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In our world today there is frequently a skepticism toward the supernatural on one hand and a gullibility to pseudo miraculous events on the other. God does intervene miraculously in the world today. But we should always view such events prayerfully, in the Spirit, and according to God’s word. What are the intended purposes of God’s signs? What can we, or should we glean from them? This is the focus of our study. We are fast approaching Resurrection Week, the holiest holiday season of the year for Christians. This study is meant to launch us into the spirit of this season. By looking at the raising of Lazarus by Jesus we can learn a great deal about God’s purposes for His signs as well as how God often works in our lives. That’s important because we should never neglect God’s working in our lives, and we don’t want to mistake God’s required season of waiting before He works as Him not working at all. In John 1-11 we see seven signs Jesus did to prove His deity and Godhood. In John 2 Jesus did His first sign at a wedding in Cana which showed like God, He can turn the water of the word into the wine of redemption and like God He saves the best for last. In John 4 Jesus did His second sign of healing the nobleman’s son with a mere spoken word; a feat showing that like God His word is powerful. In John 5 the third sign of Jesus is His healing a man who had been lame for 38 years. In John 6 we see the fourth and fifth signs of Jesus as He walks on water and feeds over five thousand people with a few morsels of food. In John 7 Jesus establishes Himself as Messiah and the Source of the outpoured Holy Spirit. And in John 8 we see Jesus proclaim Himself the light of the world and great I Am. In John 9 we see the sixth of seven miraculous signs of Jesus mentioned by John in his gospel, the healing of the man born blind. In chapter ten we see Jesus as the Good Shepherd declare clearly His deity and oneness with the Father. In chapter eleven we will see the seventh and final miraculous sign done by Jesus and recorded by John. Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. is east of Jerusalem past the Mount of Olives “about two miles away” (John Luke tells us that Martha was one given to work and service and Mary was given to sitting before the Lord and taking in what He had to say in a worshipful manner (Luke 10:38-42). Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. John 12 Mary will anoint Jesus with costly fragrant oil (cf. also Mark 14:3-9). Lazarus is mentioned only here and in John 12. the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” had gone to Bethbara known for being the place where John the Baptist baptized people (compare John 1:28 and 10:40-42). This was about twenty miles from Jerusalem. was sick. The natural thing was for his sisters to send word to Jesus so He could come and heal him. They acted on their faith. They believed Jesus could and would heal their brother. Their confidence that Jesus would come and heal their brother was based on Jesus’ love for him. heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” of the sickness of His good friend Lazarus, Jesus is in tune with God’s plan. “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” The glory of God and Jesus is always the objective in God’s plans. When God and Jesus are glorified, as we will see, everyone profits. loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. contradictory or out of sync with what we’d expect? If Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus wouldn’t He immediately run to help them as soon as He heard of their need? But Jesus didn’t do this. He waited. incredible miraculous sign of Jesus. A man dead for four days will be raised from the dead. But before that happens, there needed to be waiting. We don’t like to wait. We don’t understand why sometimes we have to wait. We don’t like to wait on God to work. John 11 speaks to us about the waiting necessary to see God work. What does it tell us about waiting? in a God-glorifying way (John 11:4). Jesus said very clearly what His plan in this situation was: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Jesus had a plan and that plan would glorify God and the Son of God. He waited until circumstances were in place for His plan to be fulfilled. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, His disciples and probably others didn’t understand why Jesus waited “two more days” to go to help Lazarus. But it was all part of God’s plan. We need to remember that. When God requires we wait, it isn’t necessarily because He is saying “no” to our request, He may simply be orchestrating circumstances to do what He plans to do. Verses five and six are connected as a causal clause. It’s as though because Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, He waited. Jesus had a greater plan than merely healing a living man. Jesus wanted to bless those He loved with a resurrection. this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 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 one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” directed by the Father (e.g. John 7:8). Jesus lived with purpose. He lived to follow the plan of the Father. Jesus walked in the light and those who followed Him would see in His light. By the time Jesus does leave Lazarus will already have died (John 11:11, 39). That became a dark truth. But Jesus is able to bring light even in seemingly hopelessly dark situations. He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Jesus isn’t going to work (John 11:11-13). The disciples thought that when Jesus spoke of Lazarus sleeping that he was resting and would get better. Interestingly this jives with medical science. It is during sleep that the body heals. In an article published in the Washington Post (No, you’re not sleeping enough, and it’s a problem: 15 scary facts in new NatGeo doc dated 12/2/14 by Emily Yahr) “Almost all mental illnesses have associate sleep problems, experts say.” [1] But what ailed Lazarus was not going to be healed by sleep. The disciples didn’t understand this. But their lack of understanding didn’t inhibit Jesus working. all of what God is planning to do in order for Him to work. In fact, more often than not we will not understand why we have to wait or what God is doing before He does it. God has a way of surprising us. All we need do is continue to follow Him and watch what He does. may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” the appearance that all is lost doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t going to work and include us in His plans (John 11:14-15). Jesus broke through their cloud of confusion. “Lazarus is dead” Jesus said. Can’t get blunter than that. It must have shocked the disciples. A flood of “whys?” must have entered their thinking. Now all seemed lost. If only Jesus had left immediately. But just because Jesus waits doesn’t mean He isn’t going to work. And when the time is right, Jesus invites us to join Him in His work. What a blessing His disciples were in for! What a blessing we will experience if we only wait with Jesus and join Him when He invites our participation. Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” (John Those are the words spoken by Jesus to His disciples about the death of Lazarus. Lazarus was dead, not merely asleep as His disciples wrongly assumed (John 11:13). And Jesus was glad for this. Not because it would cause pain or that He didn’t like Lazarus, or Mary, or Martha. He loved them all Jesus loves us too. Jesus was glad Lazarus had died because it was part of the Father’s plan to build their faith. He wants to build our faith too. can our faith be built? Why should we put a priority on faith building? What do we learn from Jesus’ faith building tactics that can help us cooperate and be used in God’s faith building procedures? These are questions this teaching aims to address. Bible states, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Spiritually speaking, we can’t walk or get anywhere without doing so by faith. We progress and move on in our spiritual walk “not by sight,” or not merely by what we see around us or what we understand about what is going on around us. In fact, faith building utilizes the lack of sight; not knowing. The account of the resurrection of Lazarus is a good example of this. This is a chapter about the necessity of waiting in order to see Jesus’ resurrection work. But it is also about what is involved in building faith. involves testing. Belief, faith, is like a muscle. To grow strong faith must be tested. Faith must be tested in order to be trusted and revealed as true. The Apostle Peter was inspired to write, “In this you greatly rejoice [i.e. the prospect of resurrection, our incorruptible inheritance in heaven, and “the power of God through faith for salvation”] , though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter This flies in the face of making decisions purely based on financial reasons. (Which is, in and out of the church today, one of the primary if not the primary determiners in decisions in our world today.) Our faith is “much more precious than gold that perishes.” According to God and His word, our faith is more valuable than the most precious commodity this world has to offer. Nothing in this world is as valuable as your faith. Do we really believe that? Do we make decisions from that world view? Would you pass that kind of test? Would you choose faith over fortune? Are your decisions made based on building your faith or finding financial “freedom”? cannot be trusted. This is why life is more making money. Life is more than financial comfort. It is a great mistake to run after comfort. Comfort makes faith flabby. Comfort atrophies faith. Faith dies when we live at ease. Christian, you are called to be more than a couch potato! Challenge, difficulty, and circumstances that require perseverance and hard work are the proving ground of faith. Faith is birthed by grace. Faith is built as we by grace go to work. We are what we are by God’s grace. But that does not excuse us from “labor” (Greek kopiao in 1 Corinthians 15:10); hard wearying, fatiguing, labor. It would have been relatively easy for Jesus to heal Lazarus before he died. But Jesus knew building faith involves testing. The faith of His disciples, Martha and Mary had to be tested strong. Jesus is looking to build believers with ram-tough faith. How tough is your faith when tested? The resurrection of Lazarus is a faith building experience. involves God’s planning. Jesus followed the Father’s plan not man’s plan (John The people in this story are all in a hurry. Jesus isn’t in a hurry. Jesus is on a mission. He operates by His Father’s schedule not the schedule of those around Him. He moves about in a calm calculated way to fulfill His Father’s plan. Can you say that? Have you discerned God’s will for you in quiet waiting before Him with His open Word before you? Or do you rush around with no clue of God’s will for your life? is the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1a). Faith invites that inner witness of the Spirit. The Spirit directs the faith-full to carry on, push forward and push through. Faith involves hope. Hope is the eye of faith for the future. Faith and hope are both guided and governed by God’s plans, not our own. Faith asks, “What is God’s plan for my life?” Faith waits on God for its marching orders. Then faith pursues God’s plan with an assurance God will be faithful to fulfill His plan in and through us. Faith believes God’s calling is God’s enablement. involves uncertainty. The question on everyone’s mind and in everyone’s heart was “Why?” Why did Jesus delay? Why did He let Lazarus die? Why did He act in such an apparently unloving way if He loved these people? Why did Jesus wait? Faith is the belief in things not seen (Hebrews11:1b). It’s in circumstances where you can’t see how God is going to work things out that faith, in God, is worked out. in those times where all you have is God, where He is your only hope, that you discover faith and that He really is, your only hope. It is in the death of your plans, your resources, your efforts, abilities and strategies, where nothing works anymore and all seems lost, that is where faith is born and raised. That is where God can come through and faith is strengthened. Faith is built when our time runs out and God comes through. He reserves the right to come through with plans that may differ from our own. His coming through may not mean rescue, healing or resurrection. His coming through will in every way mean we will be closer to Him and know Him more intimately. Our faith will be made stronger. challenging not comfortable. It would have been so much more comfortable to heal Lazarus before he died. Jesus could have come to heal Lazarus in the comfort of his home. It would have spared these people a lot of grief, sorrow, and pain. But it is the flesh, not faith that lusts after comfort. It is the flesh, the sinful nature, not faith, that lives in comfort and ease where everything is easy, no work is required, and God is easily forgotten. Without a challenge God can’t come through. God is omnipresent (e.g. But if there could ever be a place where God’s presence is not, it would be the place of comfort, easiness, and ease. the process that involves us coming to the point where we realize I can’t. but God can. Once Lazarus was dead, there was nothing anyone other than Jesus could do. They might have thought That’s it, he’s dead, we can’t do anything about it. Thankfully they didn’t stop there. They still went to Jesus. Only Jesus is Master over death. we stop and give up every time we can’t do something we miss out on the chance for God to use our circumstances to show us He can. Submit your circumstances to Jesus. Let Jesus tell you when to press on or when to give up. People who give up do so because they haven’t sought the Lord for His will. Without any awareness of God’s will or plan a person is driven only by circumstances, good or bad. Without an awareness of God’s will we become like the man tossed to and fro by the wind on the ocean (James 1:5-6). Lack of direction makes one easy prey for doubt. Untethered doubt wrecks faith. next time you have a big decision to make, ask first, “Father, what is Your will for my life here?” Then ask, “Father, which choice will best build my faith?” Then step out in faith. It will always be uncomfortable when God is building our faith. We don’t like to submit or surrender, even to God. We don’t like uncertainty. But discomfort and uncertainty is not something to run from. That is something to run too! These are tools God uses to build our faith. involves risk. Risk is the possibility of loss. It is the flesh that settles for safety and no risk. Mary and Martha and the disciples wanted Jesus to come before Lazarus died They didn’t want to risk Lazarus’ death. But faith involves risk. Faith requires we trust God in the face of danger and threat of loss. Faith is brought to life through risk that leads to reward. Therefore life worth living involves risk. God’s plans involve risk. I’m not talking about presumption. Presumption is prayerless risk taking. I’m talking about obeying God even when it is risky. There is no faith building without risk. involves facing fears. Lazarus was dead. Death is permanent. Death is scary. It is scary if you face it without faith in God. Martha and Mary feared the death of their brother Lazarus. They had faith in Jesus, but they were human. As the days went by and their brother moved closer and closer to death, their fears must have increased. The longer it took for Jesus to arrive, the more fearful of death they became. They would have to face these fears with Jesus. is devilishly deceptive if your faith is presumptuous or based on anything or anyone other than Jesus. Faith involves facing fear by trusting in Jesus. Jesus alone is the resurrection and the life. It’s only through faith in Jesus that we can experience salvation, resurrection and eternal life (John 11:25-26). Fear is the foe of faith. Faith in Jesus can obliterate our fears. involves submission and obedience. Martha and Mary and the disciples were surrendered and obedient to Jesus’ plan even if it meant death was involved His disciples accompanied Jesus on this life threatening journey (John 11:16). Martha said, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:27). And it was Martha who obediently ordered the stone to her brothers tomb to be moved aside even though he had been dead for four days (John 11:39-41). Because of their submission and obedience they saw a resurrection. We have to learn to wait in faith. We have to learn to submit to Jesus and obey Him. We have to learn to trust and obey. And like the classic hymn says, “for there’s no other way.” There’s no other way for faith to be built. another reason to submit and obey in God’s Faith building plans. If we resist God’s faith building plans it can be dangerous. Unlike Martha, Mary and the disciples an Old Testament prophet named Jonah fled west when God’s will was east. He resisted God’s call. He hated those God loved. He proudly and indignantly rejected God’s desire to call sinners to repentance. He couldn’t and wouldn’t accept God’s plan. He refused to go where God wanted him to go. So God let him Jonah may have responded better if he had taken time to get alone with God in prayer. God has a way of getting us alone with Him. God prefers one on one conversations. And so God sent Jonah a storm. God had him swallowed whole in a great giant fish. He shook him in the sea monster. He stopped him, spoke with him, and brought him to his senses. God persuaded Jonah. He taught him how to walk in faith. He did what was required to get him going back in the right direction; to minister to the lost, to see a resurrection, and to build his faith. God can be very persuasive. God is all knowing and always has what looks to us like a contingency plan. God is never surprised. involves difficulty and challenge, even failure. Jesus appeared to have failed His friends. If He had been there earlier, He could have prevented Lazarus’ death (John 11:21, 32). And after four days in the tomb to remove the stone would have made a smelly defiling failure! But Jesus is a Master of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Jesus knows how to bring beauty from ashes (cf. Isaiah 61:3). Have you crashed and burned? Are you down and out? Are you perplexed by defeat? Are you running from difficulty? Are you fleeing from life’s challenge? That very well may be God’s will for you. Failure and falls are sometimes what are required for faith to be built. Difficulties and defeats are necessary for us to learn we can’t, but God can. God steers us with these not with ease. Rise with Him in faith. involves death. “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14). Faith is built in despair; when there is no reasonable hope. Jesus was glad for the hopeless situation of Lazarus’ death. Why? because it was the perfect environment for faith to be built. They had to be brought to the place where Jesus was their only hope. They had to trust Jesus if they wanted Lazarus back. They had to come to a point where they said, “Yes, Lord. I believe” (John 11:27). Jesus alone, builds faith. involves fire. The fire of testing is where faith is proven. When a person dies decay sets in like a slow burning degenerating consuming fire (John 11:39). Eremacausis is the gradual oxidation of matter from exposure to air and moisture. Eremacausis is a fire of death that burns up the dead body with decay. When the fire of life leaves, the fire of death takes over. When your faith is tested will it burn you out, burn you up, or burn you bright? are you going? Why are you going there? What are you doing? What do you want to What is your dream, your destination, your destiny? Life is more than ease and retirement. Are you walking by faith? Is faith building your priority? Or are you looking for an easy way out? Are you ready to retire? Some old preacher once told me, “I’m not retired, I’m re-fired!” Are you looking for an early retirement, or a refirement? Faith fires us up. involves destiny. Lazarus’ destiny seemed set. But Jesus wasn’t finished with him. Lazarus’ death was his destiny and would become his greatest means of telling about Jesus’ life giving ways. For Lazarus to be mightily used for God’s glory he had to die. Death is part of faith building; death to self; death to my ways, my expectations. If you would have asked Lazarus while still alive if he wanted to live, he probably would have said “Yes!” But if he could have seen how he would be used for the glory of God and Christ as a result of his death and resurrection, he would have said “For the glory of God and my Savior Jesus, let me die a thousand times over!” Lazarus had to die to truly live for the glory of God (John 11:4). So do we. Are you willing to die? the end of the road of life what will your story be? Will it be a story of boring comfort and ease void of challenge and victory; void of faith? Will it be a life of complaints over the challenges you faced and the hardships you surrendered to? Will you lament the lost opportunities to build your faith? Will you have to admit you hated what God loved and rebelled against His will? Or will you be able to say through the wise eyes of faith, “Yes, life was a challenge, but I accepted the challenge and pressed on with Him in faith. Yes, it was hard and high but I pressed on harder and higher by faith. My life has been a living sacrifice to God by faith. I went where He wanted by faith. stayed where He wanted by faith. I lived by faith. I worked, pressed on and overcame, by faith. I have come to see why Jesus was glad that Lazarus was dead and why He has purposely allowed deaths in my life; dangers, doubts, defeats, and discouragements in my life. It was so I may believe. And because of that I am glad too.” What will your life testimony be? who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Jesus isn’t going to work (John 11:16-19). Lazarus was dead. He was dead for four days now. Martha and Mary were grieving the loss of their brother. And the delay of Jesus coming compounded their pain. God doesn’t joyfully inflict pain on people. Yes, Jesus was “glad” that He wasn’t there to heal Lazarus because He knew the greater joy that would come from what He was about to do. But sometimes pain and sorrow are a necessary part of God’s plan. In the end there will be no regrets. until His plans fully come to pass. Faith is what bridges the gap between our request and God’s answer. Hope is the faith that gets us through to the conclusion of God’s plan. chances of them being resurrected like Lazarus aren’t high. But we don’t grieve their loss like those who have no hope (1 Thess. We grieve and sorrow in the hope God provides. That hope is that one day, if we know Jesus as our Savior, we and our departed loved ones, will be reunited in eternity with glorified perfect bodies with Jesus. When that happens we will see that anything suffered temporarily in this life will be worth the glory we have with Jesus (e.g. Romans 8:18; 2 Cor. Waiting may be painful even though it is a part of God’s plan. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Any pain involved in God’s plan now will be worth it when we reach our final destination. as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t going to work (John 11:20-21). When we are required to wait and things look bad, and we are tempted to think, “what if?” it doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t going to work. Our finite minds often aren’t capable of understanding God’s big picture or His ultimate plan. But that doesn’t prevent Jesus from working. I know that whatever You ask of 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 at the last day.” mean we should give up on Jesus (John 11:22-24). Things looked bleak to Martha. There was no denying Lazarus, her brother, was dead. But rather than react with bitterness toward Jesus, she responded in faith. Rather than berating Jesus about not coming sooner, she expressed her faith in Jesus. She said in faith, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” She hoped in God and was willing to continue on with Him and Jesus even though her brother, (who she thought could have been healed if Jesus was there) had died and it would be the rest of her life before they would be reunited. When we wait on Jesus to work we need to trust Him; no matter what! and do so with theology. For instance one commentator explains: Martha. But rather than embracing it joyfully and expectantly, Martha looks at it as a theological principle. Do you ever do that? The Lord opens a promise to you in the Word about a situation, a relationship, or a financial struggle and you think, well, this probably doesn’t apply to this dispensation. This can’t really be true for me today. Come on, the Lord isn’t really going to bless, heal, restore, or help. There must be some other meaning theologically. It’s just too good to be true. But in so doing, you share the mind-set of Martha.[2] theological packages. There are some things God does that defy our understanding. That’s why they are called miracles. to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever 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 to come into the world.” uses waiting to build our faith. Waiting is an ingredient in building faith. Waiting puts us in a position where our faith is stretched, deepened, and broadened. Waiting reveals faith or exposes lack of faith. That’s what He did with Martha, Mary, His disciples and no doubt when Lazarus is resurrected his faith will be pretty strong too! Jesus uses waiting to build our faith and trust in Him and His ability to work; even when all seems lost. Waiting reveals faith, or exposes the absence of faith. assertion by Jesus. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” Jesus is claiming power over death! Death is the greatest enemy. Death is something every person must experience. And Jesus is claiming the solution to death (John 11:25). believe this?” Jesus is preparing Martha’s heart. He is tilling the soil of her heart to bear faith fruit. He creates a situation where she has to make a decision about believing in Him. Faith is the product of choosing Jesus in decisive situations (John 11:26). right one (as far as she was informed of what the ultimate plan of Jesus was): “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” Notice Martha’s faith is in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” In faith she affirms Jesus is the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies. In faith she expresses her faith in Jesus (John 11:27). believe He is willing to do it for me? Now while Martha asserts her belief in who Jesus is, she may have been expressing a bit of doubt as to His willingness to do what He was saying He would do. We may belief in Jesus ability to do miracles, but we doubt His willingness to do them for us; in particular, “for me.” Jesus is able, and we will soon see in this passage He is willing to do what He said He would do with Lazarus. God proves His love to us by sending His only Son Jesus to die for us (cf. We don’t question God’s ability. We do question His willingness. It’s true; God will never contradict the truth of His word. That He will never do. But we question whether or not God is interested and willing to work on our behalf. To that idea we need to remember, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God is able. God is willing. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Or, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). We need to receive that and worship Him. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” deserve. We all deserve condemnation and eternal punishment (cf. Romans 1-3). Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Through faith in Jesus, Who has bore our sins in our place on the cross, we can be forgiven our sins (cf. Romans 4-8). Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace is God’s excuse to lavish blessing on the undeserving. He does that simply because He is gracious and loving. God loves us and wants to bless We miss out on a lot because we think God is out to get us. God isn’t against us. God is for us! We are products of God’s grace through and through (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:10). Therefore, God’s blessings aren’t contingent so much on us as they are on Him. We need only receive by faith. had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” faith in Jesus is not only vocal declaration, but it involves a heart for evangelization (John 11:28). The word “evangelism” means to bring good news. Martha brought the good news of Jesus’ arrival to her sister. While Martha and Mary had hoped Jesus would have come earlier to heal their brother, and while they were certainly disappointed their brother had died, news that Jesus was finally there was good news to them. The arrival of Jesus is always good news even if the outcome we had hoped for is not realized. she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” genuine faith is that when you hear Jesus has arrived on the scene you run to Him (John 11:29). Mary demonstrates her faith by running to Jesus. She didn’t understand all that was going on. She was grief stricken over the loss of her brother. But she still ran to Jesus. Nothing should prevent us from running to Jesus; not disappointment, grief, sorrow, or anything. When you run to Jesus no matter what, it demonstrates the genuineness of your faith. when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” sorrow with us (John 11:33-36). Mary ran to Jesus, fell at His feet and wept. She wept for what might have been. She wept for a seeming miscalculation on the part of the One she loved and trusted; Jesus. She wept for the loss of her brother. There’s something about the weeping of a grieving person. It is a deep, deep sorrow. Jesus was impacted by this weeping sorrow. with chagrin, or groan. Jesus didn’t snort with anger at those who wept. He wept with them. But I believe Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior, snorted with a deep passionate anger at the death effects of sin and Satan. It’s as though Jesus snorts with deep passion and commitment to His mission. It’s as though he snorts in anger at the enemy of death. It’s as though He is overtaken with the purpose of His calling to defeat death. It’s His, “Ah, yes, this is why I came.” the grief death causes, He is filled with a deep loving compassion for the sorrowing people; for Mary, for Martha, for His friend Lazarus. “Jesus wept.” The word “wept” (Greek dakryo) means to weep, to shed tears. Jesus wept when He saw others weep. Jesus weeps when we weep. Jesus takes no satisfaction in the physical and emotional pain experienced in life. He grieves with those who grieves and weeps with those who weep just as the Spirit inspired Paul to write them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” of Jesus (John 11:37). The onlookers were well aware of Jesus’ reputation of being able to work miracles. They were critical though of Jesus apparent poor timing. Notice neither Martha nor Mary join in with these critics. They simply weep in the presence of Jesus. They simply submit to Jesus and His plan. again groaning in Himself, 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 him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” our faith (John 11:38-40). Martha was locked in to the physical realities. She perhaps wanted to prevent Jesus from attempting a seemingly impossible work, even if it did involve the resurrection of her brother. She also may have been concerned over the sanctity of her brother’s dead body and his tomb. Martha’s faith. How does He do that? He reminds her of His word. “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Jesus was willing to walk Martha through His plan. He was willing to increase her faith to do what she needed to do in order for Him to complete His plan. She needed to express her faith by giving approval to open the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus always works in a totally efficient way. He not only gets us through to the final destination and outcome of His plan, but He builds our faith in the process. Jesus moves us from grief to belief. took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” said He would do (John 11:41-45). Someone has said if Jesus had simply said, “Come forth!” that all the dead in the tombs there would have been resurrected. Jesus has the power over life and death. Notice how Jesus did this work: Father always heard Him (11:42a). would know and believe that this miraculous sign was by God in Christ (11:42b). You sent Me” (11:42c). forth!” Jesus didn’t approach this casually or half-heartedly. Jesus did this miracle in public for all to see. And what Jesus commanded dead Lazarus did; he “came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with cloth” (11:44c). Finally, Jesus commanded “Loose him, and let him go” (11:44b). involved in God’s working. Waiting is an efficient way for our faith to be built in the process of God’s working. the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” is always the case. An incredible undeniable miracle had been done by Jesus. Some chose to believe. Others chose to disbelieve. If people are open to the truth and gospel and genuinely interested in coming to God, God will make a way for that to happen. But if people are going to discount and reject Jesus no matter what, then God will allow them to do that as well. How will you respond to Jesus? them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. He can speak through. Caiaphas was a disreputable, dishonest, conniving and sinful leader. And yet God spoke truth through Him. One commentary states: the money-making schemes that surrounded the temple, to avoid a conflict of interest, he appointed his son-in-law, Caiaphas, to serve as high priest. From his office of high priest, Caiaphas spoke more profoundly than he could possibly have known when he said, “It’s prudent that one man dies in order that the whole nation might live.” did Caiaphas know that what he said was inspired by the Spirit. This shows me something about our Lord. God can use anyone to speak His heart, to reveal His truth. Caiaphas was a loser, a charlatan, a fleecer. Yet the Spirit still inspired him at this moment to speak truth. Just as Caiaphas prophesied, one Man did indeed die—not only for the nation, but for the sins of all men. God can use a Caiaphas; God can use a donkey (Numbers 22), a neighbor, a professor, or any other voice He chooses to speak truth. Be wary of the mind-set that thinks if a person isn’t born-again, he cannot speak truth. God can use anyone.[3] that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him. to the next section of John’s gospel. We will now enter the final week of Jesus ministry leading up to the cross and culminating in His own resurrection. It’s estimated that for the week of Passover nearly two and a half million Jews crowded Jerusalem. Nearly 250,000 sheep were offered in sacrifice. Walking in the midst of all this commotion, walking in the midst of the bleating sheep was the Good Shepherd Jesus who was the Lamb of God come to remove the sins of the world (John 1:29). leaders of Jesus day to this incredible miracle was to glance over its import and plot against the One who threatened their position. Similarly, today no amount of truth or undeniable fact gets in the way of those who are entrenched religiously or politically. There is in fact a great struggle in our world today between dead religion and living relational Spirit-filled ministry. There’s a great struggle in our day between those who have been indoctrinated and mesmerized by a global elite system suited for the rise of Antichrist, versus patriots of nations who seek to retain their independence and national sovereignty. There is a battle between darkness and light, between falsehood and truth. In this struggle, like in Jesus’ day, those entrenched in their dark positions refuse to yield to light, truth, or even the wake-up call of God’s Divine Providence. What are we to do in light of this predicament? We are to take the principles learned in John 11 and obediently and prayerfully wait until God’s further intervention to raise us up for His glory. We are to walk in the Spirit, rely on His guidance and empowerment, seek truth, live truth, and be God’s ambassadors of His light. Christian friend, pray, then actively wait and be raised. God bless you all. God bless us all with a heaven sent revival. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 533). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 537). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
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बौरिउठाइ र जीवन बौरिउठाइ र जीवन यूहन्नाको सुसमाचारको पुस्तकको अध्ययन गर्ने क्रममा हामी येशू ख्रीष्ट वास्तवमा को हुनुहुन्छ भनेर हेर्दैछौं। यहाँसम्मको अध्ययनमा हामीले थाह पायौं, उहाँ: यूहन्ना ११:२५ पनि अर्को “म हुँ” पद हो जसले हामीलाई येशू ख्रीष्ट साँच्चै को हुनुहुन्छ भनेर राम्ररी बुझ्न मदत गर्छ: “____________ र ________________ म नै हुँ; जसले म माथि विश्वास गर्छ ऊ मरे तापनि ______________।” आऔं, अब यस पद भएको अध्यायलाई अध्ययन गरौं: यूहन्ना ११ अध्यायको रुपरेखा - लाजरसको रोग र मृत्यु (यूहन्ना ११:१-१६)। - मानिसहरू सुन्छन् र येशू पीडित हुनुहुन्छ (यूहन्ना ११:१७-३८) - येशू लाजरसलाई मृत्युबाट बौराएर उठाउनुहुन्छ (यूहन्ना ११:३९-४४) - येशूका शत्रुहरूले षड्यन्त्र रच्दछन् (यूहन्ना ११:४५-५७)। यूहन्ना ११ अध्यायमा हामी येशूको एउटा आश्चर्यकर्मलाई अध्ययन गर्नेछौं। मानव इतिहासमै नभएको कार्य येशूद्वारा गरियो। उहाँले मरेर __________ दिन भइसकेको (यूहन्ना ११:३९) एउटा मानिसलाई बौराएर उठाउनुभयो। पुराना नियमका समयहरूमा परमेश्वरले आफ्ना भविष्यवक्ताहरूद्वारा विशेष प्रकारले काम गर्नुहुन्थ्यो र यी व्यक्तिहरूले समेत मरेका मानिसहरूलाई जिउँदो पारेका थिए (१ राजा १७:१७-२४ मा एलियाले र २ राजा ४:१-३७, १३:२०-२१ मा एलिशाले)। तर ती मानिसहरू मरेर चार दिन भएका थिएनन्। येशूले मरेकालाई उठाउनुभएको यो पहिलो पटक थिएन। उहाँले याइसरकी छोरीलाई उठाउनुभएको थियो जो मरेको केही छिन मात्रै भएको थियो (लूका ८:४१-५६)। उहाँले विधवाको छोरालाई पनि जिवीत पार्नुभयो, जो मरेर त्यस्तै एकदिन भन्दा बढी भएको थिएन (लूका ७:११-१५)। तर यी तीनओटा आश्चर्यकर्मभन्दा पनि ठूलो आश्चर्यकर्म हामी यूहन्ना ११ अध्यायमा देख्छौं र यस आश्चर्यकर्मले साँच्चै नै यहूदीहरूका बीचमा एउटा हलचल नै मच्चायो (यूहन्ना ११:४७-४८, १२:९)। अब हामी यूहन्ना ११ अध्यायतिर लाग्छौं र हामीले के सिक्न सक्छौं, त्यो हेर्नेछौं। लाजरसको रोग र मृत्यु यूहन्ना ११:१ मा हामी लाजरसलाई वि _________ अवस्थामा भेट्टाउँछौं। उनी कत्तिका विरामी थिए? केही दिन पछाडि त लाजरस __________ छन् (यूहन्ना ११:१४)। उनको रोगले उनलाई छिट्टै चिहानमा पुर्यायो। लाजरस _____________ शहरमा बस्दथे (यूहन्ना ११:१), जुन शहर अर्को ठूलो शहर ___________को नजिकै पर्थ्यो (यूहन्ना ११:१८– बेथानी यरुशलेमबाट पुगनपुग २ माईल टाढा थियो। बाइबल मानचित्रमा हेरेर बेथानी र यरुशलेम भेट्टाउनुहोस्)। लाजरसका दुईटी दिदीहरूका नाम के के थिए (यूहन्ना ११:१)? _________________ ____________। यी दुईटी दिदीबहिनीहरूका बारेमा हामी लूका १०:३८-४२ मा पनि पाउँछौं। यूहन्ना ११:२ मा मरियमले येशूका निम्ति गरेकी एउटा कामको पनि उल्लेख छ। यसबारेमा यूहन्ना १२:१-८ मा हामी अझै अरू कुराहरू सिक्न सक्छौं। मार्था र मरियमले येशूलाई एउटा खबर पठाए (यूहन्ना ११:३)। तिनीहरू चाहन्थे, येशू झट्टै आउनुभएर उनीहरूका भाइलाई निको पार्नुभएको। तिनीहरू येशूले यो काम गर्नुहुनेछ भनेर ढुक्क थिए किनभने येशूले लाजरसलाई प्रेम गर्नुहुन्थ्यो। के साँच्चै येशूले लाजरसलाई प्रेम गर्नुहुन्थ्यो त (यूहन्ना ११:५)? ______________। के येशू झट्टै बेथानी आइपुग्नुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:६)? ______________। याद राखौं, परमेश्वरले सधैं हामीले उहाँबाट चाहेजस्तै गर्नुहुन्न अथवा हामीले सोचेजस्तै गर्नुहुन्न। परमेश्वरले जे सर्वोत्तम छ त्यही गर्नुहुन्छ! सर्वोत्तम कुन हो भनेर जान्ने को हो? परमेश्वर कि हामी? ________________। लाजरस विरामी भएको खबर सुनेर येशूले के भन्नुभयो, “यो _________सम्म पुर्याउने रोग होइन” (यूहन्ना ११:४)। यस भनाइको तात्पर्य के थियो? के यसको मतलव लाजरस मर्नेछैन भन्ने थियो? उहाँको तात्पर्य यो त हुन सक्दैन किनकि लाजरस मर्नेछ भनी येशू जान्नुहुन्थ्यो (यूहन्ना ११:१४)। येशूको तात्पर्य यो थियो, यस रोगको अन्तिम परिणाम मृत्यु होइन। लाजरसको मृत्यु हुनेछ तर पनि उसको अन्त नै मृत्यु हुनेछैन! ऊ त पछि जिउँदो हुनेछ! येशूको तात्पर्य यो थियो: “यो मृत्युसम्म पुर्याउने रोग होइन” यदि यो मृत्युसम्म पुर्याउने रोग भइदिएको भए, अन्तिम परिणाम मृत्यु हुनेथियो: परमेश्वरले एउटा मानिसलाई जन्मैदेखि अन्धा हुन दिनुमा उहाँको एउटा सुन्दर योजना थियो, ठीक त्यस्तै नै लाजरसलाई मर्न दिनुमा पनि परमेश्वरको एउटा सुन्दर योजना थियो (यूहन्ना ९:१-३ पढ्नुहोस्)। भविष्यमा जब येशूले विश्वासी जनहरूलाई बौराएर उठाउनुहुनेछ, त्यो कार्य स्थायी हुनेछ। बौरिउठाइको समयमा विश्वासी जनहरूले नयाँ शरीर पाउनेछन् जुन शरीर अविनाशी र अमर हुनेछ (१ कोरिन्थी १५:५१-५४)। यसको मतलब तिनीहरूको शरीर कहिल्यै बुढो हुनेछैन, कहिल्यै रोगी हुनेछैन, साथै कहिल्यै मर्नेछैन। तिनीहरूले अनन्त-अनन्तसम्म जिइरहनका लागि तयार पारिएका शरीर पाउनेछन्। भविष्यमा लाजरसले समेत बौरिउठाइको एउटा नयाँ शरीर पाउनेछन्। बौरिउठाइ भनेको सारा मानिसहरूलाई भविष्यमा हुने एउटा घटना हो (यूहन्ना ५:२८-२९ पढ्नुहोस्। एकातिर त्यहाँ जी________को बौरिउठाइ हुनेछ (यूहन्ना ५:२९)। यी मानिसहरू नयाँ शरीरहरूमा जिउनेछन् र तिनीहरूले अनन्तसम्म ख्रीष्टसित आनन्दमय सङ्गति गर्नेछन्। अर्कोतिर त्यहाँ द_______को बौरिउठाइ पनि हुनेछ (यूहन्ना ५:२९)। यी मानिसहरूलाई नयाँ शरीर दिइनेछ जुनचाहिँ अनन्तसम्म आगोको झीलमा रहनालाई रचिएको हुनेछ (प्रकाश २०:११-१५)। तिनीहरू सदाका लागि परमेश्वरदेखि अलग पारिनेछन्। तसर्थ, एउटा असल बौरिउठाइ हुनेछ (मुक्ति पाएकाहरूका निम्ति) र एउटा खराब बौरिउठाइ पनि हुनेछ (मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूका निम्ति)। तपाईं कुन बौरिउठाइमा पर्नुहुनेछ? छनोट तपाईंकै हो। परमेश्वरले लाजरसलाई जे गर्नुभयो त्यो एकदमै विशेष थियो। उहँले एउटा मान्छेलाई चिहानबाट निकाल्नुभयो र उसलाई शारीरिक जीवनमा फर्काई ल्याउनुभयो। परमेश्वरले तपाईंका लागि र प्रत्येक विश्वासी जनका लागि भविष्यमा गर्नुहुने काम त झनै विशेष हुनेछ (फिलिप्पी ३:२०-२१; १ थेस्सलोनिकी ४:१६-१७ र १ कोरिन्थी १५ अध्याय पढ्नुहोस्)। लाजरस बिरामी छ भन्ने खबर सुन्नासाथ के येशू तुरुन्तै बेथानी जानुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:६)? ______________। जुन ठाउँमा उहाँ हुनुहुन्थ्यो त्यहीं उहाँ कति दिन बस्नुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:६)? ________________। याद राखौं, परमेश्वर कहिल्यै ढिलो गर्नुहुन्न ! उहाँ आफ्ना कार्यहरू जानीबुझी गर्दैहुनुहुन्छ, अनि सबै कामहरू उहाँ सठीक हिसाबले गर्नुहुन्छ। कतिपय कार्यहरू हामीले चाहेजस्तै चाँडो उहाँले नगर्नुहोला तर उहाँ कहिल्यै ढिलो हुनुहुन्न ! परमेश्वरले कहिल्यै ढिलो नगर्नुहुने हुनाले हामीले परमप्रभुको ________ ________ (अर्थात् उहाँको प्रतिक्षमा पर्खन) सिक्नुपर्छ (भजनसंग्रह २७:१४ )। यी दुई दिन पछि येशूले भन्नुभयो, “हामी फेरि __________ जाऔं” (यूहन्ना ११:७)। बेथानी (जहाँ लाजरस थिए) र यरुशलेम (जहाँ येशूका धेरैजसो शत्रुहरू थिए) दुवै नै यहूदिया भनिने इलाकामा पर्दथे। यस इलाकामा फर्कन चेलाहरू किन डराएका थिए (यूहन्ना ११:८)? ______________________________________। यूहन्ना १०:३१-३३ मा यहूदीहरूले के गर्न खोजेका थिए भन्ने कुरा चेलाहरूले सम्झे। त्यतिखेर त उहाँ उम्कनुभयो (यूहन्ना १०:३९ ) तर के अब फेरि उहाँ उम्कन सक्नुहुनेछ होला? येशूले चेलाहरूलाई जवाफ दिएर भन्नुभयो, उहाँ दिनमा सुरक्षासाथ हिँड्न सक्नुहुन्छ (यूहन्ना ११:९-१०)। आफ्नो मृत्युको घडी अझै आइपुगेको छैन भनेर उहाँ जान्नुहुन्थ्यो। येशू जान्नुहुन्थ्यो, परमेश्वरले उहाँलाई यस संसारमा परमेश्वरको इच्छा पूरा गर्नलाई निश्चित समय अवधि दिनुभएको छ। उहाँका शत्रुहरूले यस समयलाई छोट्याउन सक्ने थिएनन् (यूहन्ना १०:१८)। आफ्नो काम गरी नसिध्याइकन उहाँ मर्न सक्नुहुन्न भनेर पनि उहाँ जान्नुहुन्थ्यो। हाम्रो जीवनमा पनि यही साँचो हुन्छ। एउटा विश्वासी जन ज्योतिमा हिँड्दछ र उसको जीवनका निम्ति परमेश्वरको इच्छा उसले पूरा गर्दै छ भने ऊ डराउनुपर्नेछैन। परमेश्वरले आफ्ना सेवकहरूको सुरक्षा गर्नुहुन्छ! मानिसले केही गर्ला कि भनेर के परमेश्वरको सेवक डराउनु आवश्यक छ (भजनसंग्रह ११८:६; भजनसंग्रह २७:१; हिब्रू १३:६)? __________________। तब येशूले आफ्ना चेलाहरूलाई एउटा कुरा भन्नुभयो जुन कुरा तिनीहरूले बुझेनन्: “हाम्रा साथी लाजरस _____________ छन्; तर म उनलाई _________बाट ____________ जान्छु” (यूहन्ना ११:११)। “लाजरस निदाएका छन्” भन्नुको तात्पर्य के थियो (यूहन्ना ११:१३)? __________________________________________। येशूको तात्पर्य के होला भनी चेलाहरूले सोचे (यूहन्ना ११:१२-१३)? _______________________________ ______________________। यूहन्ना ११:१४ मा येशूले कुरा सफा पार्नुहुन्छ। लाजरस त मृत्युको निद्रामा निदाइरहेका थिए! उनलाई निन्द्राबाट बिउँझाउने भन्ने येशूको भनाइको तात्पर्य के थियो? ______________________________________________________। बाइबलमा मृत्युलाई बयान गर्न कतिपय ठाउँमा “निदाउनु” वा “सुत्नु” भन्ने शब्द प्रयोग भएको छ (१ राजा २:१०; मत्ती २७:५२; लुका ८:५२; १ कोरिन्थी १५:२०; १ थेस्सलोनिकी ४:१४)। एउटा उदाहरण १ कोरन्थी ११:३० पनि हो: “किनकि यही कारणले गर्दा तिमीहरूको बीचमा धेरै कमजोर र रोगीहरू छन् अनि धेरै सुतिगए।” यसको मतलब यो होइन कि त्यहाँ केही कमजोर र रोगीहरू थिए अनि अरुहरू निदाइरहेका थिए। होइन, यसको मतलब हो,कोही रोगी थिए रकोही चाँहि साँच्चै मरिगए। हस्पिटलको मुर्दाघरमा जानुभयो भने र मरेको मानिसको लाशलाई हेर्नुभयो भने, उक्त शरीर साँच्चिकै सुतिरहेको मान्छे जस्तै देखिन्छ! शरीर आराम गरिरहेको जस्तै देखिन्छ। मानिस मरेपछि उसको शरीरलाई बिश्राम दिइन्छ। तर त्यसले सघैंको लागि विश्राम पाउँदैन। भविष्यमा त्यस शरीरलाई केही गरिनेवाला छ। सुतिरहेको मान्छे सघैंभरी सुतिरहँदैन भनेर हामीलाई थाह छ! उसको उठ्ने बेला आउँछ। चिहानमा सुत्ने अर्थात् विश्राम गर्ने शरीर पनि त्यस्तै हो। दानियल १२:२ मा हामी यसरी पढ्छौं: “पृथ्वीको धूलोमा ___________ भीडहरू ______________, केही अनन्त _____________को लागि र अरूहरूचाहिँ शर्म र अनन्त __________________को लागि।” मरेकाहरूलाई उठाउने व्यक्ति को हुनुहुन्छ (यूहन्ना५:२७-२९)? ________________। येशूसँगै बेथानी जानलाई चेलाहरूको साहस थियो, तर थोमा को के हुन्छ होला भनी ठाने (यूहन्ना १:१६)? __________________________________। थोमाको सोचाइले फेल खायो! चाँडै नै येशूको मर्ने समय आउँदै थियो तर यो चेलाहरूको मर्ने समय भने आएको थिएन। आफ्नो प्रिय पुत्रको निम्ति परमेश्वरको एउटा सिद्द योजना थियो र हरेक चेलाहरूका निम्ति पनि परमेश्वरको सिद्ध योजना थियो। मानिसहरू रुन्छन्, येशू सुस्केरा हाल्नुहुन्छ येशू बेथानी आइपुग्नुहुँदा, लाजरस मरेको __________ दिन भइसकेको थिए (यूहन्ना १:१७ )। मार्था र मरियमलाई सान्त्वना दिन थुप्रै यहूदीहरू आएका थिए (यूहन्ना ११:१९। दिदी बहिनीमा सबभन्दा पहिले को येशूकहाँ आए (यूहन्ना ११:२०)? ____________। के तिनी येशूले लाजरसलाई मर्नदेखि बचाउन सक्नुहुन्थ्यो भन्ने ठान्थिन् (यूहन्ना ११:२१)? ________________। के तिनी येशूले अझै पनि केही न केही गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ भन्ने विश्वास गर्थिन् (यूहन्ना ११:२२)? ______________ तब येशूले मार्थालाई एउटा गजबको प्रतिज्ञा दिनुहुन्छ जुनचाहिँ आफूले गर्नै लागेको कुरासित सम्बन्धित थियो। “तिम्रो भाइ ___________ उठ्नेछ” (यूहन्ना ११:२३)। येशू गएर लाजरसलाई निद्राबाट बिउँझाउन लाग्दै हुनुहुन्थ्यो (यूहन्ना ११:११ सँग दाँज्नुहोस्। के मार्थालाई लाजरस फेरि उठ्नेछ भन्ने थाह थियो (यूहन्ना ११:२४)? ____________। मार्थाले, यो कुरा तुरुन्तै हुनेछ भनेर सोचेकी थिईन् कि पछि भविष्यमा हुनेछ भनेर (यूहन्ना ११:२४)? ____________________________। तिनलाई दानियल भविष्यवक्ताले दानियल १२:२ मा भनेझैं अन्तिम दिनमा त्यहाँ बौरिउठाइ हुनेछ भन्ने थाह थियो। बौरिउठाइ, पछि भविष्यमा हुने एउटा घटना भनेर मार्था विश्वास गर्थिन्। उनले बौरिउठाइ त एक व्यक्ति हुनुहुन्छ भनेर बुझ्न खाँचो थियो जुन व्यक्ति ठीक उनकै सामु उभिइरहनु भएको थियो। येशूले मार्थालाई भन्नुभयो: “______________ र ____________ म नै हुँ” (यूहन्ना ११:२५। “बौरिउठाइ” शब्दको अर्थ ग्रीक भाषामा “माथि उठ्नु” अर्थात् “ठाडो उभिनु” भन्ने हुन्छ। मानिस मरेपछि ऊ “लम्पसार पर्छ” अर्थात् उसलाई चिहानभित्र विश्राम गराइन्छ। मानिस मृत्युबाट बौरिउठाइँदा, ऊ “उभिन्छ” जसरी लाजरसस पनि चिहानबाट निस्केर आउँदा उभिए (यूहन्ना ११:४४)। येशू ख्रीष्टलाई चिहान र मृत्यु कुनै समस्या होइन। उहाँ बौरिउठाइ र जीवन हुनुहुन्छ। मृत्यु मानिसको महान शत्रु हो (१ कोरिन्थी १५:२६) तर येशू ख्रीष्टले यस शत्रुलाई जित्नुभएको छ! शंका-उपशंकाहरू र डरको कारण मार्थालाई लागेको थियो, येशू, मृत्यु र चिहानभन्दा शक्तिशाली हुनुहुन्न भनेर। येशू मृत्यु र चिहानभन्दा महान् हुनुहुन्छ भनेर बुझ्न मार्थालाई खाँचो थियो। येशू ख्रीष्ट “जि ________ का ____________” हुनुहुन्छ (प्रेरित ३:१५। येशूले भन्नुभयो, “बौरिउठाइ म नै हुँ।” यसको अर्थ यूहन्ना ११:२५ को अन्तिम खण्डमा खुलाइएको छ: “जसले ममाथि विश्वास गर्छ, ऊ मरे तापनि जिउनेछ” येशू ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्नेहरूलाई शारीरिक मृत्यु कुनै समस्या होइन्। एक विश्वासी जन मरेपछि उसले केही गुमाउँदैन बरु केही पाउनेछ (फिलिप्पी १:२१-२३)। विश्वासी जनहरू शारीरिक मृत्युदेखि डराउनुपर्ने कुनै कारण छैन। यो त एउटा ढोका मात्रै हो, जसबाट जीवनमा प्रवेश गरिन्छ (जिवीत परमेश्वरसँगको अनन्त सम्बन्धमा)। येशूले भन्नुभयो, “जीवन म नै हुँ” (यूहन्ना ११:२५)। यसको अर्थ यूहन्ना ११:२६ मा खुलाइएको छ: “अनि जो जिउँछ र ममाथि विश्वास गर्छ, त्यो कहिल्यै _____________” येशूले यूहन्ना ८:५१ मा यस्तै कुरा गर्नुभयो (अघिल्ला पाठहरूमा हेर्नुहोस्)। एउटा साँचो विश्वासी कहिल्यै परमेश्वरदेखि अलग पारिनेछैन। विश्वासीसँग अनन्त जीवन हुन्छ। उसले कहिल्यै आत्मिक मृत्युको अनुभव गर्नेछैन (परमेश्वरदेखि अलग हुनु पर्नेछैन। मार्था, येशू परमेश्वरका __________, _________ हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरामा विश्वास गर्थिन् (यूहन्ना ११:२७), तर “बौरिउठाइ र जीवन म नै हुँ” भन्ने येशूको भनाइको तात्पर्य बुझिनन् (यूहन्ना ११:२५)। येशूभन्दा चिहान नै सामर्थी छ भनी सोचिन् उनले (यूहन्ना ११:३९-४० पढ्नुहोस्)। तर केही छिन पछि नै उनले “परमेश्वरको महिमा” देख्न लाग्दै थिइन् (यूहन्ना ११:४०)। परमेश्वरका पुत्र साँच्चै नै कति महान हुनुहुन्छ भनेर तिनले देख्न लाग्दै थिइन्। उहाँका लागि चिहान कुनै चुनौति होइन! मार्था गइन् र त्यसपछि मरियम येशूलाई भेट्न आइन्। तिनका पछिपछि थुप्रै यहूदीहरू पनि आए उनीसँगै बिलाप गर्नलाई (यूहन्ना ११:२८-३१)। मरियमले येशूलाई भेट्नासाथ के उनले दिदीले भने जस्तै नै भनिन्? (यूहन्ना ११:३२ र ११:२१ बीच तुलना गर्नुहोस्)? _____________। लाजरस जिउँदो हुँदा नै येशू त्यहाँ हुनुभएको भए ता उहाँले केही न केही त अवश्य गर्नुहुन्थ्यो भनेर तिनले बिचार गरिन्। अब चाँडै नै उनले, लाजरस मरेर चार दिन भएको भएपनि येशूले केही न केही गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरा थाह पाउनेवाला थिइन्। मृत्यु येशू भन्दा ठूलो होइन। येशू मृत्युको पनि प्रभु हुनुहुन्छ। यूहन्ना ११:३३ अनुसार मरियम के गर्दै थिइन् अनि यहूदीहरू के गरिरहेका थिए? ____________। तिनीहरू रोइरहेका थिए तर येशू भने पीडित भइरहनुभएको थियो। “पिडित हुनुभयो” (यूहन्ना ११:३३) भन्नुको मतलब हो, येशू “आत्मामा साह्रै चुरिनु भयो” (औडाहा वा डाहा भयो)। यस शब्दले प्रायः रीस वा क्रोधले चुरिएको मानिसलाई जनाउँछ। येशू रिसाउनु भएको थियो। धर्मी हिसाबले उहाँ रिसाउनुभयो र बिचलित हुनुभयो। उहाँको वरिपरिको रुवाबासी र सुकसुकाइमा प्रभु खुशी हुनुहुन्नथ्यो। मरियम र उनीसँगै आएका यहूदीहरूले बुझ्न सकेनन्। तिनीहरूले मृत्युको बारेमा बुझेका थिएनन्। तिनीहरूले लाजरसको बारेमा बुझेका थिएनन्। अनि सबभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण कुरा त, तिनीहरूले येशू को हुनुहुन्थ्यो र येशूले के गर्न सक्नुहुन्थ्यो भनेर बुझेनन्। जीवनका राजा तिनीहरूकै अगाडि उभिइरहनुभएको थियो र तिनीहरू भने मृत्युले गर्दा रोइरहेका र आलाप विलाप गरिरहेका थिए। लाजरसको चिहान कहाँ छ भनेर येशूले सोध्नुभयो र तिनीहरूले उहाँलाई भने, “प्रभु, आउनुहोस् र हेर्नुहोस्” (यूहन्ना ११:३४)। त्यसपछि बाइबलले हामीलाई बताउँछ “__________________” (यूहन्ना ११:३५)। अंग्रेजी बाइबलमा यो नै सबभन्दा छोटो पद हो (दुई शब्द र नौ अक्षरहरू मात्रै)। तर नेपाली बाइबलमा ६ अक्षर मात्रै। (ग्रीक नयाँ नियममा सबभन्दा छोटो पदचाहिँ १ थेस्सलोनिकी ५:१६ हो – “सधैं आनन्द गर।” येशू रुनुभयो, तर उहाँ यहूदीहरू रोए जस्तै गरी रोइरहनुभएको थिएन (यूहन्ना ११:३३ पढ्नुहोस्) यूहन्ना ११:३५ को “रुनुभयो” भन्ने शब्द हामीले यूहन्ना ११:३३ मा हेरेको “रोइरहेका” भन्ने शब्द भन्दा फरक शब्द हो। यूहन्ना ११:३३ मा हामी देख्दछौं, मरियम र यहूदीहरू रोइरहेका थिए। त्यहाँ “रोइरहेका” भन्ने शब्दको अर्थ हो ठूलो स्वरले आफ्नो दुःख प्रकट गर्दै विलाप गर्नु विशेष गरी मरेका मान्छेका निम्ति। यी यहूदीहरू लाजरस मरेका कारण रोइरहेका र आलाप विलाप गरिरहेका अनि घुँक्क घुँक्क सुक्सुकाइरहेका थिए। यूहन्ना ११:३५ को “रुनुभयो” शब्दले ठूलो स्वरले रोएको र आलाप विलाप गरेको जनाउँदैन। यसको मतलब हो “आँसु खसाल्नु”। किन येशूले आँसु खसाल्नुभयो? निश्चय पनि उहाँका आँसु लाजरसका लागि थिएनन् किनभने लाजरसको मृत्यु उहाँको लागि कुनै ठूलो समस्या थिएन। लाजरसलाई उहाँले तुरुन्तै के गर्नुहुनेछ त्यो उहाँ जान्नुहुन्थ्यो (यूहन्ना ११:४,११,२३)। येशूले लाजरसको लागि आँसु खसाल्नुभएको थिएन बरु ती विलाप गर्नेहरूका लागि थियो! यी मानिसहरूले नबुझेका कारण उहाँ दुःखित हुनुभएको थियो। उहाँ तिनीहरूका अविश्वासका कारण दुःखित हुनुभयो। येशू रुनुभएको यहूदीहरूले देखेर तिनीहरूले भने “हेर, उहाँले उनलाई (लाजरसलाई ) कति ________ गर्नुहुन्थ्यो” (यूहन्ना ११:३६)। तिनीहरूले भन्ठाने, उहाँ लाजरस मरेका हुनाले रुनुभएको थियो। यूहन्ना ११:३७ मा पढ्नुहोस्।कोही यहूदीहरू यसो भन्दै थिएः “येशू लाजरसलाई यति माया गर्थे भने, किन उहाँले लाजरसलाई मर्नदेखि बचाउन सकेनन्? अन्धाका आँखा खोल्न सक्नेले किन लाजरसको मृत्युलाई रोक्न सकेनन्?” के यी कुराहरूले येशू खुशी हुनुभयो (यूहनन्ना ११:३८)? __________। तिनीहरूका अविश्वासका कारण उहाँ फेरि रीसले चुर हुनुभयो। येशू, मुत्यु र चिहानका सामु केही गर्न सक्दैनन् भन्ने उनीहरूको धारणा थियो! येशू लाजरसलाई मुत्युबाट बौराएर उठाउनुहुन्छ लाजरसको चिहान एउटा गुफामा थियो (यूहन्ना ११:३८)। भित्र छिर्ने ठाउँ अगाडि एउटा ढुंगा राखिएको थियो। यो सम्भवत: पछि येशूको शरीरलाई राखिएको चिहान जस्तै थियो। येशूले चिहानको मुखको ढुंगा हटाउन आदेश दिनुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:३९)। मार्था किन ढुंगा हटाइएको चाहँदैनथिन् (यूहन्ना ११:३९)? ___________________________________ ________________________। लाजरसको शरीर कुहिएर सड्न थालिसकेको थियो। तर येशू आफ्नो योजना जान्नुहुन्थ्यो र तुरुन्तै अलिकत्ति पनि दुर्गन्ध नलिइकन लाजरस चिहानबाट निस्कनेवाला थिए! मार्थाले विश्वास मात्र गरिन् भने तिनले के देख्नेथिइन् (यूहन्ना ११:४०)? ___________________________। यूहन्ना ११:४ र ११:२५-२६ बीच तुलना गर्नुहोस्। लाजरसको बौरिउठाइ, परमेश्वरका लागि एउटा विशेष सुन्दर मौका थियो। परमेश्वरले आफूलाई विशेष प्रकारले चिनाउने मौका थियो। तिनीहरूले ढुंगा हटाइसकेपछि येशूले प्रार्थना गर्नुभयो यूहन्ना ११:४१) उहाँले आफै मनमनै प्रार्थना गर्नुभयो कि उहाँले अरुहरूले पनि सुनून् भनेर ठूलो स्वरले प्रार्थना गर्नुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:४१-४२)? _________________________________________। जे हुन लाग्दै थियो, त्यसका लागि येशूले सबैका सामुन्ने परमेश्वरलाई धन्यवाद दिनुभयो! यति प्रार्थना गरिसकेपछि येशू ठूलो स्वरले कराउनुभयो र भन्नुभयो, “हे लाजरस, _________________” (यूहन्ना ११:४३)। के लाजरसले प्रभुको आज्ञा माने (यूहन्ना ११:४४)? ________। येशूले नाम काढेर केवल लाजरसलाई बोलाउनुभयो (यूहन्ना १:४३)। पिताको इच्छा हुँदो हो त उहाँले मरेका अरूहरूलाई पनि मृत्युबाट बोलाउन सक्नुहुन्थ्यो! त्यो घडी पनि आउनेछ, जसमा चिहानभित्र रहेका ________ले उहाँका स्वर सुन्नेछन् (यूहन्ना ५:२८)। अनि तिनीहरू निस्किआउनेछन् (यूहन्ना ५:२९)। मृत्यु र चिहान उहाँका लागि कुनै समस्या होइनन्। लाजरस चिहानबाट कात्रोले बौरिएकै अवस्थामा निस्किआएको देख्नु पक्कै पनि अजीवको दृश्य थियो (यूहन्ना ११:४४)। लाशलाई प्रायः कपडाका फेरहरूले बाँधिएको हुन्थ्यो अनि बाँधिसके पछि साह्रै कडा गन्ध नआओस् भनी मसलाहरू छर्किएको हुन्थ्यो। लाजरस हिँड्डुल गर्ने “मम्मी” (मिश्रका पिरामिडहरूमा गाडिएका लाश) जस्तै देखिन्थे होला। येशूले मानिसहरूलाई उनलाई फुकाइदिन अह्राउनुभयो र जानदेओ भन्नुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:४४)। यस आश्चर्यकर्म देख्नेहरू कसरी ट्वाँ परेर तीन छक्क खाए होलान् भनेर कल्पना सम्म गर्न पनि गाह्रो छ। अब विचार गर्नुहोस्, भविष्यमा हुने विश्वासीहरूको बौरिउठाइ लाजरसको भन्दा झन् कति धेरै गुणा गजबको हुनेछ। लाजरस जीवनमा फर्किआए तर उनी एक दिन फेरि मरे। तपाईंलाई दुई पटक मर्न कत्तिको चाहना छ? तर बौरिउठेका विश्वासीहरूका भने नयाँ शरीरहरू हुनेछन् र तिनीहरू फेरि कहिल्यै मर्नेछैनन्। तलको चार्टले लाजरसलाई के भएको थियो र भविष्यमा विश्वासीहरूलाई के हुनेछ भन्ने भिन्नताहरू देखाउँछ: येशूका शत्रुहरू षड्यन्त्र रच्छन् यस्तो उल्लेखनीय आश्चर्यकर्म देखेर धेरैजना यहूदीहरूले येशूमाथि ___________ गरे (यूहन्ना (यूहन्ना ११:४५)। अरुहरूले चाहिँ फरिसीहरूकहाँ गएर येशूले गर्नुभएका कुराहरू बताइदिए (यूहन्ना ११:४६)। यहूदी अगुवाहरूले अब येशूलाई के गर्ने हो भनेर निर्णय गर्नु पर्यो (यूहन्ना ११:४७)। के उनीहरूलाई येशूका आश्चर्यकर्मका बारेमा थाह थियो (यूहन्ना ११:४७)? __________। के यी अगुवाहरू येशूलाई यत्तिकै छोडिदिनु असल होला भन्ने बिचार राख्दथे (यूहन्ना ११:४८)? _____________। येशू यसरी नै लोकप्रिय बन्दै जानुहोला र धेरै-धेरै मानिसहरू उहाँको पछि लाग्लान् भनेर तिनीहरू चिन्तित थिए। शायद येशू र उनका चेलाहरूले कुनै दिन राजनैतिक शक्ति पो हात पार्ने हुन् कि भनी उनीहरूले सोचे। यस्तो हुन गएको खण्डमा रोमीहरूले हस्तक्षेप गरेर यहुदीहरूलाई झन् कडासाथ शासन गर्नेछन् भन्ने कुरा यी यहूदीहरूले जान्दथे। येशूले गर्दा सारा राष्ट्र नै खतरामा छ भनी तिनीहरूले मुर्ख पाराले सोचे। तब, कायफा, महापुजाहारीले एउटा कुरा बोले जसको वास्तवमा दुइटा फरक अर्थ छन्। उनको भनाइ हामी यूहन्ना ११:५० मा पाउँछौं: “सारा जाति __________ नहोस् भनेर यस जनताका निम्ति ________ मानिस मर्नु नै हाम्रालागि फाइदा छ” कायफाले यो एउटा अर्थमा भनेका थिए तर कायफाले नबुझिकनै उनका भनाइले अर्कै सन्देश पनि बोकेको थियो! यस्तो भयो कि कायफाले जे बोले, त्यो परमेश्वरको इच्छाअनुसार नै थियो! हामी उनको भनाइका दुई अर्थहरूलाई विचार गरौं। कायफाले जब यी कुराहरू भने, उनले यसो भन्न खोजेका थिएः “हामीले ख्रीष्टलाई जिउँदै छाड्यौं भने पक्कै नै रोमीहरू आउनेछन् र हामीलाई नाश गर्नेछन् अनि हामीले जनतामाथि कहिल्यै शासन गर्न पाउनेछैनौं। यसो हुनुभन्दा त एउटा मानिस (येशू) मारिनु र सारा जाति नष्ट हुनबाट (रोमीहरूद्वारा) यो नै एकदम उत्तम हुन्छ।” यो त वास्तवमा येशूलाई नष्ट गर्ने दुष्ट षड्यन्त्र मात्रै थियो। तर यी कुराहरूको अर्को अर्थ पनि छ। कायफालाई थाहै थिएन तर उनले संसारकै सबभन्दा सुन्दर शुभ-सन्देश उच्चारण गर्दैथिए! येशू ख्रीष्ट सारा जातिका निम्ति मर्नैपर्छ। सुसमाचारको मीठो सन्देश यही नै हो। हामी नाश हुन नपरोस् भनेर ख्रीष्ट हाम्रा पापहरूका निम्ति मर्नैपर्छ। हामी बाँच्न सकौं भनेर उहाँ मर्नैपर्छ। ख्रीष्ट मानिसको सट्टामा मर्नुपर्छ। त्यसकारण, कायफाले येशूलाई मार्ने एउटा दुष्ट मतोको कुरा गरेका भएता पनि परमेश्वरले त्यही नै शब्दहरूलाई सुसमाचारको सुन्दर सन्देश प्रस्तुत गर्न प्रयोग गर्नुभयो। जानी नजानीकनै, कायफा सबभन्दा पहिला सुसमाचार प्रचार गर्नेहरू मध्येका एक ठहरिन पुगे। परमेश्वरले मानिसको क्रोधलाई समेत उहाँको प्रशंसामा परिणत गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। हाम्रा परमेश्वर यति महान हुनुहुन्छ, जसले मानिसका सबैभन्दा दुष्ट योजनाहरूलाई समेत उहाँको अचम्मको योजना पूरा गर्न प्रयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। परमेश्वर दुष्ट मानिसहरूलाई विभिन्न प्रकारले बोल्न र काम गर्न दिन सक्नुहुन्छ, तर यी जे जस्ता भए पनि त्यसले नै परमेश्वरको योजना सफल पारिरहेको हुन्छ। तिनीहरू हार्नेहरू हुन्, परमेश्वर जित्नेवाला हुनुहुन्छ। तपाईं लूका २२:२२, प्रेरित २:२३-२४ र प्रेरित ४:२६-२८ जस्ता पदहरू पढेर यस्तो कसरी हुनसक्छ भनेर थाह पाउन सक्नुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरले विश्वास नगर्नेहरूलाई समेत उहाँको सिद्ध योजना पूरा गर्नलाई प्रयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। त्यस दिनदेखि उसो, यहूदीहरूले के गर्ने मतो गरे (यूहन्ना ११:५३)? ____________ _______________। परमेश्वरको योजना मुताविक अब चाँडै नै येशूले आफ्नो प्राण दिनुपर्ने समय आउँदैथियो। उहाँको घडी आइसकेको नै त थिएन र त येशू आफ्ना चेलाहरूसँग इफ्राइम भनिने शहरमा निस्कनुभयो (यूहन्ना १२:१२-१९)। येशूको मृत्युको घडी नजिकै आएको थियो (यूहन्ना ११:५६)। अर्को अध्यायमा हामी देख्नेछौं, उहाँ निस्तारको लागि यरुशलेम आउनुहुन्छ। उहाँ खुल्लमखुल्ला, सबैको देखिने गरी आउनुहुन्छ (यूहन्ना १२:१२-१९)। तर उहाँ आउनु अघि, उहाँ एकदम खोजिएको मानिस हुनुहुन्थ्यो (यूहन्ना ११:५७)। अर्को शब्दमा भन्ने हो भने उहाँ “टाउकाको मूल्य तोकिएको मानिस” हुनहुन्थ्यो। तिनीहरू उहाँलाई पक्रन र मार्न चाहान्थे (यूहन्ना ११:५७,५३)। तुरुन्तै तिनीहरूले येशूलाई पक्रनेछन् र उहाँलाई एउटा रोमी क्रुसमा टँग्याउँनेछन्। त्यसपछि उहाँको मृत शरीरलाई लाजरसलाई जस्तै चिहानमा राखिन्छ तर लाजरस जस्तै उहाँ फेरि मर्नुहुन्न (रोमी ६:९, प्रकाश १:१८)। जसरी लाजरस बौरिउठ्नु अघि नै उनको बौरिउठाइ हुनेछ भनेर येशूले भविष्यवाणी गर्नुभयो (यूहन्ना ११:४,२३) त्यसरी नै उहाँले अघि नै आफ्नै बौरिउठाइको पनि भविष्यवाणी गर्नुभयो (यूहन्ना २:१९-१०:१७; मत्ती १६:२६)। मृत्युले उहाँलाई बाँधिराख्नु असम्भव थियो (प्रेरित २:२४। के तपाईं उहाँमाथि भरोसा गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ जो नै बौरिउठाइ र जीवन हुनुहुन्छ? के तपाईं अनन्त मुक्तिका लागि जीवनका राजामाथि भरपर्दै हुनुहुन्छ? येशूले भन्नुभयो, “जो जिउँछ र ममाथि विश्वास गर्छ त्यो कहिल्यै मर्नेछैन” (यूहन्ना ११:२६)! “के तिमी यो विश्वास गर्छ्यौ (गर्छौ)