Job 40 ~ Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Have you contended with the Almighty lately? Job did.

Job 9:4
He is wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

Job 40

And the Lord said to Job:

2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”


3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”


6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7 “Dress for action^{[gird up your loins]} like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9 Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
and tread down the wicked where they stand.
13 Hide them all in the dust together;
bind their faces in the world below ^{[in the hidden place]}
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you
that your own right hand can save you.

15 “Behold, Behemoth ^{[a large animal exact identity unknown]}
which I made as I made you;
he eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like bars of iron.

19 “He is the first of the works of God;
let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
the willows of the brook surround him.

23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes^[sight]
or pierce his nose with a snare?





Job 40

And the Lord said to Job:

2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”


Frequently we find fault with things because we are all about us. Teenagers use a hand circling a fist to say, "All about me." Stuck in a rut, without gratitude.

Psalm 19 ~ God's Word Translation

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky displays what his hands have made.
2 One day tells a story to the next.
One night shares knowledge with the next
3 without talking,
without words,
without their voices being heard.
4 Yet, their sound has gone out into the entire world,
their message to the ends of the earth.

I know about that because I felt little doses of gratitude Sunday. More precisely, non-gratitude. It's uphill work to praise Him when events seem off. And after you've lived a long time, decades, you start to see things from a little more perspective. You begin to realize how distasteful it is to see others stew. I could name a few phrases. "Life is Unfair." "Why me?" "My Life, My Poor Life." "Dammit, why is it easy for them." And when you start to stew, to recognize the same boat, to stagnate, you realize then you need time to be grateful.


John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

God let Job fuss for quite some time, I think they both realized the honesty was needed to work things out. It's uphill work to live transparently instead of deflecting unpleasant emotions. And I've been there. Like yesterday.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."




3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”


Sometimes we need to take a deep breathe and face the Lord, who calls us Beloved and let HIM speak.

Jeremiah 2:28-30

But where are your gods
that you made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you,
in your time of trouble;
for as many as your cities
are your gods, O Judah.

29 “Why do you contend with me?
You have all transgressed against me,
declares the Lord.
 

Romans 3:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.




6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7 “Dress for action^{[gird up your loins]} like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9 Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?


Psalm 62:11
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God

1 Corinthians 6:14
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

Luke 11:20
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Psalm 136:12
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever

Job 9:4
He is wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Job 26:14
Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”


 


10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
and tread down the wicked where they stand.
13 Hide them all in the dust together;
bind their faces in the world below ^{[in the hidden place]}
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you
that your own right hand can save you.

Jesus, Meek and Mild. No, Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord, our Christ, the Messiah - threw out people in the 36 acres of the Temple with His Powerful Holy Spirit.

One of the Two Main Entrances to a Very Large Temple Area. The Robinson Arch supporting the stairs, seen today.

15 “Behold, Behemoth ^{[a large animal exact identity unknown]}
which I made as I made you;
he eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like bars of iron.

19 “He is the first of the works of God;
let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
the willows of the brook surround him.



God reaches us in a variety of ways. We learn looking around us and climb steps of belief.

Job 26:14
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

The famous analogy four blind men discover an elephant / an analogy of God. They grope about, seeking to understand and describe this new phenomenon. One grasps the trunk and concludes its a snake - perhaps those who dismiss the Bible as hateful - or flexible and wobbly. Another explores one of the elephant's legs and describes it as a tree - has possibilities and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the examination, and it proves unfruitful. A third finds the elephant's tail and announces that it is a rope - like Jacob - a way to contend with God for blessings. And the fourth blind man, after discovering the elephant's side, concludes that it is, after all, a wall - the law is solid.

Each describes the same thing in a radically different manner. Well-known prophets Samuel, Peter, the Disciples running away from Jesus, minus beloved John, Jonah. Add to the group - Moses. Jeremiah resisted the call.

What drew these people to God - who would send His Son. He has longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and for the willingness to be gathered. The enormous compassion, because we were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Nathan saw God loves like a Shepherd. Tenderly caring in love.

Samuel mourned. Like the Prodigal Father - He longed to run to his son and have that embrace.

Abraham felt God should be merciful, asking God to spare mankind. And earned the blessing of the millenniums. God's attitude on mercy - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Abraham gathered blessings and mercy for others. This is what drew him to God.

Moses wanted justice for the people he felt were abandoned. God provided more than justice, and the slaves left with their former masters' gold and jewelry. God guarded them tenderly.

Jacob fought God all of his days for a Blessing and sought to bless his children and grandsons. God granted Jacob the blessing all of his days. As Jacob believed he lived the blessings of God.



23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes^[sight]
or pierce his nose with a snare?


Job wrestled like Jacob. Honestly. And for his belief to grow. And Job became this -


Matthew 13:32
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches

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Hebrews 13:8 ~ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Thomas Jefferson got to pick and choose his truth in parts of the Bible. John Adams declared,  "Thomas Jefferson lives!"  ~ As John Adams took a step forward into eternity. Why not take a better look at the new idea all of the Old Testament should be done away with. Only the Love of Jesus Christ should be observed in the Gospels?? Doing away with many aspects vital to the understanding of why Jesus would fight the good fight???

Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.


People who are healed - 
Want to help others.
Sharing their blessing. 
Of course, this is Biblically supported -  
Jacob tells us about the" Cross" as he blesses his grandsons. 
The Way Church in The Woodlands with Pastor Matt Woodfill was on KSBJ Contemporary Christian Worship talking about gratitude and the blessing of the New Testament stemming from gratitude.

Did you know Jacob managed to find blessings on his death bed? God wants to pour out a blessing.

Genesis 48
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”

The cry of The OLD Testament is echoed in the New ~ Make straight the paths of the LORD!!!

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

God created both the heavens and the earth and we pray for His Will to be done here as in Heaven. The Cross of Jesus Christ makes the transition possible.


Let our living water flow and we open our hearts.

John 4

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”


Abundant living and Living Water flow from all the aspects of God's Word.

God adopted John on the way to the cross. And God declared his Sovereignty first to a Samaritan woman, only He could iron the mess out of her life, in the fourth chapter of John. And God adopted again when the grave could not hold Him. And again - this was a woman. The family of God is important to God. Not by anything other than God looking into our hearts and seeing us as we truly are.


Isaiah 55:11
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Hebrews 6:18
So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.


2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Jeremiah 23:29
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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Job 25 ~ How then can man be in the right before God?

The Dead Sea Scrolls—the oldest known surviving biblical and extra-biblical texts in the world—are slated to be scanned with high-resolution multispectral imaging equipment and shared online, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), this picture was taken in an IAA lab.

Job 25

 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

² “Dominion and fear are with God;
    he makes peace in his high heaven.
³ Is there any number to his armies?
    Upon whom does his light not arise?
⁴ How then can man be in the right before God?
    How can he who is born of woman be pure?
⁵ Behold, even the moon is not bright,
    and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
⁶  how much less man, who is a maggot,
    and the son of man, who is a worm!”

Job is not my favorite book in the Bible. Yet it gets a lot of mileage even today. Even people not well versed in Scripture want to talk about JOB. And if you think about it, it would have probably have made Job feel immensely better to know - all this suffering is Really Going to Pay Off. For himself, for eternity, for us.

The Book of Job - Eusebius (A.D. 263-399) placed Job "two ages before Moses" or 2,000-1,500 B.C. The Talmud has two opinions, saying it was written by Moses and, also, definitely before the First Temple. The First Temple was built about 950 B.C. The Book of Job is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls is the Targum of Job 11Q10. Another source says Job lived during Jacob's time and his second wife was Dinah (Jacob's daughter). Which is speculation.

So we have several aspects we can look at here. Job is suffering.

Job has Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Which is good for us because - these people annoy Job like the way - people annoy us. And part of the problem is one recognizable in our lives - they have made judgements about Job and are going down that path the way a family dog makes a path in our backyards. And this is the way people who have known each other for a long time do communicate. It puts marriage counselors in business!

And it teaches us something - Important. Bildad is not right about Job. However, Bildad is connected to the Holy Spirit and has something Biblical to say.

We don't even come close to the Holiness of God. And that is an important message for me. I used to think I was one of the ones who could have comfortably sat up on the altar platform easily in a Baptist style Church. I was the older brother in the Prodigal Son. I had earned my wings, my salvation was in hand. And I do feel, as Christians know what God places in their heart, that I am saved. However, when I think about it today - I see I was pleasing myself.  And sweeping a lot under the rug. Which is surprising to me even today. We just don't earn our salvation. It is a gift.

We can certainly abuse our salvation and fumble it, causing God to turn from us. But HE is always willing to rush in when nothing is right - but a deep and abiding desire for HIM to return. And we can eventually wear out HIS good will. But He says He LOVES us. And John, who met Jesus, lived with Him says, HE IS A GOD OF LOVE.  Inspired, of course, not just by his experiences, but the Holy Spirit.

God saw us for exactly what we are. And He made a decision. To live the best part of life, as part of a family blending itself seamlessly together in a small community. And the worst part of life - to go forth each day - proclaiming Mercy over Sacrifice and Rule and to be rejected. To be hung on a cross. To be condemned as a criminal. Knowing what we all are. To decide to wade into the fray. And save us.

God tells us each day of our lives, "I value you as part of this earth's creation." How do we know? We aren't called home yet. Knowing that .... we will go home.

Why?  God loves you. Come as you are: Imperfect. Striving. Ugly. Beautiful. Upset. Peaceful. Good. Bad. Indifferent. Yet He reaches out to you.

I have a few Bildad the Shuhite s in my life. And sometimes I'd like to kick them, or walk away from them. Yet, God has placed them in my life. And they have something to say. It is up to me to hear if they are telling me something from God or to just be the mercy of God to them.

Because.

Give Justice with Mercy
Love Kindness
Walk Humbly with the LORD

Bildad was not giving Justice. But mercy - time to care and talk. Kindness - talking, even if it was not really justice. And giving us an important message Job wanted to push aside - we need to be Humble before GOD.

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Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your Father feeds them

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.



Just maybe you remember the movie "Parenthood" (1989), with Steve Martin.

Gil: They call me Cowboy Gil, as in guil-ty. I saw Cowboy Dan. I didn't like the look on his face. It was like this...

Gil: ... so I killed him. I blew a hole in him this big. Actually it was about this big. You know, when I think about it, that hole was about THIS BIG! And his guts were spilled out all over the floor. As I was walkin' away, I slip around on his guts. A couple of other people came by and started slippin' on his guts too. After I blow a hole in somebody and slip around on their guts... afterwards, I always like to make balloon animals. That's mighty courteous of you. Here we go!
[holds up jumbled of twisted balloons]

Gil: Your lower intestines.

Gil practices endlessly to make Kevin perfect in their baseball adventures. By the end of the horrific season, Kevin catches the ball and Gil goes home to proclaim the catch was a "miracle" to his wife. His wife smirks and says, "Endless practice."


What about not being anxious... Christians tend to more worried and more anxious and more eager to please. Not really a bad thing when you consider these are souls at work for Him. We get ourselves in such a knot over not being nervous. The disciples were constantly being flummoxed with worry.

We get exactly like this - worried over worrying. Real is what Father God wants from us. The father who cried out, "I believe, help my unbelief!" - this father was within a few thousand feet of the Transfiguration.

Sufficient is the day - we have to have practice with our gratitude - without really digging a lot goes past us and we don't see how He is working all things to the good of those who love the Lord.

Crying, for me, helps. A rain shower to allow the emotion to be recognized and helped.


Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!


1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are


Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Luke 13:34
how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings


Isaiah 40
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

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John 11:1-45 ~ had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in Him

Today, we could look at 3 tombs for Lazarus. His soul will not be resting in any tomb.

John 11:1-45

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?"

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world's light. 10 It is when people walk at night that they stumble, for they have no light."

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

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

24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then 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 have kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

The first tomb of Lazarus, in Bethany, is a place of pilgrimage to this day. The tomb, as it was described in 1896, was entered down a flight of twenty-four rock-cut steps from the then-modern level, to a square chamber serving as a place of prayer, leading by more steps to a lower chamber that was reverenced by Muslim and Christians as the tomb of Lazarus. This is where Lazarus rose from death.

Early Church tradition said Lazarus was the first bishop of Marseille, France. Pilgrims visited their family tombs, with Mary and Martha, at the abbey of Vézelay in Burgundy. This is what I heard of, in my Christian elementary school, from a monk. Early Church history documents clearly show Lazarus and his sisters lived on the French coast after leaving the Christian persecution in Israel. This monk had also visited the tomb of Mary Magdalene, where her body is known to be intact. There is also a cave Lazarus is said to have lived, after landing in a boat from Israel. As I said, one of the essential things affirming this - the constant pilgrimages from the early centuries. This information is vastly different than many saint tombs. Like that of St. Nicholas. Turkey has two tombs reportedly of St. Nick and Ireland boasts one too. Lazarus has only this documentation.

Historically, Lazurus’ relics were taken to Constantinople in 898. In 1972, human remains were discovered under the altar and were identified as Lazurus’. His tomb said “Lazarus, the friend of Christ.”

Whether we believe these are Lazurus’ remains, or not, it is easy to believe Lazarus would be remembered as a friend of Jesus. Lazarus put his faith in Jesus.

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Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!

View up the steps to the House of Caiaphas, below the view from the site toward Temple Mount

Beautiful mosaic carpet type tile floors were found

The original entrance exit to the dungeon was only this narrow, forlorn hole.

Actual Ossuary for Caiaphas

Luke 11:42-46

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.



Many things we see of Jesus' writings came to be so. Caiaphas was found in a building project. In November 1990 in the Peace Forest near the North Talpiot neighborhood, a building supervisor reported to the Antiquities Authority, the tomb’s roof was opened by a bulldozer, revealing a rock-hewn burial cave. It was typical of the Second Temple period in Jerusalem.


Numbers 23:19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Rylands Papyrus of the Gospel of John was recently carbon dated to 90 A.D.

Magdalen Papyrus 70 A.D.

Beatty Papyrus was two centuries later, with 46 Scriptures. Still - we read in Paul's writings - in present tense - the sacrifices were still being done in the intact Temple.

How many Roman Emperors made it their life's work to wipe out, obliterate Scripture? Hmmm.

When Jesus died, Claudius was Emperor of Rome. It was Claudius who imprisoned Paul, the first time. In the remote, far away country of Judea, the name of Jesus Christ and His promises and His word, created unease for Claudius. Imagine this could occur in the time there were no mass methods of communication. It is historical fact. The Roman Emperors became concerned about Jesus within 16 years of His death.

Claudius – Imprisoned Christians. Reigned 25 -54 AD. Emperor during the death and resurrection of Jesus. Imprisoned Paul, for his first imprisonment, house arrest.

Nero – Tortured, burned and vilified Christians. Blamed them for burning Rome . 54- 68 AD

Galba – Put St. Paul and others to death. 69 AD

Otho & Vittelius– only 4 months as Emperor

Vespasian – Sent Titus to destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD, it was the natural end time of Jesus’ life. It is said it is the prophecies Jesus spoke of, His forgiveness was given to the people of His generation. In that destruction, the Temple of the Jews has not been built in 2,000 years. (In 300 A.D, a third temple had the materials gathered, but earthquake, war and fire put an end to that.) Jewish Sacrifice has not been practiced for 2,000 years, it is forsaken. The Jews don’t even know why. God said Jesus was the sacrifice for you.

Titus – See Arch of Titus, still standing, in Rome today. The Temple Tools minus the Ark of the Covenant, is carved in the marble. The profit from the sack of Jerusalem is used for the Coliseum. The Coliseum was used to burn Christians until Constantine naively adopted Christianity thinking Christians would be model citizens. Still a triumph for the 1,100 Bishops, Priests, Christians proclaiming Jesus Christ for 300 years even if they would be burned alive for it.

Domitian – Hauled St. John from Ephesus and exiled him to Patmos. Continued to be fearful of Christians. Conducted one of the fiercest battles against Christians. Under Domitan, the Church split in half. Domitan Heresy - the Church is only for saints. Domitan tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96. Because of Domitan – we have the word traitor . Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ.

Because of Domitan, we only have 15 fragments of the Gospel before 96 AD. But these portions exist and date to 30 AD.

ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THESE MEN WERE AFRAID of the scaries? No, the name of Jesus Christ opening His arms to slaves, lepers, women, the poor, the wife of the steward of Herod’s household, Nicodemus of the Sanhedrin Council and Josephus. Jesus converted thousands, leaving Jewish rabbi letters saying it would be the end of Judaism because of the incredible miracles of healing, restoration, life transformation and complete hope. These are letters confirming the Gospels where the Rabbi is extremely unhappy. Josephus, the Israeli General turned traitor, turned Historian says Jesus was the Christ and his brother James formed the later Christian Church until martyred in 62 AD.

Trajan (c. 53 - 117) Philosopher Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan on the subject of the Christians and the response of Trajan to Pliny the Younger. On Early Christian Writings. How to torture Christians to discredit the claims of Jesus Christ.

Hadrian (c. 76 - 138) Foxe's Book of Martyrs -- Persecution Under Trajen...... The forenamed authors, Antoninus and Equilius

Antoninus Pius (c. 86 - 161) Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighborhood. Under his patronage the science of jurisprudence was cultivated by men of high ability, and a number of humane and equitable enactments were passed in his name. 161 – 180

166 Christian persecution returned - The period was one of ever-increasing calamities. The earthquakes which had alarmed Asia under Antoninus were but the prelude to more serious convulsions. The Tiber rose to an unprecedented height and swept away the public granaries. This was followed by a famine, and that by a pestilence, which spread from Egypt and Ethiopia westward. Everywhere on the frontiers there were murmurs of insurrection or invasion. The year 166 was long known as the "annus calamitosus," and it was in that year that the persecution broke out and that Justin suffered. These calamities roused the superstition of the great mass of the people, and a wild fanaticism succeeded to an epicurean atheism. The gods were wrath, and what had roused their anger but the presence of those who denied them?

Marcus Aurelius (c. 121 - 180) The Thundering Legion incident (174)


During the war with the Quadi in 174 there took place the famous incident of the Thundering Legion (Legio Fulminatrix, Fulminea, Fulminata) which has been a cause of frequent controversy between Christian and non-Christian writers. The Roman army was surrounded by enemies with no chance of escape, when a storm burst. The rain poured down in refreshing showers on the Romans, while the enemy were scattered with lightning and hail. The parched and famishing Romans received the saving drops first on their faces and parched throats, and afterwards in their helmets and shields, to refresh their horses. Marcus obtained a glorious victory as a result of this extraordinary event, and his enemies were hopelessly overthrown.

That such an event did really happen is attested both by pagan and Christian writers. The former attribute the occurrence either to magic (Dion Cassius, LXXI, 8-10) or to the prayers of the emperor (Capitolinus, "Vita Marci", XXIV; Themistius, "Orat. XV ad Theod"; Claudian, "De Sext. Cons. Hon.", V, 340 sqq.; "Sibyl. Orac.", ed. Alezandre, XII, 196 sqq. Cf. Bellori, "La Colonne Antonine", and Eckhel, "Doctrina Nummorum", III, 64). The Christian writers attributed the fact to the prayers of the Christians who were in the army (Claudius Apollinaris in Eusebius, Church History V.5; Tertullian, "Apol.", v; ad Seap. c. iv), and soon there grew up a legend to the effect that in consequence of this miracle the emperor put a stop to the persecution of the Christians (cf. Euseb. and Tert. opp cit.). It must be conceded that the testimony of Claudius s the most valuable of all that we possess, as he wrote within a few years of the event, and that all credit must be given to the prayers of the Christians, though it does not necessarily follow that we should accept the elaborate detail of the story as given by Tertullian and later writers 161 - 169

Lucius Verus (co-emperor) (c. 130 - 169) with Marcus Aurelius

180 - 192

Commodus (c. 161 - 192) All these who failed to follow the decree were brought to the senate and were tried. This decree was a forceful attempt to put down Christians completely. But the followers who believed in Jesus Christ refused to accept this and many were ready to face the trial. "The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs" written.

Persecution slows down -

Pertinax (193)

Didius Julianus (193) .

Septimius Severus (193-211) Edict makes it illegal to convert to Christianity; persecution especially in North Africa

ca. 203: Perpetua & Felicity martyred in Carthage (North Africa)

Caracalla (211-217)

Macrinus (217-218)

Elagabalus (218-222)

Severus Alexander (222-235)

Maximinus (235-238)

Gordian I and II (238)

Balbinus (238)

Pupienus (238)

Gordian III (238-244)

Philip the Arab (244-249) .

Trajanus Decius (249-251) 250: Major Empire-Wide Persecution; Christians required to participate in Emperor Worship

Bishop Fabian of Rome martyred; Bishop Cyprian of Carthage exiled; Origen of Alexandria tortured to death

Trebonianus Gallus (251-253)

Aemilian (253) .

Valerian (253-260) ca. 258: Bishop Cyprian of Carthage martyred

Gallienus (253-268)

Claudius Gothicus (268-270) .

Aurelian (270-275) some persecutions

Tacitus (275-276)

Probus (276-282)

Carus (282-283)

Carinus (283-284)

Numerian (283-284) .

Diocletian (284-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders. Personally sends troops to Nazareth, the Bishop of Caesarea Eusibius records Diocletian offering clemency to the nephews carefully recording their ancestry to Jesus Christ. All refuse and are tortured and put to death. Diocletian sends troops to Turkey to place the Bishop Nicholas in prison.

& Maximian (286-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian Churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders

Constantius Chlorus (305-306)

Maxentius (306-312) .

Galerius (305-311)

Licinius (311-323) 311: Edict of Galerius: toleration for Christians, allowing them to worship openly

Constantine (307-337) 313: Edict of Constantine (Edict of Milan): toleration for all religions, including Christianity; ends persecutions

Constantine's position on the religions traditionally practiced in Rome evolved during his reign. At first he prohibited the construction of new temples and tolerated traditional sacrifices; by the end of his reign, he had begun to order the pillaging and tearing down of Roman temples

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon. ... We begin with a small group from the backwaters of the Roman Empire and after two, three centuries go by, lo and behold that same group and its descendants have somehow taken over the Roman Empire and have become the official religion when it was people believing in Jesus Christ and having life transformations in hope in the life of Jesus Christ and the promises He brought.

Very few of the Emperor burial grounds are easy to locate. And let's all be thankful for a moment for the Bible so available to us today.




Jesus said a few, understatement, very bold things. And long before they occurred.


Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.


That is a bold statement for a man identified in Nazareth as Joseph's son, David's descendant.


What about a man condemned to die as a common criminal saying this to multitudes of women turning out to mourn Jesus carrying His Cross?


Luke 23:28
Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children."

Relating probably to the ruin of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 A.D. A natural life span according to Psalm 90.

Luke 19:41-44
"If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

An Embankment? The Arch of Titus was when the Triumphant Parade of Titus boasted all the Temple tools and the gold used to build the Roman Colosseum.

Imagine going to the Synagogue with Jesus.


Luke 4:

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21

And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”


Jesus says bold things. Because:



We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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