WEBVTT - Jack Graham - Oct 20 - 9:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>Let us pray. And when he thus had spoken, he

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<v Speaker 1>cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. John

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<v Speaker 1>11.43 Thank you, God, that the story of Lazarus serves

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<v Speaker 1>as a reminder that death no longer has power over

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<v Speaker 1>my soul. Through the life of Jesus, you continually display

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<v Speaker 1>for me the fact that I can no longer that

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<v Speaker 1>I can conquer anything, including the Goliath of death. Therefore,

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<v Speaker 1>I will not be afraid to live my life to

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<v Speaker 1>the fullest, because I know that I will not die,

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<v Speaker 1>but I will simply transition into my heavenly home when

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<v Speaker 1>my time comes. I declare that I will not live

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<v Speaker 1>with regret or remorse, but instead I will maximize every

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<v Speaker 1>opportunity that I'm given. I will love with an intense

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<v Speaker 1>and compassionate heart, and I will live out the purpose

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<v Speaker 1>and plans that you have for me, Lord. In the

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<v Speaker 1>same way, Jesus, that you called forth Lazarus from the tomb,

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<v Speaker 1>I now call forth from the tombs in my life

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<v Speaker 1>the dreams and visions that have died because of fear

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<v Speaker 1>and doubt. I thank you, Lord, that as I place

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<v Speaker 1>them in your hands, you will breathe new life and

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<v Speaker 1>new strategy into every dream and vision you've given me.

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<v Speaker 1>In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for praying with me today.

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<v Speaker 1>Continue listening for an incredible Bible story brought to you

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<v Speaker 1>by BibleInAYear.com.

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<v Speaker 2>Lazarus. In our last story, we learned about Jesus' stories

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<v Speaker 2>of thankfulness and humility. Now we see Jesus weep at

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<v Speaker 2>the sting of death. However, death would not have the

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<v Speaker 2>final word against Jesus. Through his friend Lazarus, Jesus would

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<v Speaker 2>display ultimate power over death itself. Inspired by the Gospels.

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<v Speaker 3>Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible

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<v Speaker 3>in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want

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<v Speaker 3>to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours

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<v Speaker 3>to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress.

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<v Speaker 3>And my prayer is that it will help you conquer

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<v Speaker 3>the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress

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<v Speaker 3>in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free

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<v Speaker 3>from Stress today by visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org

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<v Speaker 3>slash stress. In our last episode, we discovered the importance

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<v Speaker 3>of gratitude when Jesus healed the ten lepers and one

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<v Speaker 3>man returned to give thanks. As a result, the thankful

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<v Speaker 3>man received a greater, deeper spiritual restoration and not just

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<v Speaker 3>the healing of his body. We also heard what Jesus

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<v Speaker 3>says about prayer, both the value and the necessity of

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<v Speaker 3>persistence in prayer, trusting God to always hear us when

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<v Speaker 3>we cry out to him, but also that we would

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<v Speaker 3>pray with humility as we approach God. Today, we'll hear

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<v Speaker 3>how Jesus experiences grief when his dear friend Lazarus dies.

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<v Speaker 3>But in this time of sorrow, we see how Jesus

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<v Speaker 3>demonstrates his power over death because only Jesus can raise

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<v Speaker 3>the dead, the one who is the resurrection and the life.

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<v Speaker 3>His friend lives again, and it's one of the most

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<v Speaker 3>powerful stories in all of the Bible. So let's listen now.

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<v Speaker 2>It was late, and the winter air bit like a

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<v Speaker 2>snake in the night. Coughing in his bed lay Lazarus.

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<v Speaker 2>His once happy and bright demeanor was replaced by a

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<v Speaker 2>pale shell of his former self. Beside one side of

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<v Speaker 2>his bed was his sister, Mary, the woman who had

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<v Speaker 2>once wiped Jesus' feet with ointment and tears. On the

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<v Speaker 2>other side was Martha, his other sister. They tended to

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<v Speaker 2>their brother, exchanging concerned looks and tears of worry. We

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<v Speaker 2>should send for him, Mary whispered. Martha nodded and went

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<v Speaker 2>downstairs to send one of her teenage sons. Go and

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<v Speaker 2>find Jesus, she ordered. Do not rest until you find him.

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<v Speaker 2>The boy nodded and ran into the cold winter darkness.

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<v Speaker 2>A day had passed, and Jesus was ministering in a

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<v Speaker 2>town over thirty miles away from Bethany, where Lazarus lay

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<v Speaker 2>sick in his bed. Jesus was just about to enter

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<v Speaker 2>into a synagogue when a boy bumped into him. The

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<v Speaker 2>boy staggered back, then looked to see that he had

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<v Speaker 2>found Jesus. My Lord, he shouted out of breath. Lazarus,

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<v Speaker 2>your dear friend is sick and dying. Jesus nodded and

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<v Speaker 2>sent the boy on his way. Then he began to

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<v Speaker 2>go back into the synagogue. His disciples stopped him and asked, Jesus,

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<v Speaker 2>why don't you go to heal Lazarus? Because this illness

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<v Speaker 2>does not lead to death. It leads to the glory

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<v Speaker 2>of God, Jesus replied. Two days passed and the disciples

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<v Speaker 2>were packing up their things to follow Jesus. We are

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<v Speaker 2>going back to Judea, Jesus said plainly. The disciples were

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<v Speaker 2>confused since many of Jesus' enemies were in Judea. Rabbi,

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<v Speaker 2>the religious leaders are waiting for you there to stone you,

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<v Speaker 2>they warned. Jesus slung his pack over his shoulder and

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<v Speaker 2>began walking. He waved for the disciples to follow. Hurry,

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<v Speaker 2>he said. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. We are

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<v Speaker 2>going to wake him up. The disciples were confused. Lazarus

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<v Speaker 2>has died, Jesus said plainly, and for your sake I

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<v Speaker 2>am glad I did not heal him, for now you

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<v Speaker 2>get to see what happens next. So Jesus kept walking.

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<v Speaker 2>The disciples were frozen. There were many violent men in

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<v Speaker 2>Judea waiting to harm them. Thomas grabbed his walking stick, sighed,

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<v Speaker 2>and began walking after Jesus. Well, I guess we are

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<v Speaker 2>going to die with him. The men chuckled and followed

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus to Judea. After a few days' journey, Jesus had

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<v Speaker 2>made it to Bethany, which was a small town near Jerusalem.

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<v Speaker 2>By that time, Lazarus had been dead for days. Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>walked closer to the home of Mary and Martha. He

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<v Speaker 2>saw them weeping outside the house. Martha and Mary saw

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus approaching, and Martha ran out to him.' If only

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<v Speaker 2>you had been there,' she wept.' He would have—' Martha

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<v Speaker 2>could not contain her tears.' Even now I know that

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<v Speaker 2>you do the will of God.' and whatever you ask

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<v Speaker 2>of God will be given to you. Jesus hugged Martha

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<v Speaker 2>and allowed her to cry for a while. He led

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<v Speaker 2>her to the bench where Mary sat silently. Your brother

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<v Speaker 2>will rise again, Jesus said in a comforting tone. Martha

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<v Speaker 2>wiped her eyes and said, Yes, of course. We know

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<v Speaker 2>that he will have a life after this one. The

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<v Speaker 2>day of the resurrection will come for him. I am

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<v Speaker 2>the resurrection and the life, Jesus said. Whoever believes in me,

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<v Speaker 2>even though he may die, will experience life everlasting. Do

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<v Speaker 2>you believe this? Martha nodded. Yes, Lord, I believe you

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<v Speaker 2>are the Christ, the living Son of God. Jesus gave

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<v Speaker 2>a brief smile and walked to Lazarus' tomb. Jesus placed

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<v Speaker 2>his hand against the large stone blocking the entrance to

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<v Speaker 2>the tomb. Its cold surface sent chills down Jesus' spine.

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<v Speaker 2>He thought of his friend Lazarus. He thought of his smiles.

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<v Speaker 2>his gifts, his personality. Jesus slammed his fist against the

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<v Speaker 2>stone and wept. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he

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<v Speaker 2>fell to his knees beside the tomb. Jesus wept with

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<v Speaker 2>the sorrow of a God who created life. It was

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<v Speaker 2>not supposed to be this way. Mankind was supposed to

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<v Speaker 2>experience life, not death. Death was the true and final enemy,

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<v Speaker 2>an enemy Jesus was determined to defeat. Jesus stood to

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<v Speaker 2>his feet, His eyes were filled with holy fury and purpose.'

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<v Speaker 2>Roll away the stone,' he ordered to the servant.' But, Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>the rotting body will surely stink!' Mary yelled. Jesus' eyes

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<v Speaker 2>darted backwards.' Did I not tell you that if you

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<v Speaker 2>believed in me you would see the glory of God?'

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus turned to the servant and said,' Please, roll away

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<v Speaker 2>the stone.' The heavy stone was rolled away and a

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<v Speaker 2>devastating odor seeped from the cave entrance. The disciples and

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<v Speaker 2>others stepped back and covered their noses. But Jesus lifted

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<v Speaker 2>his eyes to heaven. Father, thank you that you have

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<v Speaker 2>heard me. You always hear me. Then Jesus fixed his

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<v Speaker 2>gaze on the cave and yelled, Lazarus, arise! Jesus spoke

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<v Speaker 2>with a voice like the wind. The same breath that

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<v Speaker 2>breathed life into mankind spoke into the cave. And like

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<v Speaker 2>the atom so many generations ago... Lazarus emerged from the dust.

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<v Speaker 2>He was covered in cloth and bound at his arms.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus ordered for him to be untied, and the sisters

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<v Speaker 2>ran towards him in joy. Jesus came so that all

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<v Speaker 2>would have life and live more abundantly. Like Moses against Pharaoh,

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<v Speaker 2>Samson against the Philistines, and David against Goliath, Jesus saw

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<v Speaker 2>death as an unwelcome adversary. He would go against it

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<v Speaker 2>with purpose. It would be his joy to endure the

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<v Speaker 2>sting of death so that no one would ever have

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<v Speaker 2>to again.

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<v Speaker 3>In today's reading, we meet a man and his family

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<v Speaker 3>by the name of Lazarus. He had two sisters by

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<v Speaker 3>the name of Mary and Martha, and they were close

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<v Speaker 3>friends of Jesus. Lazarus was dying in bed, so they

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<v Speaker 3>sent word to Jesus that his friend, Lazarus, was deathly sick.

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus was at least one day's journey away. But when

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<v Speaker 3>the messenger arrived and gave him the news, Jesus was

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<v Speaker 3>not alarmed. He sent the boy back with encouraging words. Lazarus'

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<v Speaker 3>sickness was not leading to death, but for God's glory. Jesus'

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<v Speaker 3>words are a reminder to trust God in his plan

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<v Speaker 3>and his timing, even when he seems to delay and

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<v Speaker 3>things don't get better. He could have simply spoken a

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<v Speaker 3>word and Lazarus would have been immediately well. But because

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<v Speaker 3>he knew there was a greater purpose unfolding, Jesus did

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<v Speaker 3>not rush to heal or to raise his friend from

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<v Speaker 3>the dead. He remained where he was for two more days.

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<v Speaker 3>Then he told the disciples that they were going to

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<v Speaker 3>Judea to Lazarus and his sisters. This was a dangerous decision,

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<v Speaker 3>and the disciples knew it. They reminded the Lord that

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<v Speaker 3>there were people in Judea who wanted to kill him.

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<v Speaker 3>Why would we go back? Here we see something that

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<v Speaker 3>was always characteristic of Jesus. He was courageous and compassionate,

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<v Speaker 3>and he always moved according to plans. There are no

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<v Speaker 3>accidents or coincidences with God, and he is God. We

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<v Speaker 3>saw this when he walked through the Samaritan town and

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<v Speaker 3>encountered the woman at the well. We saw it again

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<v Speaker 3>with his intentional desire to cross into Galilee and heal

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<v Speaker 3>a man possessed by a legion of demons. From an

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<v Speaker 3>outsider's perspective, his actions, his timing, his direction sometimes seemed ill-advised.

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<v Speaker 3>But Jesus always moved on God's timetable according to divine plan.

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<v Speaker 3>He was never in a hurry and he was never late.

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<v Speaker 3>And he wasn't afraid. He was there to do the

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<v Speaker 3>will of the Father, that God would be glorified in

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<v Speaker 3>him and through him. He and the Father worked in

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<v Speaker 3>perfect unity and concert. Jesus then tells his disciples to hurry.

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<v Speaker 3>saying that their friend Lazarus is asleep and they need

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<v Speaker 3>to go and wake him up. They didn't understand what

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<v Speaker 3>he was talking about, so he made it very plain

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<v Speaker 3>to him. Lazarus is dead. But then he says he

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<v Speaker 3>is happy for this because it will help the disciples

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<v Speaker 3>to believe. Now, how is this possible? How could the

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<v Speaker 3>death of this man, his dear friend, a loss like this,

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<v Speaker 3>lead to faith and belief? When we face sickness or

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<v Speaker 3>illness or death, trials and challenges that come our way,

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<v Speaker 3>we are often tempted to pray that all the bad

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<v Speaker 3>things would just go away or of course never happen.

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<v Speaker 3>But as Jesus' words remind us, there is a purpose

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<v Speaker 3>in our pain, in God's divine plan. And always, when

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<v Speaker 3>we face trials and tests and dark times and even death,

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<v Speaker 3>we may experience the power of God. After a couple

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<v Speaker 3>of days of walking, Jesus and his disciples were met

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<v Speaker 3>outside of town by Martha, the sister, who gave him

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<v Speaker 3>the news that indeed Lazarus was dead. She wept. She

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<v Speaker 3>mourned that if only Jesus had been there, her brother

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<v Speaker 3>would not have died. But she also demonstrates her faith

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<v Speaker 3>in him, saying that she knows that even now God

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<v Speaker 3>will give Jesus whatever he asks of him. Jesus tells

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<v Speaker 3>Martha that her brother will rise again. She misunderstands and

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<v Speaker 3>is even skeptical, thinking that Jesus is speaking of the

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<v Speaker 3>resurrection in the future. She wasn't expecting Jesus to actually

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<v Speaker 3>raise her brother from the dead. But Jesus says to

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<v Speaker 3>her in John 11, 25 and 26, I am the

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<v Speaker 3>resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die,

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<v Speaker 3>yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes

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<v Speaker 3>in me shall never die. Do you believe this? Martha

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<v Speaker 3>professed her faith then and there, saying that he is

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<v Speaker 3>the Christ, son of the living God. So she went

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<v Speaker 3>and called her sister Mary. Jesus went with the two

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<v Speaker 3>sisters to the tomb where all the mourners were gathered

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<v Speaker 3>in great sorrow. Lazarus had been dead for close to

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<v Speaker 3>four days, and this was significant. To the Jews, that

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<v Speaker 3>meant that this man's spirit was no longer in his body.

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<v Speaker 3>In other words, he was dead, dead, and dead some more.

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<v Speaker 3>What really happened in the text now is powerful. When

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus saw the tomb and witnessed the sorrow of those

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<v Speaker 3>who had lost a friend, a brother, a neighbor, he

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<v Speaker 3>was moved to the point of his own tears. Jesus wept.

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<v Speaker 3>And why did he weep? Well, he certainly is weeping

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<v Speaker 3>for Mary and Martha and his friends and all who

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<v Speaker 3>wept that day. But in effect, Jesus is showing his

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<v Speaker 3>compassion and shedding his tears for the love of God

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<v Speaker 3>that he feels for all people. He sees and knows

0:15:05.050 --> 0:15:08.650
<v Speaker 3>your heart. When you sorrow, when you grieve, when you're hurting,

0:15:08.770 --> 0:15:13.420
<v Speaker 3>in your pain, Jesus knows when you cry and hears

0:15:13.480 --> 0:15:19.420
<v Speaker 3>every cry to him. Then Jesus did something supernatural, startling.

0:15:20.040 --> 0:15:21.910
<v Speaker 3>He asked for the stone to be rolled away from

0:15:21.950 --> 0:15:24.710
<v Speaker 3>the tomb, despite the protest of Mary, who knew the

0:15:24.810 --> 0:15:29.070
<v Speaker 3>decomposing body would smell by now. But Jesus then prayed

0:15:29.090 --> 0:15:31.430
<v Speaker 3>to the Father and thanked him for hearing his prayer.

0:15:32.280 --> 0:15:35.880
<v Speaker 3>Then he spoke to Lazarus, saying out loud, Arise, come forth.

0:15:36.280 --> 0:15:39.640
<v Speaker 3>And his friend walked out of the tomb to the astonishment,

0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:43.570
<v Speaker 3>to the amazement of everyone there. It was clear that

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<v Speaker 3>there was no force, no power over which this man, Jesus,

0:15:46.970 --> 0:15:50.190
<v Speaker 3>did not have authority. For even a dead man whose

0:15:50.250 --> 0:15:53.590
<v Speaker 3>spirit had left his body could be brought back to vibrant,

0:15:53.650 --> 0:15:58.210
<v Speaker 3>abundant life at the command of Jesus. Jesus is the

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<v Speaker 3>resurrection and the life. Soon it would be Jesus himself

0:16:02.940 --> 0:16:06.830
<v Speaker 3>who died and was buried behind a stone in a tomb.

0:16:07.690 --> 0:16:11.410
<v Speaker 3>But Jesus, the resurrection and the life, would conquer the grave.

0:16:11.870 --> 0:16:14.230
<v Speaker 3>There is no grave that could hold our Lord, and

0:16:14.270 --> 0:16:18.510
<v Speaker 3>he came out alive conquering sin, death, and hell, and

0:16:18.590 --> 0:16:22.030
<v Speaker 3>conquering death for all who will believe in him. For

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<v Speaker 3>we can have eternal life by putting our faith in Christ.

0:16:26.380 --> 0:16:30.590
<v Speaker 3>Dear God, we thank you for today's tremendous story. that

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<v Speaker 3>you have such power over death. And you call us

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<v Speaker 3>like Lazarus to rise and come to you. And we

0:16:37.410 --> 0:16:39.930
<v Speaker 3>come to you, Lord. We come to you in faith

0:16:40.030 --> 0:16:43.480
<v Speaker 3>and belief because you are the resurrection and the life.

0:16:44.220 --> 0:16:49.440
<v Speaker 3>Amen and amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible

0:16:49.460 --> 0:16:52.420
<v Speaker 3>in a Year podcast. Before we go, I want to

0:16:52.470 --> 0:16:55.350
<v Speaker 3>let you know about a unique ebook that's yours to

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<v Speaker 3>download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress.

0:17:00.940 --> 0:17:03.240
<v Speaker 3>And my prayer is that it will help you conquer

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<v Speaker 3>the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress

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<v Speaker 3>into your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free

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<v Speaker 3>from Stress today by visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org

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<v Speaker 3>slash stress.