting to kill Jesus’ but to put Lazarus to death. In the midst of our joy and breakthroughs not everyone will definitely be happy with us. Deliver us Lord from our enemies. God’s plan in our lives will be fulfilled. Do not be afraid said our Master Jesus Christ Son of God Most High. H.E. 

LET HER KEEP WHAT SHE HAS FOR MY BURIAL

7 JOHN 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. They prepared a dinner for him there, which 2 Martha helped to serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took half a litre of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it one Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.  The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot – the one who was going to betray him – said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.  He carried the money bag and would help himself from it. (Lk. 10:38-42)

 

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.” (Jn. 20:1-2, Matt. 28:1-8, Lk. 24:1-12)

The highlights are beamed on the two sister’s virtues and characters: service and hospitality, listening and adoration. Mary also fulfilled Christ prediction of anointing him for his burial. The interesting character Judas, despite the Master, and his fellow disciples knew his character, they tolerated him.

The Master was not angry knowing who he was, and what he was capable of (evil). Jesus called him devil.  What a drama and different actors: The good and the evil. Lord you know everything. In your patience you were cool, gentle and loving to all.

Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and Master, you know me through and through. Make my heart like unto yours. Help me to hate the evil in our world, not your creatures’ who execute evil. I know I too I am not perfect for this reason, you came to save us. Deliver us from the evil one. May your sacrifice to redeem the world never be in vain? Deliver me LORD from the wicked.

THE PLOT AGAINST JESUS JOHN 11:45-57

Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did and they believed in him. But some of them returned to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  So the Pharisees and the chief priests met with the Council and said, “What shall we do? Look at all the miracles this man is performing! If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation.”              

One of them, named Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said, “What fools you are! Don’t you realize that it is better for you to let one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed?” Actually, he did not say this of his own accord; rather, as he was High Priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish people, and not only for them, but also to bring together into one body all the scattered people of God.

 

From that day on the Jewish authorities made plan to kill Jesus.  So Jesus did not travel openly in Judea, but left and went to a place near the desert, to a town named Ephraim, where he stayed with the disciples.

The time for the Passover Festival was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to perform the ritual of purification before the festival.  They were looking for Jesus, and as they gathered in the Temple, they asked one another, “What do you think?” Surely he will not come to the festival, will he? The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where Jesus was, he must report it, so that they could arrest him.

THE GLORY OF GOD

LAZARUS IS BROUGHT TO LIFE JOHN 11:38-44

Deeply moved once more, Jesus went to the tomb, which was a cave with a stoned placed at the entrance. “Take the stone away!” Jesus ordered.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, answered, “There will be a bad smell, Lord. He has been buried four days!”

Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believed?” They took the stone away.  Jesus looked up and said, “I thank you Father that you listen to me. I know that you always listen to me, but I say this for the sake of the people here, so that they will believe that you sent me.  After he had said this, he called out in a loud voice “Lazarus, come out!” He came out, his hands and feet wrapped in grave clothes, and with a cloth round his face. “Untie him,” Jesus told them, “and let him go.”

Lord Jesus Christ draw me close to you. Let me feel a glimpse of your love for me. Help me reach out to my fellow creature through the expression of love you have shown me. I want to put my trust in you Lord Jesus Christ. Help my weakness. Help my unbelief that I may behold the glory of God.




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JESUS WEPT

JOHN 11:28-37

After Martha said this, she went back and called her sister Mary privately. “The Teacher is here.” She told her, and asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up and hurried out to meet him. (Jesus had not yet arrived in the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him). The people who were in the house with Mary comforting her, followed her when they thought that she was going to the grave to weep there.

 

Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet. “Lord,” she said, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died!”

Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people who were with her were weeping also, his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. “Where have you buried him.” He asked them.

 “Come and see, Lord,” they answered, Jesus wept. “See how much he loved him!” the people said. But some of them said, “He gave sight to the blind man, didn’t he? Could he not have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Lord Jesus Christ draw me closer to you.  Each time I go away from your presence by disobedience to your word, your compassionate heart weeps. Your heart weeps because you do not want me to perish. Help me Lord to keep a closer walk with thee. Be with me LORD.