John 11

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John 11
New International Version
The Death of Lazarus
11 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."

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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."

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."

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Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
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. The one 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 replied, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is 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!"

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Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
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."

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4   
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4


When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
Psalm 118:5 
I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mere mortals,
human beings who are but grass.
Isaiah 51:12 

'Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'
'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'
Revelation 7:16-17

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.
Romans 15:5

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Friendships are not just for the good times, but even for the sad times too.
The earthly life life brings all manner of moments for people,
But what matters is who stands (GENUINELY), with others in both the happy & sorrowful times.

And Christ stood in both the good & sad times.
He didn't find people who were perfect & who were always happy,
Rather he mixed with everyone.
He didn't wait for situations to become perfect nor did he wait for people to become whole & perfect,

Rather he stood by others in their tragic moments & helped people while they were still going through the trials & unhappy moments in their lives.
That is why Christ's friendship was true & He lived by His soul,
& not by surface level emotions.
Christ loved others truly & deeply & it showed in His genuine care, concern & actions.

In His true love for His people He did not demand them to be flawless, perfect & without mistakes,
Rather He accepted them just the way they were & helped them be better,
(as has been written in Scripture).
That's true friendship, true depth of His character & the soul level deep love that He had for His people.

It's easy to accept people when they are happy, without worries, whole & not sad,
But a true friend like Christ accepts people even when they are sad, in a sorry state,
 or in deep sorrow.

That's why people should be Christ like because God loves them to be this way.
To be able to sympathize with others, understand what they may have gone through or maybe going through, stop finding faults & blaming others needlessly,

Show sacred love, warmth, care, concern & being understanding,
Accepting people as they are,
Is what is being Christ like. Amen.

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Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Mark 10:27

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"
John 11:40

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
1 John 4:15

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.
John 10:28-30

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."
Luke 18:27 
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

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Matthew 17
New International Version
The Transfiguration
17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

10 The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

11 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him,

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And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 1:10   

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.
John 4:14

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:5

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Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:10

Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, blessings.
Proverbs 21:21 
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11


But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
Psalm 112:6

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry.
Psalm 34:15
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5-6


Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6

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Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3:13

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58   
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John 12:26   
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Mark 9:35


For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:9 
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Deuteronomy 13:4


All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17   
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Hebrews 6:10 
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him.
Psalm 37:23

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.
John 13:14   
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24


But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Joshua 22:5
The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34:22


"On the day when I act," says the Lord Almighty, "they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him."
Malachi 3:17   
And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey him."
Joshua 24:24

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Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?
1 Corinthians 3:16

And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 38:23

There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2
        
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:1