The Pharisees Plot

By Mary Vee
John 11:28-45

A tomb in Jerusalem
Photo by Mary Vee

Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, died. They put him in a tomb with spices. But when Jesus arrived, he performed a miracle, raising Lazarus from the dead.

...Some of the Jews went to the Pharisees and complained about what Jesus did.  

When the Pharisees heard the news, they called a meeting, inviting the Sanhedrin.

In the discussion, they said, "What should we do? Here is this man performing many miraclous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation."

Caiaphas served as the high priest at this time. He listened to the arguments then said, "Think about this. Wouldn't it be better for one man to die for the people than the whole nation perishing from Roman hands?"

Caiaphas didn't openly tell the Pharisees and Sanhedrin he'd prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation and all the scattered children of God, or that his death would unite them, making them one. 

"There is only one thing we can do. We must find a legal way to take his life."

The men at the meeting agreed.

Jesus, God's Son, knew what the men planned. He no longer moved about publicly in Jewish villages and cities. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim where he stayed with his disciples.

Come back to read the next part.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Those Who Are Thankful and Those Who Complain-Jesus Tears part 2

By Mary Vee
John 11:28-45

A tomb in Jerusalem
Photo by Mary Vee

There was a man named Lazarus from the town of Bethany, the same village where his sisters, Mary and Martha lived. At this time, Lazarus was very sick.  

The doctors tried to help Lazarus, but he died. His sisters wrapped his body and put him in a tomb. They wept sorely for their brother, and when their news reached Jesus, he too wept.

Before he left his location to visit Mary and Martha, Jesus told his disciples the sickness Lazarus had would not end in death. He then journey with his disciples to where Mary and Martha lived. 

After speaking with Martha, Jesus sent for Mary. Mary ran to where Jesus waited. She fell on her knees at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."



Jesus saw her weep. The Jews who came to support Mary and Martha also wept. Jesus was so deeply moved in spirit. He too wiped tears. "Where have you laid him?"

Mary sniffed. "Come and see, Lord." She walked up a path to a cave where others wept.

The Jews congregating around the cave saw Jesus and the tears he shed. They said, "See how Jesus loved Lazarus!"

Some of the Jews, though, murmured. "He could give sight to the blind man. Couldn't he have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus closed his eyes and wept. So moved, he stepped slowly to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. He swallowed. "Move the stone away."

Martha had walked next to him. She faced him. "Lord, by this time, there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 

"Martha," Jesus said. "Did I not tell you if you believed, you would see the glory fo God?"

"Yes." She turned to a few men and asked them to roll the stone away. 

Jesus stood before the open cave and raised his head to the sky. "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here so they may believe you sent me."

Jesus looked at the open cave and called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

The Jews, Mary, and Martha watched the cave. Expecting. They glanced at Jesus then back at the cave. When they did, Lazarus came out of the tomb. HIs hands and feet still wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth covered his face.

Mary, and Martha pressed their hands to their hearts, overwhelmed at seeing their brother and fell to their knees in praise to Jesus.

Jesus said, "Remove the grave clothes. Let him walk and move freely."

Many of the Jews who had come to lament with Mary and Martha saw what Jesus did and put their faith in Him. 

...But some of the Jews went to the Pharisees and complained to them about what Jesus did.   

Come back to read the next part.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Jesus' Tears Part 1

By Mary Vee
John 11:1-4

A tomb in Jerusalem
Photo by Mary Vee

There was a man named Lazarus from the town of Bethany, the same village where his sisters, Mary and Martha lived. At this time, Lazarus was very sick. 

There were many women name Mary in those days. This Mary had poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair some time ago. 

The doctors tried to help Lazarus, but he continued to get worse. The sisters sent a message to Jesus saying, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

The messenger rushed to where Jesus stayed and told him the news. His disciples who remained with him heard what had happened as well. Jesus said to them, "This sickness will not end in death. It has happened so God would be glorified and so God's Son may be glorified through it."

The disciples knew Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They were surprised that He didn't leave immediately. But Jesus stayed where He was for two more days. On the next morning, Jesus told his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."

"But Rabbi," said one disciple, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you there. Are you sure you want to go back?"

Jesus said, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble since he sees by this world's light. When he walks at night, though he will struggle to not fall without the light. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I'm going there to wake him."

His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."

The disciples didn't realize at the time that Jesus meant Lazarus had died. They thought Mary's brother slept and would wake after feeling better.

"You are mistaken," Jesus said. "Lazarus is dead and for our sake I am glad I was not there. This way you will believe. Now, let's go to him."

When Jesus and the disciples arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Many of Mary and Martha's friends had already come to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 

On this fourth day after her brother died, Martha heard Jesus was near. She rushed out to greet him, leaving Mary at home. "Lord," she said, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again."

"I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she aid. "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." Martha then returned to her home and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here and is asking for you."


There is more to this story!

Come back to read the next part.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Rich Man Who Begged

By Mary Vee
Luke 16

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee, Castle in Austria

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

The Pharisees had challenged Jesus on a point about money. To answer their questions he told this story about a rich man.

"There was once a rich man who liked to dress in purple and fine linen. He lived in luxury every day, demanding only the best from his servants and expecting the finest foods, decorations, respect, and more in his palace.

"He refused to notice the beggars and poor outside the castle. He preferred they leave, go bother someone else. Go anywhere but in his sight.

"A beggar named Lazarus laid at the rich man's gate. Dogs came and licked the sores covering his body. He longed to eat scraps, anything that fell from the rich man's table. He begged for mercy. Anything to ease his misery.

"One day the beggar died. The angels came and carried him to Abraham's side and comforted him.

"Soon after, the rich man also died. His friends, family, and servants buried and mourned him. The rich man found himself in hell where he suffered great torment. He looked up and saw Abraham far away. By his side was Lazarus.

"The rich man called out to Father Abraham. 'Please, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham turned to the once rich man and said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. Now, Lazarus is comforted here with me and you are in agony. 

"Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn't. You can see there is a great chasm that has been permanently fixed. Look at it and see. It is impossible for anyone to go from here to help you. And--no one from your side can cross over to reach us.

"The man who was once rich said, 'Please, I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house. I have five brothers. Have him warn my brothers so they will not also end up in this place of torment.'

"Abraham shook his head. 'They have Moses and the Prophets. They have been warned already as you were.'

"The man who was once wealthy pleaded. 'No, father Abraham. I know my brothers. They would believe someone visiting them from the dead. They will repent, I'm sure of it.'

"Father Abraham answered, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. You would not have either.'

The power of Jesus' story left everyone silent.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.