A CAVE AND A STONE
Tuesday – July 30, 2019, Tamuz 27, 5779
Greetings precious people of God and welcome back to this powerful and empowering Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “love” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of this Ministry. Thank you for valuing the Word of God. The featured pictures this week are various artist depictions of the Ministry of Jesus and as usual on Friday is a picture of Donna and me. Now, let’s turn our attention to our Bible Study by reading the primary text aloud.
John 11:37-40 (KJV)
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
The gathered Jews who came to grieve with Mary and Martha are voicing unbelief and attempting to discredit Jesus. They are saying among themselves and no doubt within earshot of Mary and Martha that if this man (referring to Jesus) could open blind eyes He could have prevented this man’s death. They are promoting unbelief and not faith. They are precluding that He could raise Lazarus from the dead with is the express mission that Jesus is on at the direction of the Father. As in verse thirty-three the word “groaning” in our text means to snort with anger, or to have indignation according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. How often do you suppose Jesus as snorted with anger (groaned) in Heaven as we have gone about in unbelief and with weeping instead of faith and joy knowing that the overwhelming abundant answer of God is imminent. It is all according to faith and the presence of the Anointing. The faith is ours and the Anointing is God. When we are anointed it is with God, the third person of the co-equal God. Jesus, the man in the earth, was anointed with the same person, God the Holy Spirit.
This brings us to verse thirty-nine and Jesus giving the command that the stone be removed. At this point Martha almost blows it by speaking, not remaining silent, and not immediately obeying. She informs the Lord that because Lazarus has been dead four days he will stink, probably really bad. Let’s look again at Jesus’ response.
John 11:40 (KJV)
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
In effect Jesus is saying don’t lose your faith, continue to believe (have faith) then you will see the manifested goodness of God. The glory of God is always good, it is always observable to all peoples. Now, let’s take a look at what Jesus said just a few verses back.
John 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Jesus reminds Martha that it is because of Him, the Messiah, that a resurrection is possible. The resurrection is when a person is completely restored to Gods original intent at creation. The difference between us and Adam at and after the resurrection will be that we are in Christ Jesus, one with Him, the Holy Spirit, and the Father. We will still have a safety net. There was no hope of a resurrection without dealing with the sin (curse) question. In addition, until the sin question was dealt with there was no way for men to have life as God has life and right standing restored. Because of Jesus, the Messiah, eternal life is again available to all who will, life as God knows it, as God intended for His house, His family. When a person is born again and continues to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, they have access to the same life as God, and will not ever die spiritually (or physically in the resurrection body), they will not suffer the second death. Now, let’s link this with what the risen Savior said to the Apostle John when He spoke with him on the Isle of Patmos.
Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
All of the Old Testament saints who died in faith, in Covenant with God went into the Bosom of Abraham but with Calvary and the Resurrection Jesus has the keys of hell (partitioned portion known as the Bosom of Abraham) and of spiritual death. Men could now live for He had obliterated the sin question. O what a Savior! Jesus removed those captives in the Bosom of Abraham when He ascended taking His Blood to the Mercy Seat of Heaven. It is the fourth day since Lazarus died. Four is the number of lights, authority, and power. Jesus is the great light which came and gave birth to Christians, the lights of the earth. The work of Christ Jesus returned authority to mankind, authority to trigger the supernatural Power of God. The work of Christ Jesus returned the Power to mankind, that is the Blessing.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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