John 12 1-3

Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace!

During this Holy Week, I am so thankful that we have the Holy Word of Almighty God that we can read and hear preached from so we can learn ever more about our His great unending love for us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died of us! May the life of Jesus, His suffering, His death on the cross, His victory over the grave, death, hell and the power of the devil, and His Glorious resurrection be revealed by His Holy Spirit to each of our hearts to an even fuller extent during this week!

This week our article is by Pastor Andrew Kandoll from Michigan USA

May God Grant you a Blessed Week! John R.
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Dear friends,
God’s Peace!

The Bible tells us a brief story about a family that Jesus helped in John 12:1-3: “Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. The Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the whole house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

What a miracle occurred in the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus who had been dead sat at the table with Jesus to eat with Him. This is a marvelous picture of those who have been born again from the death of trespasses and sins to sit with Jesus in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:4-10 says: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, his heart was filled with love, thanksgiving, and praise for the Lord Jesus Christ. He sat with Jesus. Martha and Mary also showed their love by serving and worshipping Him. This love for Jesus and desire to be with Him is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23: “ The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”We are filled with love for Him who has loved us first that we might love Him. We have joy in fellowship with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3,4). Jesus forgives us and gives us peace that the world cannot give. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27a.

Dear friend, have you been raised from the dead like Lazarus, been born again from God, and received the forgiveness of your sins? Jesus is powerful to save, forgive and wash you clean through the blood that He shed on Calvary’s cross. Believe in Him today, praise, worship and thank Him always, and sit in fellowship with Him and His people.

In God’s precious love,
Pastor Andrew Kandoll