April 12, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- JESUS POWER OVER DEATH
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Sunday, April 12, 2020. Easter Sunday
JESUS POWER OVER DEATH
Read: John 11:1-45
[1]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 fellow disciples, 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.
MEMORISE: But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
EXPOSITION
It has been the attitude of Jesus Christ to use any available opportunity to manifest His greatness and goodness to people of the world in an unexplainable way, and all to the glory of God. According to our memory Scripture, Jesus used the death and the raising of Lazarus, which is the last of the seven signs of Jesus that John recorded in his gospel, to reveal His power over death.
Also the used this opportunity to erase a Jewish tradition of four days after death, that a person who has been dead for four days cannot come back to life, or be raised, again. That is why Jesus did not go to Bethany that very day He received the message from Lazarus sisters (v. 6). When Lazarus finally died, Jesus declared to the disciples (v. 14). He then says, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (v. I 15). The change the Lord wanted to make in the public, He had to start with His disciples. It is what you have that you can give to others.
When it was exactly four days that Lazarus had been dead, Jesus got to Bethany (v. 17). Martha told Jesus when she met Him that, if He had been there, her brother would not have died. Jesus replied her and said, I am the resurrection and life, which means “I am the one who can give life and raise from dead” (vv. 21-26). When Jesus gave order for people to take away the stone from Lazarus tomb, Martha was still reminding the Lord their tradition of four days after death (v. 39) Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (v. 40), No tradition in your family or the society can debar God from doing whatever He intends to do for you, if you have faith in Him.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, render them null and void over my life, evil tradition of my lineage.
2. Lord, use Your power over death to revive weakened areas of my life.
3. Pray that God should help us regulate to the background, those ungodly traditions that have taken root in our churches strangulating true and lasting disciples and growth.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Judges 1-2 & Acts 15