And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

 John 11:38-44

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” John 11:41-43

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 11:38-44, where we reach the climax of the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus raises from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Just as I posted yesterday, as He came to Lazarus' tomb, Jesus was "deeply moved again," as He loved Lazarus and Martha and Mary - mourning with them and sympathizing with their grief.  Jesus challenges us in our unbelief - see vv39 when He tells the people with them to take away the stone [door] entrance to the tomb.  Martha responds with a concern about odor from the tomb. In v40, Jesus lays down the challenge as Martha experiences a momentary period of unbelief.  When the stone is removed, Jesus prays to God (vv41-42), specifically praising the Father for "always hear[ing him]," while acknowledging that the only reason He specifically offers this praise so that those present "may believe that [the Father] sent Him."  Jesus continues to seek and save the lost and His plan is designed for teachable moments where His glory is revealed so that people would be drawn to Him.  After He prays to the Father, He commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb (v43).  For non-believers this is seen as a crazy request yet for believers we must remember that Jesus has been granted all authority by God is He is able to do anything - nothing is impossible for Him.  See also Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, and Luke 8:22–25 where Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves and we see Jesus' providence over not just life and death but over creation. Upon Lazarus coming out of the tomb in v44, Jesus then commands those present to unbind Lazarus as his hands and feet were bound with linen strips (burial clothes).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In v39, Martha experiences a momentary period of unbelief as she initially resists God's command to remove the stone entrance to the tomb.  Believers often are either led by God or read explicit text where He tells us to do something but we resist.  We find ways to rationalize our disobedience but we must clearly see our disobedience to God's commands and calls for our life.  Remember the story of Jonah where he resisted going to Nineveh?
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid resisting God's commands - this is disobedience.  We should claim the promise that nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37).  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and nothing will be impossible with You.  I am not deserving of how You save and how You provide the Holy Spirit to give us power.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer, and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:14-29

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Mark 9:20

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 9:14-29, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus wants us to have faith (v19) - we must be completely and utterly dependent on Him for all things and desperate for His healing power in all things like the boys father was here.  Jesus wants us to pray as a measure of our dependence - John Piper refers to this in this post as "no prayer no power." See also v29.  V25 reminds us that God has providence over all things including evil and evil spirits.  This is often a question for all people, including believers - if God is such a loving God why do bad things happen to good people.  We don't know specifically, but we do know that evil exists since The Fall and that it will remain with us until Jesus returns during end times when He defeats Satan and Sin for all of eternity.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The scribes were arguing with the disciples (those who remained and did not go up the mountain with Jesus for the Transfiguration).  While we don't know for sure the details of such an argument we can speculate that the scribes sought to be correct about their understanding of the law and how Jesus and the disciples were somehow violating the law with Jesus' ministry.  There will always be those who seek to challenge us about the Word.  We can stand on how the Gospel is true in our own life and how we have faith.  People, including the disciples - see vv18-19, 29 are described as faithless and lacking in prayer.  We can take notice how we should grow in both our faith and in our prayer/dependence on God. 
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): God wants us to claim the promise to believe as all things are possible for one who believes - v23. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God that heals, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  You save and You provide.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You heal and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

Mark 8:1-26

Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? Mark 8:17c-18

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 8:1-26.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of four) division (vv14-21):

• For the third division, the title is: "Disciples Will See Great Works but Fail to Fully Understand."
• "[Jesus] cautioned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” A small amount of leaven will permeate a whole batch of bread dough. The leaven of unbelief has gripped the hearts of the Pharisees and Herod and has taken control of their entire lives. Watch out! Don’t let unbelief take you down and away from the divine truth you see and hear in Me."
• "[Jesus'] questions were not intended to shame but to instruct." What compassion!  
•  We are encouraged by the commentary to lean on text where it shares (1) believe that all things are possible with God - Luke 1:37; (2) how to be content in all circumstances and to see how through Him all things are possible and how He provides - Philippians 4:12-13, and 19.

V18 in particular is key as we should remember what God has done as constant reminders of what God has done will keep us focused on who God is, and how we are utterly dependent on Him for all things - big and small. See also this post from a couple of days ago.  God is always at work, and for those who love Him, He is able to make "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - You reached down into the pit, while still an enemy and hostile to You, and saved me.  You continue to pour out an inexhaustible supply of grace and mercy every day - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

This evening, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on encouragement primarily for those in the frontier mission field, but also for those who might work locally among ministries and missions close to home. We are encouraged to be bold - Piper provides two incentives to be bold:

1. Every impossibility is a possibility with God - Mark 10:27
2. Whatever we lose in this world pales in comparison with what we gain now through Christ Jesus and for eternity - Mark 10:29-30 

Piper writes: "[w]hen we follow his missionary prescription, we discover that even the painful side effects work to improve our condition. Our spiritual health, our joy, improves a hundredfold. And when we die, we do not die. We gain eternal life."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and Your power is beyond our comprehension - You created the Heavens and the Earth and all that inhabits the universe.  You created me and give me and all others life - and believers life to the full.  You rose from the grave and give believers the same power now and eternal life.  Great incentives to work on Your behalf - indeed!  I am not deserving of the power You provide for me - nor any of the blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Deuteronomy 34

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. v10-12

As I close the chapter of Deuteronomy and reflect on Moses - indeed Moses' greatness is surpassed only by Jesus.  The question in my mind becomes, what is to become of us?  God has a plan for all of us (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29).  God gives us the Holy Spirit - which is a mighty power indeed.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Ephesians 1:18-21 

 

So if God has a plan for us and He gives us this mighty power - we should have confidence and aspire to do great and hard things - right? 

 

I believe so. 

 

Lord Jesus - help me understand the great power that You have given me and help me aspire to do great things in Your name.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has defeated sin and death on my behalf...and given me this same power so that I can glorify Your Name.  I am blown away by what You have done for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such efforts.  I am often harsh with my words. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.