HE WHOM THOU LOVEST
Wednesday – July 3, 2019, Sivan 30, 5779
Greetings precious children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High God, the only living God and welcome back to this powerful Bible Study of the Book of John. The featured pictures this week are of a recent visit to Peaks Island. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “like” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of this Ministry, the gospel, the good news. Thank you so much for liking and sharing. Now let’s move to our primary Bible text for today and read it aloud.
John 11:1-4 (KJV)
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
The title of today’s study is “He Whom Thou Lovest” and you can be sure, even more sure than the sun coming up tomorrow, that He loves you every bit as much as Lazarus. It seems to me that the sisters, Mary and Martha, are putting some added pressure on Jesus by pointing out that Lazarus is His friend. The English word “lovest” in our text is the Greek word transliterated to English as ‘phileō’ which means to be a friend according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. I will now take a little time and discuss about Godly love and friendship. Understanding the difference is pertinent to guiding us in our love of God and our friendship with God and He with us. It seems to me that love, Godly love (agape) can be unidirectional. That is to say that one can love another and not visa versa. However, it seems that a true friendship requires the participation of both parties. Friendship has to do with an affinity or fondness that develops between persons as the result of sharing common interests and certain areas of agreement.
Amos 3:3 (KJV)
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
I will now ask a question that might rattle some of the religious folks, perhaps not. Does God like or have friendships with some and not with others? Do you? Are you made in the image and likeness of God? Do you have the spiritual DNA of God? The answer to all four question marks is ‘yes’ in case you are struggling with the answers. Obviously, Jesus who only said what the Father said, and only did what the Father did was friends with Lazarus but that relationship is not mentioned with others. Could faith play a role in being a friend of God? Perhaps Lazarus had a faith, an all-encompassing faith, the others did not have. It appears early on at least that Mary and Martha had faith for healing but not the raising of the dead. Let’s give the following passages our attention in this regard. Abraham’s friendship with God is established by two witnesses.
Isaiah 41:8 (ESV)
8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
James 2:21-23 (ESV)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
Now, we have much further insight into having a friendship with God which is available to all but it seems achieved by few. Faith, faith in God, is the lynchpin to friendship with God. Believing in another person is a lynchpin to forming real friendships with other persons in our lives.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We do not form friendships with people who do not please us. When we have a true friend, we seek after them and they us.
On the other hand, God loves (agape) all peoples, saint or sinner, the same. The key is in the meaning or definition of Godly love, agape from the Greek.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow. 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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