John 11 ~ Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.

Lazarus, friend to Jesus.
The Tomb was labelled. As empty today as when Jesus was on earth,  Cyprus.

John 11

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”

 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”

12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”


16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”


17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”


28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept.

36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 

39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. 

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. 

Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”


45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.


 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 

51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.



55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 

56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

After Jesus' resurrection (according to Matthew 27:51-52) many tombs broke open

So this is the "One" we all remember.
Lists generally are not Touching. This one is::

1. Elijah raised the son of the Zarephath widow from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-22).

2. Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35).

3. A man was raised from the dead when his body touched Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20, 21).

4. Many saints rose from the dead at the resurrection of Jesus (Matt. 27:50-53).

5. Jesus rose from the dead (Matt. 28:5-8; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5, 6).

6. Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain from the dead (Luke 7:11-15).

7. Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Luke 8:41, 42, 49-55).

8. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).

9. Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-41).
40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

10. Eutychus was raised from the dead by Paul (Acts 20:9, 10).

11. Acts 14:19-20
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.


Leading to Multitudes and Multitudes in Jesus Christ's resurrection

Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11, and John 20:1-10
The Tombs opened and those departed were seen in Jerusalem.

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.





Bethany 1800s

Jesus is famous, famous, famous for raising Lazarus. Today.

But really Jesus was known for a huge crowd in Nain saw Jesus at a funeral raise a man to help his widowed mother. This set the tone, this man from Nain, being raised, that Jesus is fully capable of rising again Himself.

Jesus was leaving us a trail, for our relationship to Jesus - today.

Paul was not a disciple and is not recorded as being blessed to have the eyes that saw this.

Jesus was truly taking the deaf aside to heal them. And the blind. Here Lazarus is raised, the the significant conversation about the Resurrection is told later. There are no theatrics with Jesus.

What Jesus values in these miracles is the Relationship.

This tells us what our prayers to the Father, partnering with Jesus, mean to Jesus, Alive and Working Today. With us.


Jesus, The Lord, Pray with me to Father God.

Thank You, Father God, for the people I love. The People You have given me. Bless this nation. All the turbulence of the news - is not new or disturbing to You.

Thank God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 10 ~ I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

John 10

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”


 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.

The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”



31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 3

7 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

 

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. 

There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him.

 They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

My Father loves me ~ I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.



Jesus today. Jesus 2 millenniums ago. What Jesus is and was and is teaching is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Too serious, too intense, too truthful - to be grasped easily.

The Disciples had witnessed all of Jesus God and were confused. Fully and truly a living parable example of reactions to growing faith.



Father God,

You have said You call souls to You. Thank You, You are for healing hearts.

Being God, You see further than we will ever know. You Plan for us a Hope and a Future.

Reach to our Loved ones with Your Love, Grace, Peace, Joy, Strength, Favor, Graciousness and Cover us in Your Holy Name. Please. And Bless our Nation.

We thank You. In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 9 ~ That the works of God might be displayed

Jesus and Disciples, painted by Liz Swindle

John 9

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

 

 


8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”

9 Some said, “It is he.”

Others said, “No, but he is like him.”

He kept saying, “I am the man.”

10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.”

12 They said to him, “Where is he?”

He said, “I do not know.”




13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight.

And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 

26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 

28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.




 

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 

37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 

38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 
 
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."





John is very cohesively putting his narrative of Jesus.

Jesus always taught if we seek God we will find Him. John's Gospel is very complex and very explanatory - This Gospel is a huge labor of John's Love for the Savior of the World's Millenniums.




Romans 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

John 9 is about human Judgment. How flawed human Judgment is in bias and in understanding really. John is telling what kind of Judge Jesus truly is.


John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,


John 5:30
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

John 8:15
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.

John 8:26
“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

John 9:39
Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 16:8
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.






John's Gospel covers the Willingness of God in John 1 and the condition of mankind. to John 21

 The last Chapter of John's Gospel is telling us the Signs, the Miracles, the Display, the Circumstance, the God incidence is so Great - all the Books of the World could be about Jesus. And John sits down to write about how John found Jesus to be God.

John 1 tells us about Jesus being greeted by God Almighty Father of All, Moses and Elijah and Jesus partially changing into Light. John was in certainty at that point. So John decided to tell us of Jesus' titles and work His Life into our understanding. John tells us several times he is eye witness to God.


And exits displaying even more of God's Love from today to Eternity with more of God's Glorious Love and mankind's actual joys and pains.



Jesus tells us of John 1, Jesus is the Light in all mankind

Matthew 23:37
how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings




John 21
Jesus tells us in the breakfast of the fish provided and cooked by Jesus about mankind and the Glory of God's love. Jesus has to restore Peter to Himself, provide breakfast, cook breakfast, have forgiveness, lead and listen as Risen, Crucified, Victorious, Triumphant God to restore all things to Father God - a disciple squabble over God's Glorious Plan.

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.





When God is for you... in the middle of the Gospels, today - in the middle of your life.

1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


Think what God has opened for the man who was a blind beggar. Jesus shows His concern for the living. Jesus has willing joined mankind in life. With His Joy. Jesus is still working, and His Father with Him.

Jesus gathers us. In all seasons. The Willingness and Love of Father God, when we have seen Jesus, we have seen Our Father. The Steadfast Love of God - is the Miracle. And in calling on Jesus Christ with Love, Joy and Belief, we are more than Conquerors in Jesus who is Love.

God - His Promises - for you.



Father God,
We will cast our cares upon You. For You have cared for us - Steadfastly, diligently, tenderly, growing us and nourishing us.

We give You thanks for Your Blessings You have Given to us. We lift to You the concerns we have and for our Loved Ones. The People You have given us. In Jesus.

Please bless our Nation and our communities and Churches. We look to Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 8 ~ I am

John 8

Jesus on the Mount of Olives,  painted by James Tissot

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6

 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 1

4 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father[a] who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 

19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” 

Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

  22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”  

23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

25 So they said to him, “Who are you?”

Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.  

26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”

27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.  

28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.  

29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”


 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slaveto sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.”

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”







48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

This is a difficult passage to read. Jesus is doing so many good works, the believing World loves Jesus. And the men fighting him, melted away in time. We would wish Jesus would not have to die. That our sins would not be so awful we could come to Father God.

Instead God says we fight God in our daily lives. What the culture allows, what we wish God would laugh at with us. How we tangle our deepest problems. What to do today. How much to eat. To spend. To spend our time. The way we have negative emotions. We would like Father God to say, "Ok."

Instead Father God was given a new Heaven and a new earth by Jesus taking on the sins of the world. Our sins. And in the new Kingdom, we are covered in the name of Jesus and Given Incredible Forgiveness. We are bought with a Price.

Look at Jesus telling us about Who He Truly Is:

Jesus plainly and clearly bore witness to Himself.



Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus repeated what God said to Moses:


Matthew 22:31-32
And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:
32 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living."


Matthew 28:22b
Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.


John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."


John 6:35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.


John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."


John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


John 8:18
I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.


John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.


John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.


John 10:38
but if I do them [works], even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.


John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."


John 12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.


John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


John 15:1
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser."


John 17:9
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.


John 10:30
The Father and I are one.


John 4:26
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he [Messiah, he who is called Christ].”


Mark 14:62
And Jesus said, "I am [the Christ, the Son of the Most Blessed] , and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."





Father God, 
You are the Light of the World. Reach into the darkness and make Love Shine with Light. We ask You to take what is broken and mend this. We ask that we have patience and kindness in all we do. We ask for Your Help. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

The Movie RISEN

The Movie RISEN tells the story of a Roman inquiry into the reported resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was called by his disciples the "Messiah" and sardonically by Pontius Pilate, "King of the Jews".

The Pharisees and scribes of the day told the Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate, that the followers of Jesus were claiming he would rise again in three days, and so requested to have soldiers guard his tomb to prevent his followers stealing the body and claim he had risen.

The order was given and the soldiers were posted, but three days after the crucifixion, the tomb was found to be empty. Pontius Pilate orders his Tribune (Joseph Fiennes) to lead an investigation in order to recover the corpse of Jesus and arrest those disciples who perpetrated the crime.

The centurion soon finds himself on a road of discovery learning who Jesus was and why the Jewish leaders felt threatened.




The Beautiful aspects of this movie, the millennium of believers have wondered and been intuitive about what the eye witnesses would have seen. What has been seen in science and history is included in the discovery process.


Biblical narratives are included out of sequence and miracles occur. Actually this is Mark 16:20. Renew us in the Love we know for Jesus!


Alive - Jesus is alive. He is not more mystical than Love. The believers of the ones Jesus calls "Blessed to see" are the people we witness today who Love the Risen Christ - Jesus.

A Spectacular Movie. Just Pray it makes the list of the 15 movies our 500 channels run!

A Blessing!

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