Today we continue with our lesson about three siblings named Martha, Mary, and Lazarus who had supper with Jesus and the devil Judas. Martha served, Mary sacrificed, Lazarus sat, Judas stole, and Jesus saved. This bible study will speak about Lazarus pictured above who did nothing but just sat before Jesus. John 12:2 says There they made Him (Jesus) a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.
Lazarus had been raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus after four days and was a living miracle sitting before Jesus. People came to Martha's house in Bethany from the city and the whole countryside to see Lazarus and not Jesus. John 12:9 says Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he (Lazarus) was there; and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He (Jesus) had raised from the dead. But when the Jews came to see Lazarus, they saw Jesus (the Lord who had raised Lazarus from the dead) and they forgot about being Jews and got gloriously saved as they believed Jesus. Friends, right now be like these Jews and become saved as you confess Jesus as God to the world, believing in your hearts that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again.
Friends, let's be like Lazarus and the men pictured above and just show up at church or in a restaurant like the Cracker Barrel and sit before lost sinners. Like Lazarus, people who knew how we used to lived in the world as sinners will come to see how Jesus changed our lives if we just enter a church or restaurant and sit before lost sinners. As sinners come to see former drug addicts, alcoholics, and prostitutes who are now saints, they will find Jesus and get saved.
Many saints like Lazarus and the men pictured above just sitting in a church or restaurant used to be sitting on a barstool, sitting out at the hoochie coochie shows, and sitting out at the whorehouses. Now these saints are letting Jesus' light shine to the lost world. Friend reading this, like Lazarus, you don't have to say anything as you sit before lost sinners. Just your presence as a saved saint will lead lost sinners to Jesus as you let your light shine for Jesus to this lost world. Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Brother Bob, a former gambler, gang leader, and alcoholic regularly sits at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Pickerington, Ohio and tells the waiters and cashiers about the goodness of the Lord Jesus. Everytime Brother Bob enters this Cracker Barrel restaurant, the cooks, waiters, owners, and cashiers all start rejoicing as Brother Bob and the waiters witness and win lost souls to the Lord Jesus. Sometimes Brother Bob just sits in the restaurant like Lazarus and many people come to see Brother Bob and learn about Jesus as Lord.
OK, as you look at the pictures above, let's talk about the miracle of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus said at John 11:39 Take ye away the stone. John 11:41 goes on to say Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me. John 11:43 goes on to says And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them Loose him, and let him go.
Notice that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus called Lazarus by name saying Lazarus come forth. If Jesus didn't call the name Lazarus and just said come forth, everybody on the face of this earth would have risen from the dead. Also notice that no one died in the presence of Jesus. The widow of Nain's son was raised from the dead when he met Jesus at the gate, Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead when Jesus visited her home, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days, and Malchus' life was spared when Peter's sword missed his head as Jesus healed Malchus' injured ear. Jesus truly is the resurrection and the life and no one ever dies in the presence of Jesus.
OK, the reason Brother Bob put the second picture above of a top wrapped by string is because it reminds Brother Bob of how Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus. People used to make tops whittled out of wood with a string around the edges and a nail on the bottom. They would throw the top, jerk the string, and that top would spin on that one little nail for a long time. After Jesus said Lazarus come forth, Lazarus came out of the tomb looking like a mummy. When Jesus told His disciples to loose Lazarus and let him go, the disciples grabbed hold of Lazarus' linen graveclothes (like grabbing hold of the string around a top) and jerked them back as Lazarus spun out of his tomb like a top shouting the victory.
Notice that Jesus set Lazarus free after raising him from the dead by saying at John 11:44 Loose him and let him go. Notice also that Jesus set Mary free from Judas' mocking after she anointed Jesus with precious spikenard by telling Judas at John 12:7 Let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this. OK, put these two scriptures together like the pieces of a puzzle and say Jesus said let him go and let her alone. Truly as Jesus set Lazarus and Mary free from the bondage of death and persecution, Jesus will set all my brothers and sisters free who read this all over this earth as Jesus tells the devil let him go and let her alone. Rejoice and say John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
MESSAGE ABOUT JESUS FROM THE FIRST TEN MEN OF THE BIBLE
For Brother Bob's final thought today, let's look at the hebrew definitions of the first ten men listed below in the bible and learn a message about Jesus. Let's put the hebrew definitions of the first ten men into one phrase and rejoice as the bible reveals that the Word is all about Jesus. Take time to write out these names of the first ten men in the bible and their hebrew definitions listed below and share this everywhere to show people that Jesus is Lord and the Word.
Adam-Man, Seth-Appointed, Enos-Mortal, Cainan-Sorrow, Mahalaleel-The Blessed God, Jared-Shall Come Down, Enoch-Teaching, Methuselah-His Death Shall Bring, Lamech-The Despairing, and Noah-Rest and Comfort.
OK, take time to say the blessed revelation about Jesus and the hebrew definitions of the first ten men as one phrase. Say A Man was appointed to mortal sorrow; The blessed God (who is Jesus) shall come down teaching; His death shall bring the despairing rest and comfort. Wow, we see that the hidden revelation from the hebrew definitions of the first ten men is all about Jesus. Note that Seth is defined as appointed because Genesis 4:25 says God appointed Seth as seed instead of Abel. Also note that Enoch is defined as teaching because Enoch is called the first teacher or preacher on this earth.
METHUSELAH 187 PLUS 182 PLUS 600 EQUALS 969
WHEN METHUSELAH DIES THE FLOOD SHALL COME
Finally, note that Methuselah's name is defined as when he dies the flood shall come. Note that the bible says that Methuselah was 969 years old when he died and the flood came. Enoch knew the definition of his son's name Methusaleh and walked holy before God realizing that when Methuselah died, the flood would come. As a result, Hebrews 11:5 says Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Note also that God fulfilled prophecy by starting the flood after Methuselah died at the age of 969. Take time to add up the numbers in the following three scriptures that are 187, 182, and 600 proving that when Methuselah died after 969 years, the flood came upon the earth. Genesis 5:25 says that Methuselah was 187 when his son Lamech was born. Genesis 5:28 says 182 years later Lamech's son Noah was born. So Methuselah was 369 years old when Noah was born. Finally Genesis 7:6 says And Noah was 600 when the flood of waters was upon the earth. Do the math. 187 plus 182 plus 600 equals 969 proving that the flood came upon the earth after Methuselah died at the age of 969.
As always, it is a blessing to write these bible studies. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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