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"When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus." (John 12:9-11)
"Crowds of the Jerusalem Jews hastened to Bethany, not so much to see Jesus, whom they knew to be there, as to see dead Lazarus alive; and this, issuing in their accession to Christ, led to a plot against the life of Lazarus also, as the only means of arresting the triumphs of Jesus (see John 12:19)-to such a pitch had these chief priests come of diabolical determination to shut out the light from themselves, and quench it from the earth!" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary).
How incredible the power is sin is. The chief priests, endowed with the sacred cause of ministering in the holy Temple and interceding for the people, instead plotted murder of Lazarus, the living miracle! (As an aside, I wonder how Lazarus felt being a tourist attraction...if it pointed to Christ, which it did, I bet he felt pretty good about it!)
Sin is so dark and strangling, the Priests' hearts were dwindled down to a shriveled pea but as dense heavy as a black hole. Yet so was my heart, before I was saved! Our Lord is so loving and precious, He first loved us. (Romans 5:8).
I guess just be warned by the fact that sin will make you as heartless as the priests and Pharisees, who wanted to quench the Light and douse the triumphs. And be encouraged that no matter what your sin, if you repent, and seek Him He will forgive you.
photo credit: Lel4nd via photopin cc
"Crowds of the Jerusalem Jews hastened to Bethany, not so much to see Jesus, whom they knew to be there, as to see dead Lazarus alive; and this, issuing in their accession to Christ, led to a plot against the life of Lazarus also, as the only means of arresting the triumphs of Jesus (see John 12:19)-to such a pitch had these chief priests come of diabolical determination to shut out the light from themselves, and quench it from the earth!" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary).
How incredible the power is sin is. The chief priests, endowed with the sacred cause of ministering in the holy Temple and interceding for the people, instead plotted murder of Lazarus, the living miracle! (As an aside, I wonder how Lazarus felt being a tourist attraction...if it pointed to Christ, which it did, I bet he felt pretty good about it!)
Sin is so dark and strangling, the Priests' hearts were dwindled down to a shriveled pea but as dense heavy as a black hole. Yet so was my heart, before I was saved! Our Lord is so loving and precious, He first loved us. (Romans 5:8).
I guess just be warned by the fact that sin will make you as heartless as the priests and Pharisees, who wanted to quench the Light and douse the triumphs. And be encouraged that no matter what your sin, if you repent, and seek Him He will forgive you.
photo credit: Lel4nd via photopin cc
Lazarus had just been raised from the DEAD. Why would anyone in their right mind even think to kill him? someone has gotta be blind and dumb to not think about the fact that he could be raised again.. Hello.. No fear. But that's how BLIND and myopic sin makes us before we are saved. it causes us to make very irrational decisions and choices that really don't make sense.
ReplyDeleteJesus was showing them that He had power over death, as it was prophesied of the Messiah. The Jews always demanded a sign. They should have recognized this as one of the signs. You would have to be insane not to believe!! But remember, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were children of the devil and that they didn't believe because they couldn't. See John 8.
ReplyDeleteIt is God who opens the heart to believe. In His great mercy, love and grace, He saves some.
Pam
Good thought, Pam. We so often forget that sin's grip is deep and dark. I agree they'd have to be insane not to believe- and they were insane! Romans 1:18-32 tells us that God gives those who rebel over to a depraved mind. That means they can't even think straight anymore. You're right- He is so good to open hearts that cannot open themselves, isn't He!
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