The Anointing of Jesus' Feet

John 12:1-11, "Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus raised from the dead. While Jesus reclined at the table with Lazarus, Mary took a pint of pure perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with its fragrance Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, objected saying, 'This perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. It was worth a year's labor!' He did not say this because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief. As a keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus replied, 'Leave her alone. It was intended for her to save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me.' A large crowd of Jews found out Jesus was with Lazarus and came to see him and Jesus Who raised him from the dead. The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were putting their faith in Jesus."

Have you hardened your heart as these unbelievers? They even saw the miracles Jesus did, yet they refused to believe, sharing He did it by the power of the devil. Don't allow Satan to blind you by your own unrepentant heart. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, don't turn away, but turn to Him in repentance. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit enters you and confirms the Truth of salvation in Jesus Christ! Come today and know our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD for yourself!

Caiaphas Plots Against Jesus

John 11:45-57, "The chief priest and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. One of them, named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, spoke up, 'You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.' From that day on, they plotted to take His (Jesus) life. Jesus withdrew to the desert with His disciples. Many went up to Jerusalem for ceremonial cleansing before the Jewish Passover was to take place.  They kept looking for Jesus as they stood in the temple area. The chief priests and Pharisees had given orders if anyone knew where Jesus was he should report it so that they might arrest Him."

What the Jewish priests and Pharisees didn't realize was that they were fulfilling the prophecies that their own WORD recorded. Yet, they refused to accept Who Jesus was, the Son of GOD come to bear the sins of the world upon the Cross.  As we approach this time of the year where we celebrate what GOD did for mankind, he died not just for the Jewish people, but all mankind! Don't allow Jesus to "pass you over" because you refuse to accept His saving grace to forgive all of your sins.

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

John 11:38-44, :Jesus came to the tomb which was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 'Take away the stone,' He said. Martha, the sister of the dead man said, 'But, LORD, by this time there is a bad odor for he has been there for four days.' Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of GOD!' So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up (to heaven) and said, 'Father, I thank You that You heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe You sent Me.' When He had said this Jesus called out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.' " 

They had previously questioned Jesus about why He had not healed Lazarus before death came to him. Jesus' response was "...so that you may believe that the Father sent Me." 

Death is not a "going out of existence," but a changing from one existence to another. The Bible shares in I Corinthians 1:18, "The message of the Cross (of Christ) is foolishness to those who are perishing (unbelievers), but to us who are saved (believers) it is the power of GOD. "For it is written, 'I (GOD) will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I (GOD) will frustrate.' " 

If you don't know the LORD as your Savior, you can by simply realizing you are a sinner and need His saving grace. Simply pray with sincerity to the LORD Jesus to forgive you of your sin and He will! Watch the change that comes to your heart with the entering of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct you! Read the Bible, His Living WORD and the Holy Spirit will lead you to truly know with all your heart that Christ Jesus is Who He says He is! In doing this dead will bring you into His Holy Presence forevermore. If you do not receive His salvation, you will definitely know Who He is upon death as you wait for your eternal judgment from Him! Accept Christ Jesus today and KNOW that GOD is your Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD! You too (as will all of Christ Jesus' Church) be raised in the Rapture to receive New Bodies that never again will taste of death!

Jesus Comforts Mary and Martha

John 11:17-37, "When Jesus arrived, He found Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Martha went to meet Jesus. 'LORD, if You had been here my brother would not have died. Even now GOD will give You anything You ask' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said, "I know he will in the resurrection.' Jesus said to her, 'I Am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live ever though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' She told Him, 'Yes, LORD, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of GOD Who was to come into the world.' After she said that she went back to her sister Mary (and shared what had happened.) She got up and quickly left with the Jews following her. When she reached the tomb she saw Jesus and fell at His feet saying, 'LORD, if You had been here my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews also who came with her, He was deeply moved. Jesus asked, 'Where have you laid him?' 'Come and see, LORD.' they replied. Jesus wept. They asked, 'He who opened the eyes of the blind, could He have kept this man from dying?' "

Next week, Jesus' miracle!

Lazarus' Death

John 11:1-16, "A man named Lazarus was sick. Mary and Martha were his sisters. Mary is the same who poured perfume on the LORD and wiped His feet with her hair. They sent word to Jesus, 'LORD, the one You love is sick.' When He heard, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for GOD's glory so that GOD's Son may be glorified through it...' After He had said this, He went on to tell them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I Am going to wake him up.' His disciples replied, 'LORD, if he sleeps, he will get better.' Jesus had been speaking of his death, but the disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead and for your sake I Am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.' "

Jesus is The Creator in the flesh. Jesus is GOD in the flesh. Jesus told His disciples,  "For the Father and I are One (in the Same)." (John 10:30) Jesus is in total control of everything! Nothing happens but what He allows for His purposes. This is a sinful fallen universe because man chose to sin. Man now has the choice to accept Christ's paying the penalty for his/her sin or the choice to reject His free gift of salvation. Lazarus' death had a special purpose in design for Christ to show His power. Death is but the door to eternity. Make sure your eternity is with GOD Almighty through Christ Jesus and not an eternity of punishment in the Lake of Fire. You are given the choice to make and you can not "blame" GOD!