When Jesus came to the tomb, He asked the stone to be removed. Martha was concerned that there would be a stench for He had been there four days and Jesus reminded her what He told her earlier; that if she believed, she would see the glory of the Lord.
Jesus lifted up His eyes and thanked God for always listened to Him.
He cried with a loud voice telling Lazarus to come forth and He did bound in graveclothes, hand and foot and the head. Jesus said that he should be inbound and He was.
Here we learn that Jesus asks us to do what we can and He does what we can't. He tells us to remove the stone and unwrap the body but He raises the dead. He tells us to fill the buckets with water and He changes the water into wine. Christ has made us coworkers with Him; and He gives us the joy of sharing in the work of blessing others.
Are you a coworker with Christ?
Many believed and some reported to the Pharisees and gathered asking themselves what to do because everyone will believe in Jesus. Caiphas prophesied that it was very necessary for one person to die for the nation than the whole nation perish. Not only for the nation but to unite all the children of God in the whole world.
They planned to kill Him. Jesus stopped walking publicly among the Jews. He went to Ephraim with His disciples.
Jesus didn't walk openly knowing they were planning to kill Him. It's not wisdom to unnecessarily expose ourselves to danger claiming the promises. Thats presumption. Jesus could have claimed the promises such as; I will not die but live, no weapon fashioned against me shall prosper,... and many other promises from the old testament which He knew in heart. He also knew that He should not tempt the Lord His God by Doing foolish things that would endanger Him and then claim the promise. Mathew 4:6-7
Do you tempt the Lord in the name of claiming a promise?
The Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where He was, he should report it to them. Six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus was. They made supper and Martha was serving.
Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair and the whole house was filled with the ointment.
There will always be people to criticise something good one does. Judas asked why waste such which could be sold and given to the poor. Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
Jesus spoke in defence of Mary and told Judas to leave her alone for she did it for His burial. They had the poor always.
We realise that it was supper which was served which means Jesus didn't walk to the house during the day. Mary gave the most expensive thing to Jesus. She recounted all that Jesus had done. John 11:2 refers us back to Luke 7:38-48. We thus know that this Mary was a former prostitute. When she thought about her former life and how Jesus changed her; she was thinking in herself; what do I do for this one who changed my life. She took her lifetime savings, "the cost of the ointment" and poured on the feet of Jesus.
Vs 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages.
Try to think how much you earn in one year. Then ask yourself, how long will it take you to save such amount? If you save maybe 10% per month, it will take you ten years to save the earnings of one year.
This which had costed her so much, she poured on Jesus; thinking about how good Jesus had been unto her and that he even had raised His brother from the dead.
It's good to look intently at our past life to see how good the Lord has been unto us.
Think about the many times you've been in difficult situations but God helped you. Think about the many times you have failed God and He forgave you and gave you another chance. Think about all the kindness if God unto you.
Remember all the instances God delivered you.
When Mary remembered how good the Lord was unto her, she gave the best to God. When you remember how good the Lord has been to you, you will give your best. Your love, your time, your mind, your obedience, your commitment, your resources....He will be to you the most important person. He will be your first priority in everything. Your utmost desire of heart will be to please Him in everything you do.
Count your blessings, name them, one by one.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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