![]() ![]() ![]() Striving for something other than His best. Like the Jews, I see God’s hand in my life every day, yet I still decide I know what’s best for me. But I just want to hold on to my own truth and control it. Once I decided to turn it over to Him, I was provided the opportunity to experience freedom, life, and liberty like never before. My life is not always what I expect it to be, but it IS HIS. The truth is not always what I expect it to be. One thing God showed me is the importance of opening my own eyes to the Truth. ![]() Then again, we have the benefit of knowing the whole story – right from the beginning. They hoped He was the one that would reign on the throne in Israel and rescue them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. All of Israel wanted a different Messiah than the one Jesus was destined to be. Don’t they know how important the events of the coming week are and will be? They certainly knew the scriptures and the prophecies of old. What the heck is wrong with these guys? A miracle happens, Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah and all they care about is protecting their fame, fortune, and position. (John 12) “ 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” Maybe only a couple days later as we read further down in the passage. I think I’d request a re-do to stay right where I was. Then, poof – he’s in the flesh once more standing with Mary, Martha, and Jesus. If you’re Lazarus, you have to be a bit confused by now. He says so in John 11.Ģ5 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”Ī short while later Lazarus is raised from the dead. Those that believe in Him will live forever. Our bodies will be reunited with our spirit when He returns. Jesus is about to prove to the world that death is only temporary. ![]() In fact, the mere idea would have been preposterous at best. Never before did anyone witness someone coming back from the dead. Not only His but what all believers are to experience one day. Lazarus’ death is the perfect setup for Him to foreshadow resurrection. It’s only a short time before Jesus’ crucifixion. If you’re like me, you aren’t always coherent, and it takes three times to comprehend whatever God is saying.Ī couple of things for sure. I love when God decides there’s something we need to pay attention to and He dumps it in our lap three times just to be sure we’re still coherent. Then I went to church 2 days later and the message was drawn right from John 11 as well as John 15. The very next morning I tuned into the “Bible in One Year” on the YouVersion app and guess where the New Testament Reading started? Yep, in John 11. The experience was deeply spiritual followed by a time of robust discussion. So, we read through it and had the group picture themselves in the scene as quiet music played in the background. The story of Lazarus in John 11 seemed like the perfect option. I decided to lead with “Imaginative Prayer”, an Ignatian contemplative exercise, in our Identity Practices class at the Mission where my wife, Colleen, works. Do you know how things happen in three’s? Well, I got one for you. ![]()
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