John 11

11:4 - ... it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this. - I think it is amazing to consider that God would allow bad to happen to us for His glory and to increase our faith. What I mean is, so many of us want an easy life, but God wants us and those watching us to have a tremendously faith filled life and He is willing to go to extremes to help that kind of faith grow. Jesus loves His purpose for mankind above His love of my understanding. I love it. that may be offensive to some, but I need to know that God's will is bigger than me and my desires. I think it proves the goodness of God that He would let Lazarus (a good friend of His) die so that others could eventually believe.

11:6 - Jesus stayed two more days before going to Lazarus.

11:15 - And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe...

11:17 - Lazarus had been in the grave for four days.

11:21-22 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." - I love the expression of faith on Martha's part. She truly believes that Jesus can ask and God will give her her brother back. Notice that Jesus lived in such a way that Martha believes that God will be the One to restore life.

11:25-26 - Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" - That is the question for every single one of us.

11:32 - (Mary) Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. - I have always wondered if the way the story is told, if Mary wasn't upset with Jesus. She stayed when Martha went out to Jesus and when she comes to Jesus, even though she says the same thing her sister did, I always get the impression she is mad. Just my opinion.

11:33 - The NLT says a deep anger welled up within him. I did not find that in the NASB or the NIV. I am not sure of there is something in the original language that would indicate that and if so, I wonder what the anger was. The other translations all say that He was deeply troubled in His spirit.

11:40 - Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"

11:48 - If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation. - The Pharisees had gone so far in loosing their purpose that they couldn't see that the Messiah was at hand. the were more worried about the things that led up to the Messiah instead of the fulfillment of those things. The Temple was always a predecessor of Jesus and Jesus fulfills all the things it pointed to (prayer, intercession, forgiveness, meeting with God). they forgot the main thing. And, they were more concerned with their nation than what that nation was created for in the first place.

11:50 - You don't realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. -I am amazed, that even though this man was standing against Jesus, God still chose to use him. God will use anyone and anything to fulfill His plan for salvation and redemption.

11:52 - And not only for that nation, but to bring together and untie all the children of God scattered around the world. - I love that we are included in this.

Love, Michael