Sunday 29 March 2020

I am afraid ...

Many people around the world are afraid right now. It is a natural emotion. I believe that Jesus, in His human form, was afraid when He walked this earth. He must have been afraid in the garden of Gethsemane when He asked God to take the suffering away. Also, when on the Cross and He believed God had abandoned Him.

Can you imagine that? The Son of God believing that His Father had abandoned Him?

In both occasions when Christ was afraid, I believe it was the devil tempting Him. Just like he is tempting many of us to be afraid of our current situation.

One way to combat fear is to be thankful. To be thankful to God for all the good things He has done for us in the past. Each one of us can look back over our lives and remember occasions when things were bad, very bad, yet God was with us. Even if we did not know it at the time.

By thanking and praising God for those times we are acknowledging His power and His control over all things. We are also hopeful that this time too, He is with us, a prayer away, ready to help and to see us through our crisis.

When Lazarus died, Jesus said, "The final result of this illness will not be the death of Lazarus; this has happened in order to bring glory to God ..."

I believe the same applies today.

Let us now read the story about Lazarus.

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 John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45

"So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."

Note that Jesus does not go straight-away to heal Lazarus. He waits for two more days. He also says that this illness will not lead to death.

"When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days ... Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’"

Jesus arrives after Lazarus has been dead for four days. This is very significant. In those days some people believed that the soul does not leave the body until after three days. Jesus wanted to make sure that Lazarus was dead before performing His miracle. He did not want anyone to suggests that Lazarus was just sleeping or in a coma; as may well have happened in previous occasions when He raised someone from the dead. This time He wanted to make sure that the people understood that the power of God can raise people from the dead.

Notice also how Martha reprimands Jesus. "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Don't we too, kick back and blame God when something goes wrong in our lives? Note also the faith in that very sentence. She believes that Jesus could have saved Lazarus, had He been here. She reprimands Jesus. That in itself is an expression of faith. There is no point in reprimanding or getting angry with someone who can do nothing about it. But the very fact she reprimands Jesus shows that she knew He could do something about it had He been there.

When we are in great grief, or despair, we sometimes lash out at God. We blame Him for what has happened. This is only natural. It is our human nature speaking.

God knows that and He can take our anger. After all, He took all our anger and hatred when He hung there from the Cross.

Like in Martha's case, God forgives. We should in return hold on to our Faith and believe that everything is possible to God.

Note that Martha also says,"But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." When miracles happen it is always through the will of God, in the name of Jesus. Sometimes people ask Saints for miracles. When the Apostles walked this earth they performed miracles too. See Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16. Also see Peter's miracles when he heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead. Acts 9:32-43. On both occasions and elsewhere in Acts the Apostles the early Christians performed miracles through the power of God in the name of Jesus. It is God who performs miracles. Not the Saints. Even today miracles happen through the power of God.

"Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’"

He re-iterates His message that He has the power to raise Lazarus. And Martha too, confirms that she believes Jesus is the Son of God.

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

This is also significant. Mary joins her sister to meet Jesus and she too says, "If you had been here Lazarus would not have died". The crowd murmur that Jesus healed many sick people why did He not come earlier to save Lazarus.

"Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’"

Let there be no doubt that Lazarus is dead.

"And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’"

Jesus re-affirms to His Father that this miracle is to make the people believe that He is the Son of God. This whole episode in Christ's life has one main purpose. To make the people believe.

Jesus deliberately arrived late to ensure that Lazarus was dead. Let there be no doubt about that. His sister and the crowd knew that. After four days, in the hot heat, the body would have decomposed and begin to smell.

In previous miracles, many sceptics and cynics would have said that the individual was probably not dead. He may have been in a deep sleep, or in a coma. Not much of a miracle.

This time Jesus waited for four days after death and burial to turn up and raise Lazarus. He wanted there to be no doubt that Lazarus is dead and that he has been raised back to life. No doubt that God's glory, through Him, will be seen by everyone.

Jesus says "unbind him, and let him go." Let that be a message to us when we are unbound from our sins and let go freely forgiven once again.

"Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him."

At last ... some ... of the Jews believed.

From the very beginning Jesus had said, "The final result of this illness will not be the death of Lazarus; this has happened in order to bring glory to God, and it will be the means by which the son of God will receive glory."

Our lesson is to learn that when things go wrong ... very ... very wrong; we need only believe that the end result will be that God is glorified, as is His will.

36 comments:

  1. Hi Victor,
    at last I have managed to get control of my blog, and I believe this is the Lord's doing. Sometimes we have to go through hard trials to strengthen us in our learning, whether it be in our daily physical lives or our spiritual lives. Your post is lovely and I enjoyed reading it. God bless you.

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    1. Thank you Brenda for your comment and for visiting me again. I hope this post helps anyone out there. Please direct anyone to it.

      God bless.

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    2. I have managed to get you back on my sidebar now Victor.

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    3. Thank you so much, Brenda.

      God bless you always.

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  2. It's hard for me to imagine Jesus feeling fear. I looked up that verse where he says something like, "...in this world you will have trouble, but fear not, I have overcome the world." It actually says "take heart," not "fear not." Hmm. Lots to think about here.

    "The final result of this illness will not be the death of Lazarus..."

    A word for our time, perhaps.

    How are you doing?

    We are sequestered here, if that is the right word. At home, listening to the birds singing. We can order groceries, so haven't been anywhere for a couple weeks.

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    1. Hi Sandi,

      Jesus was certainly tempted by the devil, as in the two examples I mentioned. Whether He actually felt fear or not, we do not know. As a human, He must have experienced all our emotions, I guess.

      We're keeping well here at home. Today we heard Mass live on TV. Shopping is also online.

      Time for more prayers world-wide.

      God bless.

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  3. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

    No matter what, He is in charge.

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    1. Oh, and i just remembered:

      "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Psalm 56:3-4

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  4. A beautiful post to comfort the soul.
    We must remember that " All things are possible with God."
    It is very important to put our faith in God for those who believe. All religions need to come together right now. This is a global pandemic and we must gather and be United in our thoughts and prayers.

    God's Blessings Victor ✝

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    1. Yes Jan. Hopefully more people will turn to God, and remain in that state after this is all over.

      God bless always.

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  5. Your title certainly caught my attention! Despite (my) great intentions I, too, voiced those 3 little words in the early hours. Thank you for this timely assurance.

    Oh, and thank you, too, for directing me to your latest book. I tried to finish it last night, but my eyesight finally let me down. 'Must say, on more than a few occasions, I've believed God was punishing me. One of the best books I've read in a very long time!

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    1. Yes Mevely, many of us have voiced our fears privately to God, or otherwise. Nothing wrong in that. He told us many times in the Bible not to be afraid. But to focus on Him however bad the situation.

      God does not punish us, Mevely. As I say in my book, the devil tricks us into believing we are being punished. It is his way of drawing us away from God. I'm glad you're enjoying the book, Mevely. Please tell others about it as it may help them. Also, an AMAZON review please. Thanx so much my friend.

      God bless you and yours.

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  6. A good Sunday lesson, much to think about.

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  7. This was so encouraging to me today, Victor. Thank you so much.

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  8. Love this story, Victor. Yes, Jesus did all for the glory of God, and so should we! And it never ceases to amaze me how so many of us are quick to forget, instead of remembering with gratefulness, all the miracles God has performed in our lives. He will get us out of this snare, too!
    Blessings!

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    1. Agreed Martha, it is through thankfulness that we glorify Him and acknowledge God's greatness.

      God bless you always and your family.

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  9. Trust and faith in God will guide us through these times.
    A wonderful message, Victor!

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    1. You are so right, Bill. Thank you.

      God bless you and yours.

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  10. Thank you Joyful Homemaker.

    God bless.

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  11. A good message for those who are fearful.
    Trusting in God to see us through this trial, like He's done many times before!

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  12. This may be your best post ever. thank you.

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    1. You're very kind, Susan. Please invite others here who might benefit from it. Thank you my friend.

      God bless.

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  13. When we are afraid we can tell Jesus, He knows it anyhow and what Father doesn't want his child to tell him his or her feelings right? We can ask God our Father to take our fear away, to help us. He has compassion and will help us. He gets each one of us and how we are wired intimately.

    We can count our blessings, and trust God thanking Him for our blessings sure enough even through something that looks really, really bad.

    It's huge opportunity to trust God and I do think and pray many will come to the Father and even people who go to church are discovering that church must be in their hearts. Perhaps people have become so busy that this screeching to a halt has woken some up to the busyness that is filling that void instead of the Lord.

    Great entry Victor, lots to think about here.

    God bless!

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    1. You are so right in what you are saying, Amelia. Let us pray that many find their way back to God.

      God bless you always.

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  14. Victor, A lot to chew on here...
    Fear can take hold... and it can multiply.
    When fear takes hold, it is our nature to be the only thing we think about. I am thankful I can put my trust in the one who is in control even if I don't have the answer or the understanding.

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    1. Yes Ryan, as best we can, within the limits of our ability and humanity, we must trust in God. Through gritted teeth even. We must trust in God. We can even trust on behalf of those who have lost faith and trust.

      God bless you, Ryan.

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  15. Very good insight and commentary on this wonderful story of Christ's compassion, love of this man and family, and to show that He was God in human flesh to raise someone from the day who had been in the tomb four days.
    During this time when many are afraid...we must remember that what sometimes looks like bad...death...become the very thing to show life. If God receives Glory...it will be worth it all.

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    1. Well said, Wanda. As best we can, we should trust God at all times.

      God bless you and your family.

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  16. Thank you for this very insightful and hope-filled reflection! During this time of uncertainty we all need to believe as always that God is in control. Thanks be to Godd!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Cathy. Much appreciated.

      God bless you always.

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  17. Amen.

    This post is an outstanding encouragement, a beacon of hope in a time of storm.

    Thank you for sharing His wisdom with us.

    Bless you ...

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Linda.

      God bless you and yours always.

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