Gone to the Pharisees - John 11:46

The apostle John wrote how Jesus stood at the grave where Lazarus was buried, and “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him”, and in chapter eleven and verse forty-six of his book John shared how, “some of them went their ways to the Pharisees ” where we read:

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

The verse reads, “But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, ...” John began with the words, “but some of them” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover a few or small number of the people who watched Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead” “went their ways” or “departed and left to go” “to the Pharisees” which means “to the men who were part of the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”. John shared how some of the people who were at the resurrection of Lazarus went to the “Pharisees” and did the following.

The verse continues, “... and told them what things Jesus had done.” John added the words, “and told them” which means “and brought word or shared” “what things Jesus had done” which means “what acts and deeds the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation made ready, performed and produced”. John shared how the people who went to the “Pharisees” shared with them about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how there were people within the crowd who were not “believers” in Jesus, but “reporters” who only desired to share with the religious leaders known as “Pharisees” what Jesus did. Some people simply “will not” believe, even when a mighty miracle such as the raising of the dead is performed right before their eyes. Rather than rejoicing over this miracle, these people went to tell the authorities. God's desire is for every person to believe and trust in His Son Jesus, however, not everyone will. Those who are wise will examine the “acts, deeds and words” of Jesus and yield their lives to Him. Those who refuse and reject Jesus will merely serve as “reporters” who observe Jesus but never believe.

Next time John shares how the Pharisees asked, “what do we?”, 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".