March 31, 2019
Scripture:
Hymn 142 - A ruler once came to Jesus by night;
Prayer
Last time I talked Peter was asleep in prison and an angel came to deliver him. He then had gone to Mark’s house and left the city.
Acts 12:18-25
Vs. 18,19 - When the sun finally came up the soldiers went crazy when they found out Peter was gone. They tried to find him but to no avail. As you can imagine Herod wasn’t happy. He order for the soldiers that had guarded Peter to be beheaded instead.
Vs. 20 - Herod was highly displeased with Tyre and Sidon for reasons we do not know. Tyre and Sidon were dependent on Herod’s land and needed to get back on his good side. They were friends with the king’s chamberlain though. So all together they went to Herod and were able to work something out.
Vs. 21-24 - Later Herod decides to throw a party. At the beginning of the party Herod came out dressed all fancy and gives a speech. The people started to chant “It is the voice of a god and not of a man”. Right away God smote him with worms and he died right there and then. After this God’s word continued the multiply. It keep traveling farther and farther through out the world.
Vs. 25 - Saul and Barnabas had fulfilled the mission they were on and were heading back to Jerusalem.
You know how books have chapters and sections. This is the end of one of the sections in Acts. Peter fades out of the scene and Paul comes in.
John 11: 25-46
When Mary was told that Jesus had called her, she arose quickly and went to Him. The other Jews thought she had gone to the grave to weep, but that wasn’t the case. When she came to Him she fell down at His feet. That was a characteristic of Mary.
Mary and Martha said the same thing to Jesus, but I wonder if it was the same way. Martha’s came across as a bit of a rebuke. Maybe Mary’s was a truth that saw what else He could do.
Jesus obviously knew that all the tears they were crying would be dried in a few minuets, but He still groaned and was troubled. It could have been the sense of what sin had done to the world He made. Jesus, in one way, had created the situation here. He could have come sooner if He wanted to.
It seems the Bible wouldn’t be complete if the Lord hadn’t showed that sense of love, care, and sensitivity in taking our burdens like He did here. We can know the Lord has been where we are and can feel our sorrows and sympathizes. It showed His humanity. Can you imagine the Bible without, “Jesus wept”?
Jesus had to ask them where they had put Lazarus. It seems they thought it was to late and the story was over. But when He asked, they immediately invited Him to “come and see”. This brought tears to the Lord and everyone said, “how He loved him”. It showed His love.
Resurrection was far from anyone’s mind, so when Jesus asked them to remove the stone Martha objected. Speaking naturally, she had a true statement. But everything was happening to show the glory of God.
Verse forty-two shows the multiple purposes the Lord had here. The Resurrection and Life called Lazarus forth. Have you ever wondered what that looked like? He probably couldn’t walk or see. They had to take the wrapping off. The Lord didn’t move the stone or the grave clothes. A brother once said that that’s our job. God raises the dead. We are to remove the hindrances. How many of us are still wearing grave clothes?
Verse forty-five is a precious one. The situation did draw them close to Him and they knew more about His compassion. But we also know the Bible says that those who haven’t seen but believe are blessed. May we have that faith.
Hymn 48 There is a life in a look at the crucified One.
Prayer