WEBVTT - #337: A cry for help-- The miracle of Lazarus series part 1

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<v Speaker 1>Hello again, and welcome back to kids Bible Stories. This

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<v Speaker 1>series is called the Miracle of Lazarus, and today's episode

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<v Speaker 1>is a cry for help. This comes from John chapter eleven,

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<v Speaker 1>verses one through seven. As we unfold the pages of

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<v Speaker 1>this scripture, you meet fascinating people like Mary, Martha, and

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<v Speaker 1>their brother Lazarus. They were close friends of Jesus who

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<v Speaker 1>experienced his love and power firsthand. Let's jump right in.

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<v Speaker 1>In the quaint village of Bethany, nestled on the outskirts

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<v Speaker 1>of Jerusalem, a humble home stood. Behind the doors of

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<v Speaker 1>this home was Lazarus, beloved brother to Mary and Martha.

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<v Speaker 1>But sadly, Lazarus was very, very sick. The sisters tended

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<v Speaker 1>to Lazarus, hoping to help him. Their brother, whose laugh

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<v Speaker 1>was once vibrant, had now become a whisper. His chest

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<v Speaker 1>rose up and down, up and down, working hard to breathe. Mary,

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<v Speaker 1>with tears pulling in her eyes, sat by Lazarus's side,

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<v Speaker 1>gently wiping his brow with a cool claw. The room

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<v Speaker 1>was dimly lit by a single oil lamp, casting long

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<v Speaker 1>shadows that danced on the walls. As she watched the

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<v Speaker 1>shadow's chain shape, she had an idea. See, Mary knew

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<v Speaker 1>and loved Jesus. In fact, if you read past this scripture,

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<v Speaker 1>you'll learn that it was Mary who would anoint the

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<v Speaker 1>Lord with oil and wipe his feet with her hair.

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<v Speaker 1>Mary's voice broke the silence, her words barely a whisper.

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<v Speaker 2>Martha, you love Lazarus dearly. We must send word to Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>Surely he can heal him.

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<v Speaker 1>Martha nodded, agreen with her sister's idea. Martha still had faith,

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<v Speaker 1>but her forehead wrinkled in concern. Martha stepped outside, her

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<v Speaker 1>gaze lifting to the stars that speckled the night sky,

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<v Speaker 1>and she called for a young boy from the village,

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<v Speaker 1>known for his swift feet. Go go as fast as

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<v Speaker 1>you can to find Jesus and tell him Lord, the

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<v Speaker 1>one you love is sick, she instructed the messenger. As

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<v Speaker 1>Martha prepared to send the young boyn his urgent mission.

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<v Speaker 1>I imagine Mary being thoughtful like she usually was. I

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<v Speaker 1>picture her trying to sneak a piece of honeycake into

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<v Speaker 1>the messenger's pouch. Mary, this is no time for snacks,

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<v Speaker 1>Martha said, with a gentle laugh. Mary, with a mischievous

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<v Speaker 1>glint in her eye, whispered back.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, everyone knows a bit of honeycake makes any journey sweeter,

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<v Speaker 2>even a messenger's.

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<v Speaker 1>The two sisters shared a much needed giggle before returning

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<v Speaker 1>to their tasks. The brief moment brightened the dim room.

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<v Speaker 1>Understanding the urgency of his mission, the boy darted off

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<v Speaker 1>into the night, his figure quickly swallowed up by the darkness. Listeners,

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<v Speaker 1>why do you think Martha and Mary didn't just pick

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<v Speaker 1>up the phone and call Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>They didn't have funds.

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<v Speaker 1>That's right, back to our story. Inside, the sisters resumed

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<v Speaker 1>caring for Lazarus and praying for help. Days crawled by,

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<v Speaker 1>each passing hour, a heavy tick of the clock reminding

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<v Speaker 1>them of waiting and waiting some more. Lazarus's breath grew shallower, weaker,

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<v Speaker 1>and the sister's hope flickered like the flame on the

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<v Speaker 1>wick of their lamp. Why hasn't he come? Martha murmured

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<v Speaker 1>into the night, her faith wrestling with fear each time

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<v Speaker 1>she felt Lazarus's fading breath. But finally the messenger returned,

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<v Speaker 1>panting from exertion.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus about Lazarus and Jesus disciples, and he.

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<v Speaker 3>Told them this sickness will not end in death. No,

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<v Speaker 3>it is for God's glory, so that God's son may

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<v Speaker 3>be glorified through it.

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<v Speaker 1>The sisters exchanged a look of puzzled relief. The words

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<v Speaker 1>were a sweet medicine. It was great news, but some

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<v Speaker 1>of the message was also a bit confusing. The mystery

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<v Speaker 1>of Jesus's words hung heavily in the room. Mary squeezed

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<v Speaker 1>Martha's hand, finding strength in her sister's company. Now, Jesus

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<v Speaker 1>loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, so when he

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<v Speaker 1>heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed two days longer

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<v Speaker 1>in the place where he was. After two days, Jesus

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<v Speaker 1>announced to his disciples who followed.

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<v Speaker 3>Him, let us go to Judea again.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, that is it for our story today. But before

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<v Speaker 1>we go, lat's think about what we just heard. We

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<v Speaker 1>heard that Mary and Martha are sisters, and what's their

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<v Speaker 1>brother's name, Lazarus, way to remember, And we heard that

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<v Speaker 1>Lazarus is very, very sick. So who do they decide

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<v Speaker 1>to go tell and ask for help? Jesus perfect They

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<v Speaker 1>reached out to him in their darkest hour, holding on

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<v Speaker 1>to the promise that Jesus cares deeply. This teaches us

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<v Speaker 1>that it's okay to feel scared or confused when tough

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<v Speaker 1>times come our way. What's important is to remembory that

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<v Speaker 1>we can always reach out to God through prayer. You

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<v Speaker 1>can remember this when you're facing things that may feel

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<v Speaker 1>scary to you, like getting your tonsils out, taking a

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<v Speaker 1>difficult test, or speaking in front of everyone at Show

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<v Speaker 1>and Tell. Like Mary and Martha, you can pray and

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<v Speaker 1>talk to God about everything that worries you. Tell your

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<v Speaker 1>parents about it too, and guess what they also can

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<v Speaker 1>pray with you. Remember, God is always listening, and just

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<v Speaker 1>like in our story, he cares about what happens to us. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>the last thing I want to tell you is that

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<v Speaker 1>I am always fascinated with the sentence we just read.

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<v Speaker 1>The Bible said Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,

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<v Speaker 1>so when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed

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<v Speaker 1>two days longer in the place where he was. What

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<v Speaker 1>I expected that sentence to say, he loved them so

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<v Speaker 1>he went right away, or he loved them so he

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<v Speaker 1>prayed and healed him right then and there. Though Jesus

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<v Speaker 1>did not come immediately, he had a plan for Lazarus,

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<v Speaker 1>Mary and Martha, one that would show his power and

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<v Speaker 1>love in an even greater way than anyone could have imagined.

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<v Speaker 1>This reminds us that sometimes God's timing is different from ours.

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<v Speaker 1>Mary and Martha probably didn't want to wait those two days,

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<v Speaker 1>but He always knows what's best for us with his plans,

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<v Speaker 1>and he will get the glory. So, dear listeners, let

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<v Speaker 1>this story inspire you to be brave in your faith

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<v Speaker 1>and hopeful in your waiting. Share your worries with God,

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<v Speaker 1>your parents, and trust that He is working out something

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<v Speaker 1>wonderful that will show others how great he is, even

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<v Speaker 1>if you can't see it yet. He loves you and

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<v Speaker 1>you can always call out to Him for help. And

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<v Speaker 1>remember this is in the end of our story. Tune

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<v Speaker 1>in to see what happens next to Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

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<v Speaker 1>What will Jesus do? Today's episode is made possible thanks

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<v Speaker 1>to the generous newest Patreon supporters. A big thank you

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<v Speaker 1>to Charlotte and Olive who live all the way in Australia,

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<v Speaker 1>and thank you to Maureene and Tara. From our family

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<v Speaker 1>at eleven and a half million downloads in counting, and

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<v Speaker 1>bye for now.