The apostle John wrote how “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. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me you have not always. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death”, and in chapter twelve and verse eleven of his book John shared, “because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” where we read:
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
The verse reads, “Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, ...” John began with the words, “because that by reason of him” which means since and on account that by means of Lazarus “many of the Jews” or “a lot or great number of the people in the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion” “went away” which means “departed, left and separated themselves”. John shared how the resurrection of “Lazarus” caused a good number of Jewish people to leave their religious leaders and commit to the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... and believed on Jesus.” John continued with the words, “and believed” which means “and trusted in, relied upon, clung to and had confidence” “on Jesus” or “in the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. John shared how the raising of “Lazarus” from the dead caused many Jewish people to “trust in and rely upon” “Jesus”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how the “resurrection” of “Lazarus” by Jesus caused many people to “believe” in Him. This angered the “religious leaders”, so they plotted how they might “kill” Lazarus and quiet his testimony concerning Jesus. God sent His Son Jesus into the world with miracle working supernatural power, and He was able to “raise” people from the dead by that power. By doing so, He bore witness to the fact that He was indeed the Christ and Messiah of God, and everyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will put their faith and trust in Jesus who is God's “Savior and Lord” given to mankind.
Next time John shares, “people” who “came to the feast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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