John 11:25 KJV [25] ***Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:***
Happy Resurrection from The Vine Vigil
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Study on Faith – #4 – Three Kinds of Faith
There is one passage in the Bible that perfectly portrays the three kinds of faith. It is well known – having entire books written to explore it. We will go a little deeper, using only Scripture – and not needing a whole book to understand the deep things of God!
In John 11, we see the faith of Martha in connection with the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. It begins when Lazarus fell ill, and his sisters Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus delayed His coming until Lazarus was dead and in the grave for four days. Then He arrived and found the limited, fundamental faith of Martha His only obstacle.
1. Martha’s faith was limited.
John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
The death of Lazarus meant the end of Martha’s faith. She believed that Jesus had the power to raise her brother up from the sick bed, but not from the dead. Her limited faith restricted the power of Christ (not that He is not all-powerful – but in that He only worked miracles where they would be received and He would be believed on)
Matthew 13:58
And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Limited faith is controlled by circumstances, and motivated by fear of failure
2. Martha’s faith was fundamental. In John 11:23, Jesus said – “Thy brother shall rise again.” These words were spoken to kindle hope in Martha, but she still prevaricated.
John 11:24-27
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [Here she declares her fundamental faith in a Great Truth, but that is not enough!]
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [Jesus is saying that He has all power over life and death]
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [She evades His question and states her creed. Stating one’s creed to the living, all-powerful Christ is shallow indeed – faith must go beyond creeds.]
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
It wasn’t only Martha’s faith that was limited – it was many of the Jew’s who were doubting and decrying Him for delaying His arrival.
3. At last, unlimited faith came to Martha when she agreed to have the stone moved from Lazarus’ grave. Martha first objected in unbelief.
John 11:39
Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Then Jesus challenges her to believe.
John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Martha demonstrated her new-found, unlimited faith, by allowing the stone to be moved, and then she waited in faith – and was rewarded!
John 11:43
And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Seeing is NOT believing.
You must believe first, and then you will see.
Faith comes before sight. Don’t be satisfied with limited, fundamental faith only, when you can have unlimited faith that pleases God – because it reveals His glory!
As you can see – a 300 page book is not required! You only need The Book!
Jesus Christ – The Son of God – Part 5
More lies have been generated about the Resurrection of Christ, than any other Biblical doctrine, with exception to His deity. If Jesus had not come back from the dead – the cross would have been the end of Christianity.
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
We will examine the “infallible proofs,” of His resurrection: Acts 1:3 –
To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
After His resurrection, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.
John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.
He appeared to the women returning from the sepulcher.
Matt. 28:5-10 –
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.
He then appeared to Peter.
Luke 24:34 –
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
He appeared to the Emmaus disciples.
Luke 24: 13-31 –
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And He said unto them, What things? And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him.
21 But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not.
25 Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.
He appeared to the remaining apostles, minus Thomas.
Luke 24: 36-43 –
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.
40 And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And He took it, and did eat before them.
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, ALL of the disciples forsook Him and fled. From that moment, they lived in fear, because they did not believe He would rise from the dead. If Christ had not risen from the dead – the cross would have ended Christianity. The disciples felt defeated after Jesus was Crucified. It meant the end of everything they had hoped for. The “infallible proofs,” caused a dramatic change in the disciples – just three days after Christ’s burial. They saw Him, they heard Him, and they touched Him. They went from despair to triumphant faith.
infallible = incapable of error
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
sage
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