devotions

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The Significance of Lazarus’ Resurrection

12th and 13th September

Weekend Edition

“Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many people had deserted them and believed in Jesus…..Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet Him…..”

John 12:10-11, 17-18a

A day after Mary sacrificially and prophetically anointed Jesus’ feet with her precious and expensive oil, Jesus headed towards Jerusalem in what is known as the ‘triumphant entry’. Many of those gathered around to welcome Jesus, came because of the miracle they had seen, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after 4 days. Yet not all the people there were happy to see Jesus, riding on a colt, being exalted as the ‘King of Israel’. The Pharisee’s, jealous for the attention Jesus was getting and for the people leaving their teachings and following Jesus’, were angered and wanted to kill Jesus. Yet there were so many in the crowd, that they simply couldn’t get to Jesus.

Interestingly the Pharisees were so mad with Jesus, that they even started resenting Lazarus for being raised from the dead and wanting to kill him again, (possibly they missed the fact that Jesus had just miraculously raised him from the dead or maybe it hadn’t sank in it yet).

The significance of Lazarus’s resurrection was not only to show Jesus’ power over death for others, but also prophetically for His own death. Moreover, Jesus’ miracles, led many to believe in Him and His power over sin and death. Yet, most of the people who came to joyfully to welcome Jesus en-route to Jerusalem, were present at Jesus’ crucifixion, screaming out for His death at the hands of the Romans.

What is important to note, is that although Jesus’ miraculous power can lead many to Him, it is only a personal encounter with Him that can change lives. Many people had seen Jesus resurrect Lazarus from the dead, but how many of those people truly encountered Jesus personally for themselves. Have you heard of Jesus’ love, read of Jesus’ miracles yet never encountered Him personally? Now is your chance. It’s never too late. Where are not called children of God because of others experiences but because we have personally met with the resurrected Christ and experienced His life changing love. Will you?

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The High Priest’s Accurate Prophecy

11th September

“Caiaphas, who high priest at that time, said, “You do not know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.”

John 11:49-51

A few verses before this passage in John 11, Jesus miraculously heals Lazarus after he had been dead for around 4 days. Jesus yet again showed that He was more than just a good teacher but the Son of God, a statement spoken by Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus.

However, the Pharisees were not happy with Jesus’ miracles. They did not deny that Jesus healed Lazarus and many others. Yet they were so worried about their own reputations, that people were following Jesus’ teachings and not theirs, and so worried about the Roman army, that they missed on who Jesus really was. In fact, their anger was so great that they wanted to kill Jesus.

Amazingly, the Holy Spirit put the words in Caiaphas the high priest’s mouth, that one man (JESUS) would eventually die to save the entire nation. The difference was that salvation was not from the rule of the Roman Army or the saving of the temple in Jerusalem, rather it was the saving of every nation’s sins, that all men could know God personally and intimately.

Ultimately, the Pharisees did get their way and Jesus was crucified. More importantly, however, is that God’s ultimate plan for mankind was fulfilled, when Jesus rose again. He really did save the whole nation of Israel; not just Israel but “all the children of God scattered around the world” (v52).

Will you stand with Martha and declare that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God”? Will you acknowledge that Jesus died not only for the entire nation’s sin, but also yours personally? Jesus is calling, what is your answer?

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Mary And Martha: A Prophetic Anointing

10th September

“Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.””

John 12:7

The anointing of Mary’s expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet may have seemed a waste to the likes of Judas (who wanted to profit for his own gain, v6), but it actually represented a greater purpose. This event actually took place only a few days before Jesus’ crucifixion. Although the text does not state that Mary’s intentions had anything to do with Jesus’ death, it is alluded to by Jesus Himself. He knew that in a few days He would sacrifice Himself for mankind. As was the tradition, after the person had been declared deceased, they poured anointing oil to avoid a bad smell until their burial. What Mary may not have realised, was that anointing Jesus was a prophetic act of preparing Jesus for His imminent death. Jesus knew that His hour would soon come.

Yet that was not the end. The fact that Lazarus, whom Jesus recently raised from the dead, was sitting with them at the table, highlights Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Jesus’ death was not the end, but the beginning of new life.

Let us remember today that our God is alive. His grace a sweet smelling aroma that flows through our own lives. Our priority should always be to put Jesus at the center of our lives, even it means that there is a great cost to pay. In truth, no cost can out-weigh the greatness of what awaits His beloved children. Jesus is not dead, He is alive. He love and grace in us is a sweet fragrance that should be smelt wherever we are. Let us put our lives back into perspective and re-align our selves with Christ at the center.

The relationship of Mary and Judas with Jesus provides two contrasts of true and false relationships. Mary completely sold out for Jesus, and Judas a liar and deceiver. Let us chose truth and give our lives completely to Jesus, running away from falsehood and deceit.

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Mary And Martha: Loving Without A Price

9th September

“A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Him. Then Mary took a 12-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair…..But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to to the poor.””

John 12:2-5

Although this story may not have been directly after the previous story we read of in yesterday’s devotion, it bears a remarkable resemblance to it and highlights a very similar message. Yet again we read that Martha, the servant hearted sister, is busy serving and preparing food for Jesus and their guests. Although Martha’s servant heart may have been genuine and proper, Jesus’ once again commends Mary for her actions.

This time Mary takes an expensive perfume, which as Judas pointed out, was worth a year’s wages, and anoints Jesus’ feet, wiping it in with her hair. Again Mary’s actions would have been seen as completely inappropriate, un-cultural and wasteful. Yet Jesus doesn’t stop her. He realised that Mary was completely in love with Him (not in an erotic way but as her Master and Saviour). She knew that Jesus was so much more than just a Good Teacher.

As Mary let her hair down, (Jewish women never let their hair down in public except on their wedding day), poured the expensive ointment over Jesus feet and wiped it with her hair, she also showed that Jesus had more value to her than the perfume, than cultural dignity and people’s opinions. This a great lesson that we can learn too.

This is not to say that we should go and purposefully break cultural customs or waste expensive things in Jesus’ Name, rather it is an attitude that says ‘Jesus you mean more to me than my finance, my agenda, and my reputation; if I have to lose all for Your sake, then so be it!’. However, this attitude only comes from being completely sold out for Jesus, and willing to have a deep and intimate relationship with Him, through the Holy Spirit’s work of salvation.

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Mary And Martha: Getting Caught Up In DOING

8th September

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing….”

Luke 10:38-40a

In 1999 Zach Neese wrote the song ‘The More I Seek You’, which was popularised through Kari Jobe’s recent albums. The song contains such deep and profound language and doesn’t seem to dissimilar to that of something David would have written in the Psalms. The intimate picture this song paints, tells of how close our relationship with Jesus should be. Reading today’s passage we see a similar encounter of complete intimacy with Jesus, through the actions of Martha’s sister Mary.

As Jesus and His disciples made their way to Jerusalem, they were stopped by a lady called Martha who welcomed them into her home. Amazingly, Martha opens her home to Jesus, without the text being clear that they even knew each other. Furthermore, again Jesus breaks cultural customs by dining with a woman and even allowing Mary to sit at His feet. Yet this event represents something so much more than just a un-cultural dinner date.

As Martha scurried about busily preparing dinner for her guests, her sister Mary, simply sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching (a posture than young disciples would have adopted when learning from their Rabbis). Martha, slightly irritated, confronts Jesus and asks for Him to “tell her to come and help…”. Yet Jesus loving answer may not have been what Martha had wanted to hear. He commended Mary for discovering what was the most important thing to do. Jesus added that there was only “one thing worth being concerned about”, intimacy with Him.

So often, our lives can get so caught up in serving and being distracted by doing so much for God that we forget to spend with God. Martha wisely and loving opened her door to Jesus, yet was so caught up in serving Him that she didn’t spend any time with Him. On the contrary, Jesus commended Mary for simply sitting at His feet and listening to His words. Let us take a look at our lives and think about what is stopping us spending intimate time with Jesus. Let us not be so busy serving Him that we also forget to sit and His feet and spend time with Him. He longs for intimacy with us.

“The more I seek You,
The more I find You
The more I find You, the more I love You

I want to sit at Your feet
Drink from the cup in Your hand.
Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat
This love is so deep, its more than I can stand
I melt in Your peace, its overwhelming”

Zach Nesse, Gateway Music


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Don’t Give up

7th September

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you can trust those who have taught you. You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Don’ give up. Don’t let this world dictate how you live but stand firm in the knowledge of who you are in Christ and what His word says about you. God’s word is so powerful that even 2000 years after it was written, it is still impacting people’s live. Many have tried to destroy it, tear it apart and say it’s worthless, yet nothing could be further from the truth. His word is a real and alive today as it was when it was written. It is not empty words but life. When we see calamity and disaster around us, it is the sure foundation on which our hope rests. It gives us the surety to trust in Jesus Christ and gives us wisdom to receive the truth and gift of salvation.

Paul’s final words to his young disciple was to stay steadfast and faithful to the things he had been taught through the scriptures. Most probably it was his mother and grandmother who educated him in the scriptures, as this was referenced 2 Timothy 1:5. Yet whoever it was that did teach him, had a deep reverence for the word of God and was also trusted by Paul.

May God’s word strengthen you today, may it be a source of wisdom and hope for you too. May it stand as a direction post to Jesus and His salvation, His grace and His love. May you know all that Jesus has for your life. May His word give you strength to remain faithful.

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Don’t Forget To Say Thank You

5th & 6th September

Weekend Edition

“One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.”

Luke 17:15-16

The Lord is gracious, kind and compassionate. His love for the lost runs deep and wide. He showed that when He came to the earth in human form. Yet how often do we thank God for the kindness, grace and compassion He shows? Furthermore, is thanks on our lips when He so lovingly answers our prayers? Is our thankfulness ‘shout’ louder than our cries for help?

As we return to this passage in Luke 17 we read that unfortunately, only one of the 10 lepers that were healed in this passage took the time to thank Jesus for His healing. The one man’s response is of someone who knew that Jesus was more than just a healer. As the man approached Jesus, He fell to the floor at His feet, shouting “Praise God!!!” What a response. A healed man, recognising his healing was from God and falling at the feet of Jesus in gratitude.

Yet Luke includes an important piece of information. This man was a Samaritan! Not only was he an outcast because of his disease but also because of his race. A Samaritan leper was surely the biggest outcast in Jesus’ time. Yet Jesus saw straight through his earthly identity and saw the man how He created him to be and in response to Jesus’ loving and kind heart towards him, he returned and gave thanks to Jesus for all that He had done.

Jesus, is as alive today as He was when this story happened 2000 years ago. His healing power is a true today and it was then. Let us believe God for His healing and remember to thank Him. For in thanks, even more blessing are received. Thankfulness enables our heart to recognise God’s goodness. Let us cry out to God in thanksgiving; not just in our requests. God answers our prayers and deserves our thankfulness.

Sometimes thankfulness means you need to stand out from the crowd!

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The Ten Lepers

4th September

“As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.”

Luke 17:12-14

In the Bible, leprosy was a disease that led to insolation, loneliness, and severe pain. Due to its title of being an ‘unclean’ disease, those who had it, could not associate with anyone else. This is why the lepers could only stand at a distance and shout out to Jesus for their healing.

However, as soon as they saw Jesus, they acknowledged straight away that He was no ordinary man, hence why they called Him Master. They knew that Jesus could heal them. They knew He had the power as they cried out to Him for mercy. So Jesus in His mercy, healed all ten of them. Yet interestingly Jesus’ healing required a step of obedience and faith from the lepers too.

The law requires that after you are healed from leprosy you must present yourselves to the Pharisees, so you can be given the all clear to interact with society again. It was only the Pharisees that could say you are completely healed. So in asking them to go to the Pharisees, it was like Jesus had already healed them. It needed a huge step of faith though. They knew they could not associate with ‘clean’ people, especially those who thought they were the cleanest of all, the Pharisees. Yet, they had nothing to lose. They had to trust Jesus; and because of their trust, they were all healed as they walked to meet the Pharisees.

Sometimes, Jesus’ healing comes in ways and forms that we don’t expect. However, what we can expect is that Jesus is a healer. He graciously and merciful healed the lepers. Yet again Jesus showed His compassion for the marginalised and His grace to heal to sick. May we too live as Jesus lived, imitating His heart for the lost and praying in His Name for healing for the sick. God is alive!

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Our Rock

3rd September

“I love you, Lord; You are my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Saviour; My God is my Rock, in whom I find Protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my Place of safety.”

Psalm 18:1-2

David spent years running away from Saul when he was driven with madness and jealously towards David. Literally David’s very life was in danger on a daily basis. So great was David’s anguish that when he talked about his struggles in the rest of this chapter, he used phrases such as ‘death laid a trap in my path’ and ‘the grave wrapped its ropes around me’. This is heartfelt imagery; imagery that conjures up a hopeless situation. Yet hope was always at hand because David had the Lord by his side.

David knew that God was his rock, fortress, Saviour, strength, protection, power, shield and a place of refuge from the enemies. Although danger was at his doorstep, he knew that God would save him. In fact this poem is written after God saved David from his enemies and from the hands of Saul as a reflection on God’s saving grace.

David shared such an intimate walk with God. Yet his intimacy came from the knowledge of who God was and is. He knew he could fully trust and rely on his God to save him. And time and time again, God did just that. When we are walking through a tunnel that seems to have no light at the end, let us remember that our God, is our strength, He is our fortress and very present help in time of need. He hears our cry, and stretches His hand to us. We can have hope in hopeless situation because He is our hope and He never fails.

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The Samaria Revival

2nd September

“Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ……When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 8:6,14-15

Jesus’ actions on the day when He ministered to the Samaritan woman, changed Samaria’s identity forever; not just at the time but even years later. If we look back to Jesus’ last words just before His ascension in Acts 1:8, we read the following words….“And you will be my witnesses telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, IN SAMARIA, and to the ends of the earth.” This prophetic statement about Samaria came to fruition in Acts 8.

Although it is not stated in the text, it can be concluded that Jesus had already scattered the seeds of salvation on that day when He revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman and her fellow villagers. Because of the word Jesus spoke, years later, people were still receiving His salvation. The Samaritans were eager to hear Philip’s message about Jesus and many believed and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, in His grace, has poured out to us His children, the gift of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was never a gift to be hidden but shared with the world. For in sharing His gift, others can also receive it too. The power of one life changed can ultimately affect a whole city. If we understand that, it will change the way we share our gift with people and help us to realise the value of the people we are sharing it with. Just as one life changed a whole town in Samaria, so can one life make a difference today.