Bible Study - Elisha (1) - GOD'S Calling Us to Serve - 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:7-15 - April 27, 2025 (Blessings)

 

Bible Study – Elisha (1) – GOD’S Hand in Calling Us to Serve – 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:7-15 – April 27, 2025

GOD invites us to join HIM in HIS Work.

We considered this statement in our previous lesson series. When we see where GOD is working that is our invitation to join HIM. JESUS made it clear. HE only did what HE saw HIS FATHER doing. We may have to ask GOD to open our Spiritual eyes to see where and how GOD is working.

When we ask JESUS to forgive us for our sins and for JESUS to come into our hearts (life/the very core of our existence where truth/Holy Spirit resides)

We get to study the calling of the Prophet Elisha to continue the work GOD began through Elisha’s predecessor, Elijah.

If you have followed my lessons, you know that Elijah is one of my favorite prophets.

When studying Elijah, we get to follow him as he builds an intimate relationship with GOD. I believe many of us can relate to the Spiritual journey of Elijah. GOD did many mighty works through Elijah. When his life was threatened after witnessing the mighty power of GOD, he fled to the mountains. He fled because Queen Jezebel was out to kill him. It could have been GOD’S way of relocating Elijah so HE could complete HIS work in Elijah. Elijah arrived at GOD’S Mountain and GOD revealed Himself to him.

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:9-21:

Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.

¹¹ Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”

At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

GOD desires for those who are called to be honest with HIM when they lose confidence in HIM. It was time for Elijah to confess why he was running to the mountain of GOD. GOD desires for those who seek the right relationship with HIM to be honest with HIM and reveal to HIM what blocks us from serving HIM or trusting HIM as we serve HIM.

I studied, “Experiencing GOD” written by Dr. Henry Blackaby. Before I began the study, I prayed and told GOD, I was not going from one chapter to the next unless what I learned. I understood. Bottomline, be honest with GOD!

¹⁴ “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. ¹⁶ You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

This is where our study picks up.

Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor By GOD.

¹⁹ Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him. ²⁰ Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”

In essence, “Elisha, do you understand what it meant when I placed my mantle over you?”

Have you experienced a predecessor’s mantel being placed on you? I did sometime after my father went to be with our LORD JESUS. It was a knowing.

²¹ So he (Elisah) turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered^[b] them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.

GOD called Elisha to be a prophet, he responded in a very active way by terminating his farm life to follow GOD’S leadership. Elisha’s response showed commitment to GOD’S Call.

The Prophet Elijah had the joy of placing his mantel over Elisha.

As we continue in our study after Elijah placed his mantel over Elisha was GOD threw with Elijah? No!

We read in Mathew 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, ^[a]let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Moses represents the “Law” and Elijah represents the “Prophets.”

JESUS passed their test and JESUS was approved to continue to fulfill GOD’S redemptive plan of salvation through faith in JESUS.

Now we fast forward to 2 Kings 2:7-11:

Elijah in the Whirlwind

2 The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal, ² and Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, they went down to Bethel.

³ Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁴ Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, they went to Jericho.

⁵ Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁶ Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, the two of them went on.

⁷ Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground. ⁹ When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So, Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”

¹⁰ Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

The firstborn son in the Jewish family received a double portion of the family inheritance when the head of the family/father died. The eldest son received a double portion so he could continue caring for the family.

Elisha understood that he would continue to minister to GOD’S chosen when Elijah was taken into Heaven to be with GOD.

Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was, but Elisha said “NO” I am continuing to travel with you.

Elisha understood his calling from GOD, and he wanted to be fully equipped to serve GOD and HIS chosen people after Elijah was taken up into Heaven to be with GOD.

¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. ¹² As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

So, Elisha got his request for 2 shares of Elijah’s Spirit.

Elijah gave Elisha three opportunities to remain where he was rather than continuing to journey with Elijah and fulfill GOD’S calling.

Being called by GOD to minister is not to be taken lightly. It is a lifetime commitment.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two, ¹³ picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the mantle Elijah had dropped, and he struck the water. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the water himself, and it parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha put aside his old life and now was committed to walk with GOD. As Spirit-born Christians, we are to take off our old self and put on our new self that has been redeemed by our faith in JESUS and HIS shed blood. It is the same physical body with new purpose and direction as led by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁵ When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were observing saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.

¹⁶ Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are fifty strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”

He answered, “Don’t send them.”

¹⁷ However, they urged him to the point of embarrassment, so he said, “Send them.” They sent fifty men, who looked for three days but did not find him. ¹⁸ When they returned to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

¹⁹ The men of the city said to Elisha, “My lord can see that even though the city’s location is good, the water is bad and the land unfruitful.”

²⁰ He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.”

After they had brought him one, ²¹ Elisha went out to the spring, threw salt in it, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’” ²² Therefore, the water still remains healthy today according to the word that Elisha spoke.

²³ From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” ²⁴ He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the children. ²⁵ From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.

One of the curses described in Leviticus 26 as judgment upon Israel’s covenant breaking is this:

And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted (Leviticus 26:22).

The use of the word Children has been interpreted as older teens/young adults. Some Bible scholars tie the actions of these young adults to evil people, doing the work of Satan, which I lean towards. We don’t like to think of GOD causing children to be mauled by female bears. But we do know that GOD sends harsh messages to get our attention.

Blessings!!!

ible Study - Signs (8) - The Ultimate Sign - John 20 - April 20, 2025

Bible Study – Signs (8) – The Ultimate Sign – John 20 – April 20, 2025

JESUS’S resurrection makes eternal life possible.

Our scripture is John 20.

Let’s take a step back in time.

When GOD created earth, HE made earth to sustain life then and life as we know it.

GOD placed earth exactly in the Universe and orbit to sustain the life GOD planned for earth.

After GOD created earth, it was suitable to sustain plant, animal, and human life, we read in Genesis 20:1-31.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[e] in^[f] our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl^[g] on the earth.”

So, God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” ²⁹ God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, ³⁰ for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given^[h] every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

Before GOD made woman, HE gave these instructions to Adam:

Genesis 2: ¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

This Adam was GOD’S first Adam. WHO was GOD’S second Adam?

¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” ¹⁹ The Lord God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man^[k] no helper was found corresponding to him. ²¹ So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. ²² Then the Lord God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ And the man said:

"This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called 'woman' for she was taken from man."

“WOW!!!” Love at first sight!

²⁴ This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. ²⁵ Both the man and his wife were naked yet felt no shame.

So, why go back to Genesis? First, GOD put Adam in-charge of the Garden of Eden. As we see in Genesis 2:15-17.

Why is that important?

Let’s fast-forward to Genesis 3:1-3:

 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He (Satan) said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

GOD never told Adam that he could not touch it, but GOD did tell him not to eat it. When we add to what GOD tells us it often leads us to wrong actions.

In the next statement we read Satan’s spin and how he leads us into disobeying GOD.

⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “In fact, God knows that when^[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Whoa!!! Adam was near Eve when she held the forbidden fruit in her hands, and he said nothing! Plus, she gave some to Adam and he ate it!

⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

They took matters into their own hands. The great coverup. But GOD knows the truth.

GOD had placed Adam in-charge of the Garden, and he was responsible for what went on in the Garden according to GOD’S instructions. But he said nothing to Eve when she was going to disobey GOD’S instructions.

Sin always has consequences. GOD’S first Adam failed which set into motion GOD’S redemptive plan, which would require the sacrifice of GOD’S Only SON, JESUS, to pay in full, the price for sin by HIS sinless human life and HIS shed blood.

JESUS was 100% human, yet GOD. If JESUS cut HIS finger it bled. HE got hungry and needed to rest.

1 Corinthians 15:45

So, it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam (JESUS) became a life-giving spirit.

Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves when they sinned, which in GOD’S sight were inadequate. We still attempt to cover or justify our sin.

In Genesis 3 ¹⁰ And he (Adam) said, “I heard you^[c] (GOD) in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

¹¹ Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Notice: Transferal of guilt onto the woman Adam considered “WOW!!!”

¹² The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

This is true but Adam knew the truth. He did not have to eat the forbidden fruit.

¹³ So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

It wasn’t my fault; it was the serpent’s fault. Transferal of guilt.

It other words, “The Devil made me do it!”

This transferal had to stop. But where?

Genesis 3: ²¹ The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

GOD made clothing for Adam and Eve by sacrificing an animal or animals to make them suitable clothing. Thus, the shedding of animal blood was a place holder until GOD’S perfect acceptable sacrifice, JESUS, willingly came to earth through GOD’S chosen mother, Virgin Mary, to birth HIS only SON.

Life continued outside the Garden of Eden. GOD saw in Abraham a foundation to build upon, thus GOD told Abraham in:

Genesis 26:4

I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky, I will give your offspring all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring,

GOD established the foundation which scripture reveals in:

Isaiah 28:16:Therefore, the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

Ephesians 2: 19-20:

¹⁹ So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

Now to this Sunday’s study. The firm foundation of JESUS THE CHRIST:

JESUS, GOD’S only begotten SON, willingly came to earth for the specific purpose to live a sinless life and be the perfect acceptable sacrifice for all sin. JESUS paid the price for sin but we, as humans, must acknowledge that JESUS is and was the perfect acceptable sacrifice for sin.

Sin alienates all humans from GOD. There are exceptions based upon age of accountability – fetus, children, and mental acuity.

How do we know that JESUS was the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD for all sin?

John 20 The Empty Tomb: GOD reveals to the world that JESUS conquered death for all who will place their faith in HIM as the promised Messiah and seals a person’s faith in JESUS with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Plus, gives the person receiving JESUS as his/her Savior Spiritual Gift(s).

20 On the first day of the week (Our Sunday) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”

³ At that, Peter, and the other disciple (John) went out, heading for the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple (John) outran Peter and got to the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. ⁸ The other disciple (John), who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. ⁹ For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord: Mary Magdalene was the lady that JESUS cast out seven (7) demons. She was a devout follower of JESUS.

¹¹ But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stopped to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

Oh, to me this statement wreaks with compassion and tenderness. Her heart was broken out of love for JESUS.

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”

¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”

Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

This is so precious: It took two men to bury JESUS, but she alone was going to find JESUS and “take HIM away.”  What love and devotion!

These next words are priceless ----

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic,^[a] “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”

When GOD/JESUS/THE HOLY SPIRIT utters our name, it is an unimaginable moment. I often think of the moment GOD spoke to the Prophet Elijah “in a still small voice.”  GOD still speaks in a still small voice.

¹⁷ “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what^[b] he had said to her.

Now this is huge, a woman announced to the disciples that she was the first to witness the resurrected JESUS!!!

The Disciples Commissioned

¹⁹ When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

²⁰ Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So, the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” ²² After saying this, he breathed on them and said,^[c] “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

JESUS commissioned HIS disciples right then to go. They received the Holy Spirit and were fully equipped with the indwelling Holy Spirit when JESUS ascended to Heaven. At Pentecost GOD send the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell all believers to evangelize the world..

Thomas Sees and Believes

²⁴ But Thomas (called “Twin”^[d]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless but believe.”

²⁸ Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.^[e] Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Seek JESUS and HE will reveal HIMSELF to you. Be honest with HIM. If you do not believe, tell HIM. Tell HIM that you are seeking to be in the right relationship with HIM and ask HIM to help you discover truth as you seek. But seek by praying and studying GOD’S Word, The Holy Bible.

Just keep in your mind, you have an adversary, Satan, who will try to deceive you and block you from finding. Be honest with GOD as you seek. Being in right relationship with GOD and JESUS is so rewarding through faith in JESUS is step one. But as GOD’S Son or Daughter, JESUS will NEVER leave you or forsake you. Trust JESUS by asking HIM to come into your heart and forgive you for ALL your sins and fill you with HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

HE will equip you with what you need to serve HIM and HIS Kingdom.

The Purpose of This Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,^[f] and that by believing you may have life in his name.

GOD sent HIS only SON, JESUS, The Second Adam, to finish what the first Adam failed to do. Thank YOU, JESUS, for YOUR obedience to GOD, YOUR

HAPPY EASTER!!! JESUS DIED JUST FOR YOU TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!!!

You have a choice to either accept JESUS as your Savior or reject HIM.

Please choose to accept JESUS as your Savior. Why? Because HE gave HIS sinless life just for you to have eternal life!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17:

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

Bible Study - Signs (7) - The Sign of HIS Power Over Death - John 11:1-57 - April 13, 2025 - Excellent

Bible Study – Signs (7) – The Sign of HIS Power Over Death – April 13, 2025

JESUS offers us the hope of a new life.

Our focus scripture is John 11:25-27;38-44.

Blessings to all as you read and study – EASTER is coming!!!

Let’s read John 11:1-57.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus where good friends of JESUS.

JESUS and HIS disciples were in Perea which is East of Jericho and Jericho is an 8 hour walk from Jerusalem. We guess between 8-12 hours to travel the distance on foot.

A messenger sent in the morning to get JESUS could travel two days. JESUS waited two days before HE left to go to Bethany. Lazarus died while the messenger was enroute. JESUS knew Lazarus was dead before HE left to go to Martha and Mary.

Lazarus Dies at Bethany

11 Now a man was sick—Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. ³ So the sisters sent a message to him: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

⁴ When Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he (JESUS) heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. ⁷ Then after that, he said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”

Keep in mind that JESUS only did what HIS FATHER told HIM to do or showed HIM to do.

JESUS had been involved in the resurrection of those who had died during HIS ministry. But this time it was JESUS’ friend whom HE loved. A huge temptation to speak and not hurry. NO! JESUS trusted GOD, HIS FATHER with what to do.

So, why did JESUS wait? GOD told HIM to wait because it was going to be used to reveal the power of GOD flowing through JESUS. This would be the first resurrection of a person dead long enough to start decaying.

It would confirm the resurrection of all people, redeemed and the unredeemed to face judgement. Those who have been “born-again” will received rewards at judgement and those who have not been “born-again” will be judged.

I don’t know about you, but I want to know on this side of eternity, my eternal destination and that is placing my faith in JESUS and being “Born-again.”

⁸ “Rabbi,” the disciples told him, “just now the Jews tried to stone you, and you’re going there again?”

This was another reason to discourage JESUS not to go. Often, Satan places obstacles in our path as we journey, according to GOD’S plan. JESUS had a decision to make, and HE did ----

⁹ “Aren’t there twelve hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.

That is why JESUS is the light of the world, so are those who have been “Spirit-born” also the light to those in darkness.

¹¹ He said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.”

¹² Then the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” That was a good assumption, or was it?

¹³ Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought he was speaking about natural sleep. ¹⁴ So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. ¹⁵ I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

JESUS had to make sure HIS disciples knew that Lazarus was physically dead.

It was time for JESUS to reveal HIS purpose for coming to earth for all and to give opportunity to all people to place their faith in HIM. We who have been “Born-again” are also the light of the world to those in darkness.

You may recall last week’s study regarding the word “filial.”:

In studying for last week’s study, I came across the word “filial” in reference to JESUS and GOD, JESUS’ FATHER. The definition of “filial - is “Filial comes from Latin filius, meaning "son," and filia, "daughter"; in English, it applies to any gender. The word has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety."

Thus, JESUS and GOD are in lock step with each other and trust each other completely. When JESUS gave up HIS human life, HE had to trust GOD, HIS FATHER to give HIM eternal life.

JESUS said it best as recorded in John 14:8-28:

Jesus Reveals the Father – focus on verse 9 ---

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe^[d] because of the works themselves.

Even today, we are to look around and see the Handiwork of the One True GOD. Yes, there is GOD and HE sent HIS Only SON, JESUS to establish and fulfill HIS eternal redemptive plan.

Praying in Jesus’ Name

¹² “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me^[e] anything in my name, I will do it.^[f]

Once we are “born-again” we are to focus on what GOD is doing around us and when we see GOD at work, that is our invitation to join HIM in that work. GOD desires for HIS “Born-again”/ “Spirit-born” Children to have the faith to join HIM as The Holy Spirit reveals where HE is working.

Another Counselor Promised (THE HOLY SPIRIT)

¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep^[g] my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor^[h] to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him because he remains with you and will be^[I] in you.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (The HOLY TRINITY, THREE IN ONE) reside in the person who has been “Born-again.”

¹⁸ “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. ¹⁹ In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. ²⁰ On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him/her.”

²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it you’re going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴ The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

JESUS trusted HIS FATHER completely and waited until GOD told HIM it was time for HIM and HIS disciples to go to Bethany and resurrect Lazarus from the physically dead.

¹⁶ Then Thomas (called “Twin”^[a]) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go too so that we may die with him.” (When we explore, we build a solid foundation.)

The Resurrection and the Life

¹⁷ When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was near Jerusalem (less than two miles^[b] away). ¹⁹ Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.

(Jewish tradition and teaching were that a dead person’s spirit remains over the body for a period of three days after death and then departs. Thus, JESUS waited until the fourth day to resurrect Lazarus from the physically dead.)

²⁰ As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary remained seated in the house. ²¹ Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. ²² Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

²³ “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. ²⁶ Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

This is the question all people must answer. Is JESUS the true Messiah, WHO takes away all our sin the instant we place our faith in HIM and HIS passion – life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and intercedes for us before GOD HIS FATHER and our FATHER.

Jesus Shares the Sorrow of Death

²⁸ Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

²⁹ As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.

³² As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!”

³³ When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved^[c] in his spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you put him?” he asked.

“Lord,” they told him, “come and see.”

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” ³⁷ But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

Oh, YES!!! The best is about to take place in their presence!

The Seventh Sign: Raising Lazarus from the Dead

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.”

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”

Yes!!! JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL WHO PLACE THEIR FAITH IN HIM AND HIS DEATH BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD WHICH PAID FOR ALL OF THE SINS COMPLETELY FOR ALL WHO PLACE THEIR FAITH IN JESUS.

THE MIRACLE OF ALL WHO ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE HIM/HER FOR THEIR SINS AND FOR JESUS TO COME INTO THEIR HEART WILL BE FORGIVEN AND EXPERIENCE THE MIRACLE OF SPIRITUAL BIRTH AND BECOME A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, what do those who are “born-again” do while they wait?

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making HIS appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

As GOD’S Ambassadors for CHRIST, all who have been “Spirit-born” have jobs to complete, as led by the in dwelling Holy Spirit, while we remain upon earth.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what he (JESUS) did believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Oh my, potential trouble in Jerusalem City. But GOD had a plan!!! HIS plan was put into place by those who saw JESUS as a threat to them. GOD knew the hearts of those who wanted to protect their positions in life and what it would take for them to put into action HIS redemptive plan which required the physical death of JESUS.

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and were saying, “What are we going to do since this man is doing many signs? ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

When the focus of worship changes, many other things are impacted, because often, there is a redistribution of power and authority.

⁴⁹ One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You’re not considering that it is to your^[d] advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” ⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to kill him.

GOD’S redemptive plan was set into motion for JESUS to fulfill the Law and establish forgiveness and GRACE!

⁵⁴ Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and he stayed there with the disciples.

Was JESUS in hiding? NO!! HE was waiting for HIS FATHER, GOD, to open the door for HIM to go forward with GOD’S redemptive plan. JESUS was the plan, which would take place when the Jews celebrated “PASSOVER!” Only GOD can orchestrate such an appointed Plan.

⁵⁵ Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will he?” ⁵⁷ The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it so that they could arrest him.

GOD’S redemptive plan was moving forward with great speed. Time was of the essence.

Isn’t it exciting to see GOD’S redemptive plan unfold. JESUS was the only ONE WHO could fulfill GOD’S plan.

In the early days of my Spiritual development, I asked GOD, “Why cannot I give my life for my own sins?” I got a quick response. “You do not qualify because I required a perfect sinless sacrifice, and you do not qualify. But whereas, since you do not qualify, MY sinless SON, JESUS does.” “HE Gave HIS life for you and all who will place their faith in HIM.”

Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your heart. The Holy Spirit will be in you and be your teacher, and guide. Experience the miracle of Spiritual birth.

Spiritual birth is only step one in your journey to build your right relationship with GOD, through faith in JESUS. The Holy Spirit is within you and is your guide, teacher, revealer, and so much more.

The Jews were celebrating Passover when GOD released them from slavery in Egypt. Only GOD could bring all the vital redemptive issues together to set into motion, accomplish and conclude HIS redemptive plan through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of JESUS, during the celebration of Passover. Passover celebrated the release of the Israelites from their physical bondage in Egypt. I believe slavery was GOD’S way of preserving the Jewish Nation as they grew into a nation. GOD introduced Himself to the Israelites to and through Moses. GOD led them to Mt. Sinai where GOD gave the Israelites the Law through Moses.

The Law was a placeholder until GOD’S redemptive plan of faith in JESUS was fulfilled. JESUS, WHO fulfilled the LAW, gave HIS Sinless Life by the shedding of HIS blood, for all who place their faith in HIM and established “Grace.”

This made ready for the human body to be the temple for the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and since for all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS Passion.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6: ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

To GOD and JESUS be The Glory – Blessings!!!