Alan W. Harris's Blog, page 4

Really Great News!

I wanted to let each of you know that my two latest books, The Maker’s Medicine Girl and The Dancing Ghosts and now available on The Book Depository! This is fantastic news because that means all of my books can be ordered from almost any place in the world and they will be delivered with FREE SHIPPING! What a blessing for missionary families or you folks in Australia or New Zealand who read my books. If you know of someone in another country who you think would enjoy exciting adventure stories with a godly message please let them know about this great opportunity. The links for the Book Depository can be found on my website here, or you can go directly to the Book Depository site here for The Maker’s Medicine Girl and here for The Dancing Ghosts. God’s richest blessings to all of you, Alan W. Harris

30 – Clean Feet and a Dirty Heart

(Inspired by John 13: 2-20)
The sun had set, and Rock was finishing putting all of the food on the tables for the Passover meal when the door to the upper room opened, and in walked John leading Jesus and the other disciples. As they entered, Rock hurried over to the basin and pitcher of water resting on a table by the door.
“We have prepared the urchatz here,” he announced. Each guest took turns holding their hands over the basin while Rock poured water over them. When everyone had completed the cleansing ceremony, the big fisherman directed them to the tables.
“Lord, You will sit here and be our host tonight,” Rock announced. “The rest of you find a place. As everyone made their way to the low tables, John closed the door against the cool night air.
“John,” the Teacher called, “do you see Elijah?”
John laughed and said, “Lord, we usually look for Elijah at the end of the meal.”
“Look for him now,” Jesus returned.
The young disciple reopened the door, made a pretense of looking around, and turned back to report. “Elijah hasn’t come tonight,” he said with a smile.
Many of the disciples laughed at John’s words, remembering the times in their youth when they had been the youngest child in the family and had been asked to perform the same tradition.
“That’s because he already came,” Jesus answered emphatically.
Suddenly everyone was silent and looked questioningly at the Lord.
“Elijah has already come,” the Teacher repeated sadly, “and they did to him whatever they wished.”
“Are you talking about John the Baptizer, Lord?” John asked as he moved to his place beside Jesus. “Is that who you’re talking about?”
“Are you saying that the Baptizer was Elijah who is to come?” Philip questioned.
“If you’re willing to accept it,” Jesus answered, “yes, he was.”
As they thought about this announcement, pitchers were passed around, and each disciple poured himself the first cup of wine to begin the Passover. Jesus lifted His cup and gave the traditional blessing, then they all drank.
“Lord,” Thomas asked as the food was being passed, “Elijah who is to come is the great one who prepares the way for the Messiah. How could the Baptizer have been him? I mean…they killed him! That’s not the way it’s supposed to happen!”
Judas snorted under his breath at Thomas’s words.
“Thomas, the Father works all things according to the council of His will,” Jesus returned. “The Evil One can try to stop it, but God always accomplishes what He wants. Even now the Father has given all things into My hands.” Looking across the table, Jesus stared straight at Judas and repeated, “All things.
“I have come from God, and now I am going back to God, but there are a few things that I must do first.”
As soon as He said this, Jesus rose from the table and walked over to the pitcher and basin by the door. The Teacher took off his outer robe and tied the large towel around His waist. Carrying the pitcher and the basin, Jesus knelt behind Nathaniel the son of Talmai as he reclined at the table with his feet extended behind him. Jesus removed his dirty sandals and began to wash the disciple’s feet with water from the basin. Nathaniel, as well as the others, stared dumbfounded at their Lord. Carefully, thoroughly, even lovingly, Jesus took His time to wash the nasty, smelly feet of each disciple, working his way around the table.
“Why are you doing this, Lord?” Philip asked what they were all thinking.
“Because your feet are dirty,” Jesus returned matter-of-factly as He removed Judas’s sandals and gently began to wash the traitor’s feet.
“We messed up,” John whispered to Rock. “This is embarrassing! We should have hired a servant to wash everyone’s feet when we came in.”
“We didn’t have enough money for that,” Rock hissed back. “It was going to have to be me or you…and I wasn’t going to wash their stinkin’ feet! I figured that if they wanted clean feet, they could wash their own.”
“I guess the Teacher doesn’t see it that way,” John returned.
By the time Jesus arrived at Rock’s feet, the ashamed disciple rolled over to face the Lord and pulled his feet up. “Do you intend to wash MY feet?” Rock asked with concern.
“You don’t understand what I’m doing right now,” Jesus answered, “but you will later.”
“You are my LORD!” Rock shot back with feeling. “You will never wash my feet!”
At this outburst Jesus sat back on His heels and looked the disciple straight in the eyes. “If I do not wash you,” the Teacher said with grave seriousness, “then you have no part with Me.”
Rock’s mouth dropped open when he heard these words and tears began to form in his eyes. Shoving his feet in front of Jesus, he said earnestly, “Wash me, Lord! Wash my feet, my hands, my head…wash all of me!”
As the Teacher removed Rock’s sandals, He said, “If you’ve had a bath, you only need to wash your feet to be completely clean, and you are clean.” As He said these last four words, Jesus looked around at all of the disciples. When His eyes rested on Judas, the Lord added, “…but not all of you.”
After He had completed His task, Jesus replaced the pitcher and basin, put His robe back on, and went back to His place at the table. “Do you know what I have done for you?” He asked.
This question was met with blank stares.
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. If then, I, your Teacher and Lord, washed your feet, you also ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example that you should do as I’ve done.” As Jesus said these words, most of the eyes in the room dropped toward the table. John and Rock looked at each other, feeling the shame of their pride.
“I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth,” Jesus began again, “a servant is not greater than his master; neither is the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. Whatever you see your Master doing is what you should be doing. And the things you are learning about the life of the One Who sends you out is how you should be living your life. If you understand the words I’m saying to you, the real blessing comes when you actually put them into practice.
“I’m not speaking to all of you,” the Teacher continued. “Each of you claims to be My follower, but I know the ones who are Mine. What is happening right now is a fulfillment of the scripture that says, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’”
The stunned silence engulfed the room. Looking around at one another, the disciples seemed at a loss for words at the shocking revelation.
“Things have changed,” Jesus said in answer to their unasked questions. “From now on, I am telling you the things that will happen before they come to pass so that when these difficult things occur, those of you who are Mine may still believe that I Am.
“There is so much more to what will happen from now on than each of you realize. I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth. When I send you out, those who receive you will actually be receiving Me. And not only that, but whoever receives Me is also receiving Him Who sent Me. You will be taking the Father and Me with you wherever you go, and We will be revealing Ourselves through you.”

By Alan W. Harris

29 – Rejecting or Accepting the Better Lamb

Jesus and his disciples were resting in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. The Lord was staring intently at Jerusalem to the west. Finally the Teacher turned to face His followers. They could tell by the look on His face that He had something important to say.
“You know that I love you,” Jesus began. “I have loved each of you since before I called you, and I have never stopped.” He looked around at his disciples, making eye contact with each. His eyes seemed to linger a little longer on Judas; so long, in fact, that it made the disciple uncomfortable.
“Rock!” Jesus called.
“Yes, Teacher?”
“Take John with you and go arrange all we need for the Passover supper,” the Teacher directed.
“Where shall we prepare it?”
There was a pause before the Lord answered. “When you enter the city, you will see a man carrying a pitcher of water. I want you to follow him. Go up to the house that he enters and ask the owner, ‘Where is the Lord’s guest room to eat the Passover with His disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room that is furnished. That’s where you will prepare for us.”
“We will take care of it, Teacher,” Rock answered as he nodded at John.
As the two disciples were leaving the garden, they walked over to Judas, who was sitting by himself near the entrance. “Judas,” Rock began, “the Teacher asked John and me to go prepare the Passover for all of us. I need the money box to make our purchases.”
Judas gave an annoyed sigh and drummed his fingers on the box as he considered the request. Finally a faint smile spread across his face. “Why don’t I go with you? I know a fellow who runs a shop, and I might be able to get us a better deal for the food.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Rock led the way down the hill to the city.
After finding the upper room exactly as the Lord said they would, the three disciples went to purchase a lamb. “It’s going to take you some time to get the animal sacrificed at the temple and then get it cooking,” Judas said after grudgingly paying for it. “I’ll go check with my friend and see if he will give us a discount for the rest of what we need.”
“That’s fine,” Rock returned, “but leave us some money to make the purchases in case you don’t make it back. Sometimes you lose track of time.”
With an audible growl Judas snatched some coins from the box and carefully counted them into Rock’s outstretched hand. Judas never liked Rock. Maybe it was because he was a ‘stinkin’ fisherman,’ or maybe it was because Rock was so annoyingly cock-sure of himself. Either way, Judas was looking forward to seeing the outspoken disciple put in his place. ‘You’ll get yours,’ Judas thought to himself, ‘and soon!’
Taking back streets and alleys, Judas skirted the market area and arrived at the palatial home of the high priest. Conferring with one of the guards at the gate, he was eventually ushered into a meeting of several of the chief priests and elders.
“So you’re one of the Nazarene’s followers,” Caiaphas asked suspiciously, “and you would betray your messiah?”
“He’s not my messiah!” Judas shot back. “I used to think he might be, but not anymore.”
“You would agree to turn the teacher Jesus over to us?” one of the elders asked anxiously.
“Not for free,” Judas returned quickly. “What will you give me if I do it?”
“Mmmm…How about twenty silver pieces?” Caiaphas tempted.
“Make it thirty, and I’ll do it,” the traitor haggled.
“Alright,” Caiaphas agreed, “but for thirty pieces of silver, you must lead our guards to him and point him out.” The high priest signaled to a trusted servant to get the money.
Judas balked at this. He didn’t mind selling out the Teacher, but the cowardly disciple wanted to just tell the chief priests where Jesus would be, then not be there when they came to arrest Him. Now not only must he be there when it would all take place, but Judas would have to stand in front of all the disciples and betray Jesus to his face.
“Well, what’s it going to be, Judas?” Caiaphas asked as he bounced the bag of silver coins in his hand. “Are you willing to go with the guards and point out the Nazarene? If you want this money, you have to make sure they arrest the right person. That deceiver must not escape again!”
Greed winning out over his cowardice, Judas finally answered, “Just give me the money. I’ll make sure you get the right man. But we have to do this at night in an out of the way place.”
“When you decide on the time and place, then come here,” Caiaphas ordered. “I’ll have my guards ready to gather in a moment’s notice, and you can lead them. But if you double-cross us, it will be you we will be coming after.”
Judas nodded his understanding.
When he didn’t see the enthusiasm he wanted from the traitor, Caiaphas snapped, “DO IT TONIGHT!”

After Rock and John had waited their turn for a priest to ceremonially kill their lamb and pour out the blood beside the altar, they brought the carcass back to the house where the upper room was located. The cut-up pieces of lamb were placed in the large clay oven which was beside the house. Meat was already cooking in it, and the house owner offered to let the disciples cook their lamb there as well.
While the meat slowly roasted, the two disciples walked back to the market and bought several loaves of unleavened bread as well as the rest of the food that was needed for the traditional supper. When Rock was paying for their purchases, John asked, “What if Judas shows up with a better deal?”
“He knew what we were doing,” Rock returned. “He had plenty of time to check with merchants and to get back to us. Obviously he got distracted…again.”
Returning to the upper room, they stacked the loaves and covered them with a cloth. Parsley and lettuce were placed beside the bread. With these John set down a small jar of ground horseradish and a larger bowl of charoset, which was a mixture of dried fruit, nuts, wine, and cinnamon. A couple of skins of inexpensive wine were laying on a table by the door, near a large pot of water that the home owner had kindly supplied for the purpose of ceremonial hand and foot washing. The disciples also noticed that towels and a small basin were beside the water pot. They would distribute the food on the low tables when it was closer to time to eat. For now they decided to take their eggs down to put in the oven to roast with the lamb.
The meat was sizzling and starting to brown when they opened the oven door. Both disciples licked their lips involuntarily when they saw the cooking roasts.
“Why do you think God picked a lamb for the Passover sacrifice?” John asked. “Oh, I know its smaller and less expensive than a bull and a lot easier to handle, but why a lamb?”
“It’s for our sins,” Rock gave the traditional answer.
“Oh, I know all that too,” John returned, “but it’s still just a lamb. It’s not really worth that much…not when you think about how bad our sins are. I mean, my sins are awful! I think I need a better lamb.”
Rock was thoughtful after hearing John’s words. “We all do,” Rock said. “What you said reminded me of something. Do you remember when we first saw Jesus?” John nodded his head, and Rock continued, “It was when we were listening to the Baptizer by the Jordan River. John was speaking, and all of a sudden, he looks up and spots a fellow walking towards us.”
“It was Jesus,” Rock’s young friend said with a smile.
“Yes, it was,” the big fisherman agreed. “As soon as the Baptizer spotted Him, John pointed straight at Jesus and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!”
“I do remember that,” young John returned, “but what does it mean?”
“Well,” Rock answered thoughtfully, “I think it means that Jesus IS the better lamb.”

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 13:1, Mark 14: 12-16, and Matthew 26: 14-16)

28 – God’s Words are Life

The next day Jesus was again in the temple with His disciples. As always, it didn’t take long for word to get out, and soon a crowd surrounded Him. The enthusiasm of the people was still high, and shouts of praise came from many.
“Do you hear how many are believing in You, Lord?” Rock asked excitedly as they looked around at the cheering throng.
Viewing the expectant faces surrounding Him, Jesus let out a sad sigh. “I know their hearts,” He said sadly. “They don’t really believe.”
“What do You mean, Lord?” John asked when he heard Jesus’s response.
“I’m not the king they want,” He answered. “They will actually turn against Me soon because they are in the darkness. They don’t know God, and they don’t understand His will.”
“Teach us something, Master,” someone in the crowd shouted. “We believe in You!”
“Do you?” Jesus called back. “The one who truly believes in Me does not believe in Me but in Him Who sent Me.”
This statement was met with many confused looks on the faces of the listeners. “Who are You talking about?” someone asked.
“Do you see Me?” Jesus asked. The response was again met with more confused looks as they affirmed that they could see Him. “It’s not really Me you’re seeing. It’s Him Who sent Me. I know you don’t understand what I’m saying because you are in darkness. I have come as light into the world so that everyone who truly believes in Me doesn’t have to stay in darkness. My Father has offered a way out for those who are tired of living in spiritual blindness. Do any of you want to be free of the darkness? Then come to the light!”
“Where IS the light, Teacher?” someone asked, frustration in his voice.
“It’s ME!” Jesus returned. “As I have said, I am the light, and My words are true because they come from My Father. All that you could ever want is right here, and yet none of you will accept it.”
At this point murmurs could be heard from the multitude, and a number began to walk away.
“Your judgment on these people was right, Teacher, when You said that they didn’t really believe” John voiced his thoughts as he saw the people leaving. “You told them to come to Your light, but they didn’t believe enough to do it.”
“I didn’t judge them, John,” Jesus answered. “I didn’t come to judge anyone. The Father sent Me to speak His words to the people. If they hear My words but don’t keep them, I don’t judge them.”
“Why not, Lord?” John asked indignantly. “They deserve it.”
“That’s not why I came,” the Teacher returned. “Father sent Me to save the world, not to judge it.”
“So You’re just gonna let those people who reject You get away with it?”
“Don’t misunderstand,” Jesus answered. “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings has a judge; the word that I spoke is what will judge him on the last day.”
“Your words?”
“That’s right,” the Teacher agreed. “They will be judged by what I have said. And do you know why? Because they aren’t My words! The Father Himself has commanded Me to say what He has given Me to speak, and I have done it! The words you have heard from Me are His words…they are His commands. I have presented them exactly as He wanted Me to because the amazing life, the highest life, the most wonderful, everlasting life that God wants all of you to have is experienced when you trust in His words. If anyone receives the words of the Father and accepts them to be true, then they will produce eternal life in the person who follows them. I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth, the words of God are life!”

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 12: 44-50)

27 – The Cost of Walking in the Light

Nicodemas, the scholar, and Joseph of Arimathea sat together in Nicodemas’s study. With them were five other leaders of the Pharisees who had expressed genuine interest in the teachings of Jesus. Unwilling to let the chief priests or any of the other leaders know of their curiosity about the Galilean teacher, they met in secret. All of them were listening intently to a report being made by one of Nicodemas’s servants.
“Could it have been thunder, Tobias?” Joseph asked.
“No, Rabbi Joseph,” the servant answered earnestly. “I heard it with my own ears, and so did everyone around me! When Jesus prayed out loud, asking God to glorify His name, a voice—a loud voice from heaven, answered Him. The voice said, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ It was terrifying!”
Looking at Nicodemas, Tobias asked in fear, “Master, can a man hear the voice of God and live?”
“You did,” the teacher returned matter-of-factly.
“Oh…yes,” Tobias answered sheepishly.
“So then what did Jesus say?” Eber of Lachish pressed anxiously.
Thinking hard, Tobias answered, “He said that the voice from heaven was for us and not for Him. He said that judgment was coming on the world. He said it like it was happening now, and He said that, because of the judgment, the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
“That could be the Roman emperor!” Elias, another Pharisee, said excitedly.
“Or it could be Satan,” Nicodemas added, waving his hand to indicate Tobias should continue.
“Then He said that He would draw all people to Himself when He was lifted up from the earth.”
“Wait…Jesus said something like that to you when you first met Him,” Joseph said to his friend.
“Yes,” Nicodemas returned thoughtfully. “What was it? ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.’”
“But what does He mean ‘to be lifted up’?” asked Matthan of Gibeah.
Nicodemas gave this question some consideration. Speaking his thoughts out loud, he said, “Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole.”
“If Jesus were lifted up on a pole that would be…CRUCIFIXION!” Joseph gasped. “But that can’t be! I’ve always understood that when the Messiah came, He was to be with us forever!” Most of the others in the small group nodded their heads in agreement.
“Well, the Teacher has referred to being beaten and killed before,” the scholar replied.
“Yes, but I thought that was just another one of His allegories,” Joseph returned.
“What else did He say, Tobias?” Nicodemas asked.
“There was one last thing He said. It was right before He disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Elias questioned.
“Yes, Rabbi! He spoke His final words, then He and His followers walked into the temple, but when the rest of us tried to follow, they were gone, and no one could find them.”
“But what did He say, Tobias?” Nicodemas asked irritably.
“The last thing He talked about was light and darkness. He said that we would have the light for a little while longer and that we should walk in the light while we could, so that the darkness wouldn’t overtake us. He said that, if you walk in the darkness, then you don’t know where you are going. Isn’t that obvious, master?”
“I think He means spiritual darkness,” Nicodemas explained.
“So what is this light He’s talking about?” Tobias asked.
“He’s referring to Himself,” Joseph answered as the thought suddenly came to him. “I’ve heard Him say, ‘I am the light of the world.’”
“What does that mean?” Simon the Bethlehemite asked. “How can He be light?”
In response to these questions, Joseph turned to look at the scholar.
“Well, let’s think about what He’s said,” Nicodemas began. “Jesus claims to have come from God. He has also claimed that all of His words are from God.”
“So Jesus is light because He has come to reveal God’s words to us?” Joseph asked.
After thinking for a moment, Nicodemas responded, “It may be more than that. Not only did He say that He spoke only the Father’s words, but He also said that He is here to do the works of the Father. I think that when Jesus says He is the light of the world, He is saying that He came to reveal not just God’s words, but God Himself.”
“So walking in the light must mean living our lives trusting in all that Jesus reveals to us about God,” Elias thought out loud.
“Yes,” agreed the scholar.
“So if Jesus is the light,” Tobias felt prompted to ask again, “what is the darkness?”
“Everything that is not Him,” Nicodemas answered. They all had to think about that for a moment.
“There’s a lot of people in darkness,” Tobias concluded.
“If the Messiah has truly come to us,” Simon asked, “then why hasn’t everyone believed in Him?”
“That is actually prophesied about,” Nicodemas said as he searched through his notes on the table in front of him. “I wrote down these quotes from Isaiah. ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ And in another place the prophet says, ‘He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and perceive with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’
“So you see,” Nicodemas continued, “many are unwilling to believe, and God has hidden His light from them.”
“Well, we aren’t blind are we?” Matthan asked, looking at the other religious leaders in the room. “I mean, we see what the Teacher’s saying, right?” All the others slowly nodded their heads in agreement. All eyes turned to the older scholar.
“What about you, Nicodemas?” Joseph asked. “Do you think Jesus is the Messiah?”
The scholar was thoughtful for several long moments. Finally, looking at his friends, he said, “It is one thing to accept that Jesus is the Messiah. It is another to confess that conviction publicly. Are each of you ready to declare yourselves to be followers of the Nazarene?”
The others were stunned at the question.
“WHAT?”
“NICODEMAS, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?”
“HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?”
“YOU KNOW WE CAN’T DO THAT!”
“THEY’LL KICK US OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUES IF WE DO!”
“WE’D BE THROWING AWAY OUR CAREERS…AND OUR FUTURES!”
The old scholar smiled at the others.
“Don’t fool yourselves, my friends,” Nicodemas responded. “We have seen the light, but we are still standing in the darkness.”
“What do you mean?” Simon asked, a little offended.
“To say we believe in Him while remaining unwilling to follow Him is not walking in the light. It’s looking at the light while hiding in the darkness. What we believe about Jesus has no meaning until our faith motivates us to take a stand for Him.”

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 12: 33-43)

IT’S FINALLY DONE!

I AM SO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE THIRD BOOK IN THE FLINTLOCK SAGAS SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE!

THE DANCING GHOSTS IS AN EXCITING STORY OF SURVIVAL IN THE KENTUCKY WILDERNESS DURING THE LATE 1770S. THE CHANCE DISCOVERY OF STRANGE GHOST-LIKE FIGURES DANCING IN THE FOREST LEADS TO THE MOST TERRIFYING CONSEQUENCES. WILL HACKETT AND HIS FRIENDS, ASA, DIRT, GREY FOX AND EMBER MUST TRUST IN GOD AND RISK THEIR LIVES TO TRY TO SAVE THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND EVEN GENERAL GEORGE RODGERS CLARKS ARMY FROM CERTAIN DESTRUCTION.
FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER TO THE LAST, THIS THRILLING TALE WILL KEEP YOU TURNING PAGES. THE EXCITEMENT NEVER LETS UP AS THE READER DELVES DEEPER INTO THIS THRILLING STORY OF THE KENTUCKY FRONTIER. WITH ADVENTURE, HUMOR, AND UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS, THIS STIRRING TALE OF THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS REVEALS THE VALUE OF GOOD CHARACTER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NEWEST BOOK HERE.

READ ABOUT THE FLINTLOCK SAGAS SERIES HERE.

I OFFER A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ME TO COMPLETE THIS EXCITING PROJECT.
BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
ALAN W. HARRIS

26 – The Triumphal Entry

The day after the party at Simon the Leper’s house, crowds from Jerusalem showed up as word reached them that Jesus was in Bethany. What was interesting was that as many came to see Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead, as to see Jesus. When word got back to the chief priests about the multitude who were openly confessing their faith in Jesus as the Messiah after hearing about and seeing Lazarus, they were so infuriated that they began making plans to kill Lazarus as well as the Nazarene.
The next morning Jesus announced to his disciples that He was going to Jerusalem. His followers knew that was His plan all along, but none of them liked the idea.
“Lord, wear a disguise when You enter the city,” Rock said.
“Yes,” agreed Matthew, “and we should slip around to the West Gate and enter there.”
“Good idea,” agreed Simon, “that way maybe we can get You in without anyone knowing.”
“Moshe!” Jesus called, and a young man came running up. He was a relative of Lazarus and was also a devoted follower of the Teacher.
“Yes, Lord?” he asked eagerly.
“Run ahead of me to Jerusalem,” Jesus ordered. “Follow the main road and proclaim to everyone you meet that I am headed into the city. Tell them that I am coming in the name of the Lord.” At these words all of the disciples groaned. Judas sneered at Jesus from the back of the group and slowly shook his head.
Ignoring the plans and pleas of His followers, Jesus began walking determinedly toward Jerusalem. As the people of Bethany saw the Teacher leaving, they streamed out of their homes and shops and surrounded him. Many had witnessed the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and loudly cheered and praised the Lord as they walked.
Bethany was located on the east side of the Mount of Olives. As they reached the top of the hill, not only was the beautiful city of Jerusalem suddenly visible, but the small village of Bethphage could be seen half way down the slope in front of them.
Pointing at the small town, Jesus instructed Rock and John to go ahead of Him. “As soon as you enter, you will find a colt tied there. Untie it and bring it here to Me.”
“Won’t the owners think we’re stealing it?” John asked.
“Tell them that the Lord needs it and will send it back when He’s done.”
Hurrying to accomplish their task, the disciples found the colt just as the Teacher had said.
The owners did indeed confront the disciples, but when they responded with Jesus’s words, the owner gave them permission but with a warning. “If the Teacher needs the colt, then He can use it, but you need to know that this animal has never been ridden.”
“He’s not broken to ride?” Rock asked in shock.
“Not at all,” the owner returned, “and, in fact, he’s really hard to deal with. That’s why we had him tied up. We were trying to break him to the halter, but he constantly fights it. Good luck.”
Reluctantly the two disciples pulled and pushed the balking colt back to Jesus. Remarkably, as soon as the animal saw the Teacher, it walked right up to Him. Rock and John looked at each other in amazement, then quickly took off their outer robes and threw them across the back of the beast. As Jesus mounted, the colt stood perfectly still, and at a word from the Teacher, it started toward Jerusalem.
Moshe had done his job. People were streaming out of the city holding palm branches and lining the road leading to the eastern gate, also known as the Beautiful Gate or the King’s Gate.
“HE RAISES THE DEAD!” someone shouted from the crowd walking with Jesus.
“HE GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND!” cried another.
“AND MAKES THE LAME WALK!” someone added.
“BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!” Moshe shouted over the others. “ISREAL, BEHOLD YOUR KING!”
When the crowd heard all these praises, shouts of “OH SAVE”(*) rang out from many voices, and people laid the palm branches and even their robes on the road for Jesus’s donkey to step on.
As the teacher from Nazareth rode through the King’s Gate, the cheering from the huge crowd grew even louder. The chief priests and some of the leaders of the Pharisees stood on a balcony watching.
“Do you see that?” one of the Pharisees said to Caiaphas as they watched Jesus’s triumphant entry into the city. “Your plans are doing no good at all! Look, the whole world has gone after him!”

“He rode into town on a donkey, Nicodemas! Now that’s really going to intimidate the Romans, don’t you think?” Joseph of Arimathea said in frustration as he paced back and forth in the scholar’s study. “Jesus even had this massive crowd with Him. He could have led His army straight into Jerusalem and kicked our oppressors out! But do you know what kind of weapons His ‘army’ carried? They were carrying palm branches! Seriously, if Jesus really was the king we’ve been hoping for, He would have made a much more powerful entrance! You know He would have! A donkey, for goodness sake! It’s embarrassing! King David and King Solomon at least rode mules!”
The whole time his friend talked, Nicodemas searched for something in a small scroll.
“Are you even listening to me?” Joseph asked again.
“Yes, I am,” the scholar returned, “and I think I have your answer. As you were speaking, I remembered something I had read in the scroll of the prophet Zechariah, and I just found it. Listen to this: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; he is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
“WHAT?” Joseph gasped. “IT WAS PROPHESIED?”
“We must be careful, my friend,” Nicodemas returned. “Our preconceived ideas about the Messiah, or even our thoughts of what we want Him to be like, can blind us to Who He really is.”

When Jesus neared the temple, He dismounted and instructed Rock and John to return the colt. As they pulled and pushed the again balking donkey back to its owners, a small group of men approached Phillip.
“Excuse us, sir,” one of the men said, “but aren’t you with the Teacher Jesus?”
Phillip turned to face them and was surprised at being addressed by the foreigners. At first he thought they were Romans, but then he recognized the embroidered togas and realized that they were Greeks.
“I am,” Phillip returned suspiciously. “What do you want?”
“We have traveled all the way to Jerusalem to worship in your temple. In the short time that we have been here, we have heard many stories about your master, and we would like to meet Him.”
“Greeks?” Phillip mumbled to himself as he thought about the request. His first impulse was to send them away, but then he remembered the rebuke he and the other disciples had received when trying to keep children away from Jesus.
Finally he responded, “I will see.”
Not sure what to do, Phillip grabbed Andrew by the coat sleeve and explained the situation. With a shrug Andrew answered, “Well, let’s see if the Teacher wants to talk with them.”
Andrew called to Jesus as He was starting up the steps that led to the temple. He stopped and turned to face the disciple.
“Teacher, these Greeks are here wanting to speak with You,” Andrew said and immediately regretted it. He had never seen such intensity in his Master’s eyes before. Some profound concern rested on the Teacher at this moment.
Jesus turned His attention from Andrew and Phillip to the other disciples and the large crowd of followers around Him. Finally His gaze rested on the group of foreigners who were looking eagerly at Him.
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified!” Jesus announced to all of them. In response to all of the questioning looks, Jesus answered, “I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it will produce a whole lot more.” Jesus saw more questioning looks.
“The person who loves his life in this world will wind up losing it,” the Teacher spoke again. “But the person who is willing to give up his life in this world to follow Me will keep it and end up with the highest and best life they could ever imagine. The life they will receive will last forever.” The disciples nodded their heads as they began to comprehend.
“If anyone wants to serve Me,” Jesus responded, “they need to follow Me, and go where I go, doing what I do. The person who does that will not just be serving Me, they will be serving My father also, and He will honor them.”
Smiles and happy nods were seen from many in the crowd at these words, but as they looked at Jesus, they saw a look of sorrow appear on His face.
“What’s wrong, Teacher?” Thomas asked when he saw the Lord’s sadness.
Jesus looked from his disciple to the rest of the people and then to the city of Jerusalem spreading out around Him. “I’m troubled,” He said loudly enough for all to hear. “I’m troubled about what’s coming. But what should I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No way! NO WAY! This is the very reason I came to this hour!”
With a determined sigh Jesus looked up into heaven and shouted, “FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME!”
Suddenly a thunderous voice broke from the sky, “I HAVE GLORIFIED IT, AND I WILL DO IT AGAIN!”
“What was that?” more than one in the crowd asked.
“It…it…was an angel!” someone else cried. “An angel spoke to Him!”
Seeing the terrified looks on their faces, Jesus cried out, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours!
“An amazing thing is happening!” Jesus continued. “Judgment from God has come on this world!”
“What does that mean?” James asked with concern.
“It’s a good thing, James,” Jesus answered loudly. “It’s a very good thing! It means that the ruler of this world, the great enemy, shall finally be cast out! To do this, as I have said, I must be lifted up. But that’s good too, because when I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.” As Jesus said these last words, He stretched out His hand in a sweeping gesture toward all of those in the crowd, stopping when his hand was extended toward the small group of Greeks.
By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 12:12-33)

* “Oh Save” is the literal translation of the word “Hosanna” and it is a term of adoration proclaimed to a king or honored ruler.

25 – Simon the Leper’s Party

The Passover was near…THE Passover…the one Jesus knew would be His last. It was a week away and already people from all over were streaming into Jerusalem. Many wished to arrive early to go through ceremonial cleansing so that they would be purified for the feast.
The chief priests and the Pharisees already had their thugs working the crowds.
“Hey! Any a’ you seen that teacher, Jesus of Nazareth?” a rough-looking fellow demanded threateningly to a group of Jews exiting one of the mikvahs used for ritual immersion.
When the happy worshipers turned to look at the man, they saw that he led a squad of several brutes carrying clubs.
“Uh…n-no,” one of the Jews answered timidly. “None of us have seen him.”
“Well, if you do,” the rough spokesman growled, “you better get word to the chief priests quick! They’ve issued orders to arrest him an’ anyone who supports him! YOU GOT THAT?”
After the company of bullies left, one of the Jews said to the others, “The Teacher’s in real trouble if He shows up this year.”
“Do you think He will?” another asked.
“Not if He knows what’s good for Him.”
Actually, Jesus wasn’t in Jerusalem right then. He and His followers were on their way back to Bethany, but this time it wasn’t primarily to visit Lazarus and his sisters. They had received a message from Martha informing them that Simon, the former leper, had invited Jesus and His disciples to a feast at his house. It was to be a huge party. He had invited the whole village, and it was intended to publicly thank Jesus for healing him.
When Jesus arrived, everything was ready. Simon and his father had spared no expense for the supper. He had even borrowed lanterns to hang in the trees. When the people in Bethany heard what Simon and his father were doing, many volunteered to bring food and drink. Mary had come early to help prepare for the guests, and Martha had volunteered to serve.
Jesus and the others arrived late in the afternoon. Even though the party was not supposed to begin until sunset, as soon as the people of Bethany saw the Teacher walk into town, they poured into the street to welcome Him and to escort Him to Simon’s.
The former leper was so excited to see Jesus again that, even though the preparations were not complete, he welcomed the Teacher and everyone else into his home and started the feast early.
The first thing Simon did was to introduce the Teacher to his invalid father. The compassionate and loyal son had brought his father’s bed into the large room and propped him up with comfortable pillows so that he could enjoy the feast as well.
“Thank you, Lord!” the old man said weakly when he met Jesus. “Thank you for what You have done for us! This feast is our humble way of expressing our gratitude to You.”
“Then why don’t you join us?” Jesus said with a smile. Reaching down, He gripped the old man’s hand.
Simon’s father’s eyes grew wide as he felt strength surge through his body. “Lord!” he cried with surprise. Then he began to laugh…a strong, full laugh. “I believe I shall join the feast!” Rising confidently to his feet, he turned to his son, who rushed into his arms.
Just then the old man saw Lazarus walk in. “Lazarus, my good neighbor, I heard you had died.”
“I was dead,” Lazarus laughed. “I heard you were sick.”
“Ha, ha, ha! I was sick.”
Jesus was given the place of honor, with Lazarus on one side and Simon’s father on the other, while Simon busied himself with making sure all of his guests had plenty to eat and drink.
“Will you go to the Passover, Lord?” Lazarus asked. “You know Your enemies are waiting for You.”
“I must,” Jesus returned. “My time has almost come. The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
Mary, who was standing near to the Lord, heard once again the prophecy Jesus had spoken before in her presence, and it always broke her heart. She wished that it were not true, but the Lord’s words were always true. With a firm resolve she hurried out from the party and ran to her home. She opened a chest at the foot of her bed and dug down to the bottom, pulling out a beautiful alabaster box that was sealed. With tears streaming down her face, she ran back to Simon’s house. She pushed through the celebrants until she was beside her Master again. Breaking the sealed end of the box, she began to pour the strongly scented ointment onto Jesus’s head. The wonderful fragrance immediately filled the room, and everyone turned to find its source.
“What is that?” Rock asked Martha, serving next to him.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into that girl!” Martha exclaimed. “Our parents gave each of us an alabaster box of pure spikenard.”
“WHAT?” Judas, who was sitting close enough to hear, gasped. “YOU MEAN THAT’S PURE NARD?”
“It was a precious gift from our parents,” Martha said again. “It was meant to be used for our burials, but my sister has apparently decided to use hers on the Teacher.”
“THAT’S CRAZY!” Judas choked jumping to his feet as he watched the girl pour the expensive perfume onto the Lord’s head.
Jesus turned to look at the crying young woman, which caused her to stop. Since her Lord was now facing her, she knelt down and began to pour the rest onto Jesus’s feet. There was so much that it ran onto the floor. Mary quickly undid her long hair and began to wipe up the extra ointment and rub it back onto the Teacher.
Jesus reached down and put His hand on Mary’s head. The sorrowful woman looked up until her weeping eyes met His. Jesus smiled at her and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“WHAT A WASTE!” Judas cried out. “THAT WAS NARD! PURE NARD!” Judas dropped his head in his hands, trying to grasp the value of the ointment that was just ‘wasted.’ “YOU DON’T JUST POUR OUT SOMETHING THIS VALUABLE! IT…IT…IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED PIECES OF SILVER…” Suddenly Judas felt the eyes of everyone in the room looking at him, so he quickly added, “and the money given to the poor.”
“Leave her alone!” Jesus said sternly to his greedy disciple. “She has done something beautiful to me! Don’t spoil it! You will always have the poor, but you will not always have Me.”
Looking back at the weeping young woman, Jesus announced, “She has done what she could. She has anointed my body for burial, and I thank her.
“You think this was a waste, but I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth, wherever My story is told, what she has done for Me will also be told in memory of her, because even though it broke her heart, she believed My words and acted on what she believed. That is what real faith is all about.”
Later, as the party wound down, no one noticed the hate-filled glares that Judas shot at Jesus.

By Alan W, Harris
(Inspired by John 11:55 – 12:11)

24 – The Christ You Weren’t Expecting

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the response of those watching went from stunned shock to ecstatic rejoicing. The tears that were flowing before the miracle never stopped. They just changed in an instant from sorrow to joy.
Pulling the robe he had borrowed from Rock closely around him, Lazarus walked straight to Jesus. “Lord, You brought me back!” the former corpse said with a smile.
Jesus nodded and gave his friend a large grin. “It was fitting that you and I reveal the glory of God.” Turning, Jesus presented Lazarus to his astonished sisters, who both flew into his arms.
Jesus stood to the side as the celebration with all the friends and neighbors intensified. After a few minutes Mary walked over and stood beside the Teacher. “Thank you, Lord!” she said as she gripped His arm. “You are wonderful!”
As she said this, a movement in the distance caught her eye. A man was standing near the tombs with his face covered. Seeing him, Mary tugged on Jesus’s sleeve and said, “Lord, look! Do you see that man over there?”
“He is a leper, is he not?” Jesus returned, observing the face covering the man wore.
“Yes, he is, Lord. His name is Simon, and his parents are neighbors of ours. He’s had leprosy for years. He lives out here near the tombs now. His parents used to bring him food each day until his mother died, and his old father is now too ill to come. Martha and I have brought him food for the last few months.
“I was wondering, Lord,” Mary said, looking into her Lord’s eyes. “You’ve done so much for us. Could you do something for Simon?”
With a smile Jesus answered, “Let’s go see him.”
As the Teacher and Mary walked towards the leper, the disciples reluctantly followed.
Drawing near the diseased man, Mary called to him. “Simon, this is Jesus, the Teacher from Nazareth. I have been telling you about Him. He just raised my brother from the dead!”
“I…I saw!” Simon returned, obviously amazed.
“He’s here to help you.”
Jesus stepped near the man. “Simon, do you believe?”
The leper fell on his knees. “Oh, Lord! After what I’ve seen, I believe that everything Mary told me about You is true! You are the Christ, the Son of God, and I now believe that You can do anything!”
“Then because of your faith, Simon,” Jesus said, placing His hand on the man’s leprous head, “be healed of your disease.”
Instantly numerous scabs fell from the man, and his body, once covered with oozing, necrotic sores, was suddenly clean, whole, and well. Staring in amazement at his hands and then pulling off his face covering and rubbing his now-smooth face, Simon jumped to his feet and exclaimed, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you for what You’ve done for me!”
Delighted at his healing, Mary started to reach out to Simon, but the nasty robe he wore stopped her. “I’m so happy for you, Simon!” Mary exclaimed. “You must go home and show your father what has happened. Then change that filthy robe and come to the house. Our funeral has suddenly become a new birthday. We have plenty of food to share with you and your father.”
“That’s so kind of you, Mary, but I’m afraid I don’t have another robe.”
“We can fix that,” Jesus said with a smile. Turning to His disciples, Jesus looked for the one who carried the money box. “Judas, take our friend Simon into town and buy him a new robe.”
Judas reached into the leather pouch he carried by his side and instinctively gripped the small wooden box containing the donations they had received. “Uh…okay, Lord,” he said unenthusiastically. He watched as Jesus, Mary, and the other disciples walked away to join the excited crowd at their house. Seeing Simon standing nearby and looking expectantly at him, Judas gave a snort, nodded his head toward Bethany, and started walking.
There was a shop near the west end of town that Judas was familiar with. When they reached the place, Judas turned to Simon and said, “You wait here.”
Entering, Judas walked up to the owner. “Raza, I need a robe.”
“Judas!” Raza exclaimed “It’s been months since I’ve seen you in here. Is your master back in town?”
“Yeah, we came for Lazarus’s funeral.”
“Oh, yes, I heard he died,” Raza returned. “It’s a shame. He and his sisters were some of my best customers.” As he said this, he elbowed Judas and gave him a covetous grin.
“Don’t worry, my greedy friend, my Master did you a favor,” Judas answered. “He just raised Lazarus from the dead.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope,” Judas shot back. “I saw it myself. He called Lazarus’s name, and he came walking out of that tomb pretty as you please. He’s back home right now with his sisters and all the mourners, partying like there’s no tomorrow.”
Raza turned away, rubbing his head in deep thought. Finally he faced Judas again. “You know, when the leaders in Jerusalem hear about this, they will lose their minds.”
“Oh, I know,” Judas returned. “They probably are hearing about it right now. I saw some of the rabbinical students at the tomb. As soon as they saw the miracle, they ran straight for Jerusalem.”
“They’ll get him this time,” Raza said. “And as one of His disciples, their wrath will fall on you too, Judas.”
“I know! I know!” the disciple answered anxiously as he paced back and forth. “I tried to warn Him that He needed to work to get the support of the religious leaders, but He won’t listen! He keeps saying and doing things that drives them further and further away from Him.
“I use to think that He was the Messiah, the King, because He did all the miracles, but He refuses to act like a king. I committed everything to follow Him because I thought He was the One, but now…I don’t know.”
“Well, you better make up your mind pretty quick,” Raza urged. “The rumor is that the chief priests and elders have been wanting to kill your teacher since last Passover. When word gets out about this miracle, the people will turn to him in mass, and the leaders won’t stand for that. They will kill him for sure now…and all those with him.
“Hey, what was it you said you needed…a robe?”
“Yeah,” Judas answered.” You know that guy, Simon the Leper?”
“Yes,” Raza nodded. “He‘s that disgusting fellow that lives in the tombs.”
“Well, Jesus healed him too.”
“WHAT?”
“Yeah,” the disciple returned. “He’s standing just outside.”
“You aren’t bringing him in here, are you?” Raza asked anxiously.
“No, I told him to wait out there for me. Jesus wants me to buy him a robe so he can go their party.”
Anticipating a sale, Raza walked over and pulled a very nice embroidered robe from a nearby shelf.
“Not that one,” Judas said. “Give me the one on the bottom shelf.” The disciple pointed to a plain looking coat that was obviously less expensive.
With an annoyed sigh, Judas counted out the money and then snatched the article from Raza’s hands. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Walking to the door of the shop, Judas tossed the newly purchased robe to Simon. “There you go,” Judas said and turned back into the shop without waiting for an answer.
“So what are you going to do?” Raza asked when Judas returned.
“I’m not sure yet,” Judas answered thoughtfully, “but I can tell you what I’m not going to do. I’m not going to go down with this sinking ship.”
Judas reached into the money box again and pulled out some more coins. “Give me a small skin of your best wine and a loaf of that bread I can smell your wife cooking back there. I need to go come up with a plan.”
“If I know you, Judas,” Raza said with a shrewd smile as he gathered the asked- for items, “you’ll figure out a way, not only to save your skin, but to come out on top.”

The council meeting called by the chief priests and Pharisees was just getting started when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea arrived. Two students of Rabbi Abdiel were describing what they saw that afternoon at the cemetery in Bethany. When they finished, the meeting erupted.
“Did you hear that, Joseph?” Nicodemus said excitedly to his friend. “The Teacher raised a man from the dead! These two students saw it with their own eyes!”
“I understand that,” Joseph returned. “It’s wonderful, but the council is not going to take this news well.”
After several minutes of bedlam, Rabbi Zeraph shouted for quite. “What are we doing? This charlatan is performing many signs! If we let him go on like this, everyone will follow him like sheep, and then the Romans will come and wipe us out! They won’t stand for someone challenging their rule!”
“LISTEN TO YOU! YOU’RE ALL A BUNCH OF IMBICILS!” Caiaphas, the high priest, shouted. Zeraph slunk back to his seat as the enraged leader took his place. “DON’T ANY OF YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT ONE MAN DIE FOR THE PEOPLE SO THAT THE WHOLE NATION WON’T PERISH? THIS MAN MUST DIE, AND I’M TELLING YOU THAT’S GOD’S WILL!”
As the rest of the council took in these words, Caiaphas slowly turned, looking at all of those present. “We must make it happen!” the high priest demanded. “We will no longer talk about killing this pretender! Today we will plan it!”
“What can we do?” Joseph whispered to Nicodemus.
“I will send one of my servants to Bethany to warn the Teacher.”
As soon as the message was delivered to Jesus, He gathered His disciples and secretly led them thirteen miles north of Jerusalem into the hill country, to a city called Ephraim.
“Master,” Rock asked, “shouldn’t we leave Judea and get back to Galilee? You’d be safe there.”
“My time draws near,” Jesus returned thoughtfully. “The Passover is coming, and I must not miss it.”
At these words the disciples looked at each other with concern. Judas, sitting by himself, fingered the money box.

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 11:46-54 and Matthew 26:5-6)

23 – The First Empty Tomb

The political climate in Judea was getting dangerous for Jesus and His followers, so He moved His ministry back to Galilee. Only a few weeks had passed when a messenger arrived from Judea.
“Teacher!” Rock called as he entered the house where Jesus was sitting. “We just received a message from Martha in Bethany!”
“What does she say?”
“All that’s written is, ‘Lord, he whom You love is sick,’” Rock answered.
“She means Lazarus,” Andrew added.
“It must be bad if she went to the trouble to send us a message about it,” John concluded.
All of them knew well the love and support that Martha, Mary, and Lazarus had given them over the last two-and-a-half years. Jesus looked around at the concern on their faces. “Don’t worry. This sickness will not end in death for Lazarus. The Father intends to use it for His glory and that the Son of God may be glorified as well.”
After saying this, Jesus then announced that they would be traveling to a couple of nearby villages to teach.
“What are we doing?” James whispered to Rock as they left Capernaum and headed north. “I thought the Teacher would be calling out some miracle to heal Lazarus from up here in Galilee.”
“I don’t understand it,” Rock answered in a low voice. “Jesus loves Lazarus and his sisters like His own family. Maybe He’s already healed him and didn’t tell us.”

It was two days later that Jesus called His disciples to Him and announced, “We are going back to Judea.”
“Lord, you can’t go back!” Phillip exclaimed. “The last time we were there the Jews tried to stone You!”
“Phillip, aren’t there twelve hours in the day?” Jesus asked. “If anyone travels during the day, he won’t stumble because he sees the light of this world. If a person travels during the night, they will stumble because they don’t have the light. Who’s your light, Phillip?”
“You are, Lord,” the humbled disciple answered.
“And the Father is Mine,” Jesus added.
Turning to the others, Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him up.”
“If he’s asleep,” Matthew pleaded, “then he’ll be fine. There’s no need for You to go down there and put Your life at risk.”
Looking into the disciples’ anxious faces, Jesus announced, “Lazarus is dead.”
“What?” they all gasped.
“Yes,” Jesus continued, “he is dead, and I’m glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there.”
“Why, Lord?” John asked, still shocked at the news.
“So that you may believe,” Jesus answered with a smile. “Come, let’s go to him.” After saying this, Jesus began walking south. The disciples, stunned not only at the news about Lazarus but also at the thought of walking back into a life-threatening situation, seemed paralyzed.
Finally Thomas, who they called the Twin, said, “Let’s go, guys. I’d rather die with Him than live without Him.”
On hearing his words, the rest jumped to their feet, quickly grabbed what they would need on the road, and hurried after Jesus.
Two days later, as they neared Bethany, they found out from someone they met on the road that not only was Lazarus dead, but he had been in the tomb four days. Lazarus and his sisters were well known in the area, and numerous people were coming daily to console the sisters. Many from Jerusalem, which was only two miles away, were coming as well.
A table had been placed outside the home of Mary and Martha, and a large pot of water with a dipper for any thirsty visitors to quench their thirst was placed there. Martha was checking to see if more water was needed when a friend came running up to her.
“Martha, Martha, I just saw the Teacher and His disciples coming into town,” the woman said breathlessly.
“Where?” Martha asked anxiously. The woman, still breathing hard, pointed to the west. Without responding, Martha hurried up the street toward the west end of town. Fresh tears streamed down her face when she reached Jesus.
“Lord, my brother would not have died if You had been here.” The words burst from Martha’s aching heart. Then realizing that she sounded like she was blaming Jesus, she quickly added, “Even now I know that God will give You anything You ask for.”
“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus answered, holding her trembling hands.
“Yes, Lord, I know that on the last day he will rise again in the resurrection.”
Jesus gently squeezed her hands until she looked into His eyes. “Martha, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” the woman said, smiling through her tears, “I believe that You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God Who the Father sent into the world.”
“God reveals His glory to those who believe,” the Teacher added. “Where is Mary?”
“She’s in the house with the mourners. I will tell her You’re here.”
Leaving Jesus and the disciples, Martha hurried back to the house. Stepping inside, she whispered into her sister’s ear, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you. I left Him at the west end of the street.”
As soon as Mary heard these words, she sprang to her feet and rushed to meet Him. Surprised by her sudden departure, the mourners who were consoling Mary thought she was going to the tomb to cry and hurried to follow her.
Mary was sobbing when she reached Jesus. She fell at His feet and exclaimed, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!”
Her intense grief and the tears of those who followed her touched Jesus’s heart, and He was deeply moved. “Where have you laid him?” the Teacher asked with His voice cracking.
“Come with us,” one of the mourners said, “and we will show you.”
As Jesus lifted Mary to her feet, her grief seemed to increase, and Jesus’s heart broke. They wept together as they made their way to the grave yard.
“Look at how hard the Teacher cries for His dead friend,” one of the mourners said to his companion. “He really loved Lazarus a lot.”
“He opened the eyes of the man born blind,” the companion returned. “Couldn’t he have done something to keep this man from dying?”
When they finally stood in front of the tomb that contained his friend’s body, Jesus cried again.
The tomb of Lazarus was actually a cave with a large stone rolled in front of the entrance. After several minutes Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”
Martha was shocked. “That’s not a good idea, Lord! He’s been dead four days. By now there will be a stench.”
“Didn’t I say that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
Martha’s eyes grew wide and the little hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up as it suddenly dawned on her what Jesus was about to do.
“REMOVE THE STONE!” she cried. “REMOVE THE STONE!”
Jesus took a step forward, looked up to heaven, and said, “Thank You for hearing Me, father. You always hear Me when I talk to You. I know that. I only said it because of the people standing around Me. I want them to believe that You sent Me.”
After praying, Jesus looked intently at the open tomb and shouted, “LAZARUS, COME OUT!”
Everyone stared into the dark opening. There was a movement in the shadows, and suddenly the dead man wrapped head to foot in his burial clothes came shuffling out. Mary gasped and stumbled backwards into Andrew’s arms. Martha grabbed Jesus’s arm to keep from falling.
“Unwrap him and let him go!” Jesus said with a laugh. When those of the mourners hesitated, Rock and James rushed forward and removed the napkin from Lazarus’ face and began unwrapping him. Lazarus blinked in the bright sunlight.
“Hey, Lazarus!” James said excitedly to their once-dead friend. “We missed you!”
“James! Rock!” Lazarus exclaimed as he saw the two disciples. “I…I think the Lord wants me. I heard Him call.”
“He did!” Rock returned laughing. “He’s standing right over there. Let us get these grave clothes off you, and you can talk to Him.”
Looking down at the rapidly disappearing wrappings, Lazarus said, “Uh, Rock, could you or James let me borrow a robe before you take ‘em all off?”
James started laughing. “You don’t have anything on under there, do you?”
“Just my undies,” their friend confessed as he looked at the large crowd of people staring at him.
Rock stood up and began taking off his robe to give to his friend. “Well,” he said, “we sure don’t want you dyin’ of embarrassment right after the Lord raised you back to life.”
Many of those who had come to console the sisters and who had seen this amazing miracle fell on their knees, confessing their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Some from Jerusalem hurried back to the city to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done.

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 11:1-46)