What do you do with this BIBLE SCRIPTURE?

Question

John 11
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Answer 1

Nothing.

I don't base my actions on old superstitions.

Answer 2

That is a dangerous verse to quote, Ken:

You see, after the unrefutable resurrection of Lazarus from the grave, the Jews not only decided to kill Jesus, but Lazarus too because they could not disprove it.

Likewise, when you tell others of irrefutable truth, like a magnificent peacock bears witness of God's glory, or that scientists only mix genes, but have never even created ONE LIVE CELL, let alone raised someone to life after rotting for three days.

Jesus said, concerning the resurrection of the other lazarus/rich man: Even if someone was to return from hell, you wouldn't believe because you reject Moses and the prophets.

How true: It is only by God's Spirit that one correctly discerns the truth, and God does not need more combattants in His kingdom.

The resurrection is truth, and one Bible code gives the timing of the Great Controversey between good and evil. See: www.revelado.org/revealed.htm

Blessings and AGAPE, One-Way

Answer 3

Some have argued that the Lazarus story may be hinting at some sort of symbolic "death and resurrection" ritual such as was exceedingly common in "mystery cults" of the day. The legend of Jesus himself reprises just such a cult mythology. But that's almost beside the point. This passage as it's accepted by most "Christians" today is simply a miracle story, the point of which is that you should believe in Jesus. But miracles, in the absence of positive proof, are repugnant to common sense, and no rational, intelligent person would base his "beliefs" on such tripe - unless he had been brainwashed from birth to do so.

Suppose you heard that some guy in Argentina had raised somebody from the dead, and was claiming on that ground to be the "Son of God" (whatever the hell that means). Would you believe on the strength of that hearsay alone A) that he had really, actually raised the dead, and B) that his claim to be God's Son was therefore valid? Some people would no doubt answer with an enthusiastic "Yes" - and thus we've isolated the unregenerate imbeciles. For the rest, reflect that the claims of "Jesus" rely on far flimsier evidence even than this. We have nothing but the hearsay testimony of pseudonymous authors who wrote decades after the supposed facts, for a particular political purpose, to a particular audience - and on many essential points their accounts do not even agree. More, their written testimonies were selected arbitrarily from among dozens of others with a practically equal claim to legitimacy. And 2,000 years have intervened!

Answer 4

no i don't believe me there are several ailments poisons and other things that can make a person in a comatose like state and back in Jesus days in the absence of a stethoscope Lazarus may have very well been bitten by an poisonous insect suffering from epilepsy or had diabetes all of these before mentioned things can render some one paralysed and unresponsive but not dead and of course the air tight tomb/cave thing Lazarus was in would have smelled after four days so before you talk to me about the smell of death they sensed roses would have stank under those conditions,nice try but i have an answer for everything

Answer 5

I'm not sure I know what you mean by your question. What do we do with it? We should believe it. Jesus was able to raise Lazarus from the dead. Then he goes on to explain that those who believe in him will not die, but have Eternal Life.
He is not suggesting that they won't die physically. Everyone dies, even Jesus. But because of Jesus, everyone can also be resurrected. Whether its now or at "the last day," we will be resurrected.
I think Jesus is also speaking of spiritual life and death as well. Those who are far from God spiritually are as if they were dead. Those who believe in Christ are spiritually alive, even if they die physically. To live with God after this life is Life Eternal.

Answer 6

Yes I believe this. I am not sure that every Christian understands the very deep meaning of the words spoken here. It is not just a story about Lazarus being raised from the grave...it is an acknowledgement by Martha that she recognizes already...before the passion of Christ...a concept even his disciples had yet to grasp...that He is our Savior.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 7

Have you witnessed any brother/sister rise again?
Even now God gives us whatever we ask in Jesus.
Jesus was given all power over all authority even over the author of death - Satan.
Yes, Jesus` Resurrection power can make dry bones Live!
I say,believe in the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

I see this passage like many of the Parables -- symbolic and not to be taken literally. Death can be spiritual as well as physical, and if one has faith, the life of the spirit survives.
In my religious tradition -- UU -- Jesus is a rabbi and a prophet. The Bible was written by many people over many years, and I don't take it as literal word for word.
That doesn't mean that faith -- believing in a force greater than myself which creates and sustains everything -- is unimportant. It's essential.

Answer 9

First, I believe it happened, just like it says.

Second, I believe Jesus did that to show us He has power over life and death.

Before Lazarus, Jesus raised two others back to life.

Pastor Art

Answer 10

Yep, sure do believe it. You have to relate it to other parts of the book, just like with any book. Elsewhere it says that the wages of sin is death so that is what 25 refers to. As a person who has died and come back to life, I know that it was a miracle and believe it can happen to anyone.
I also believe that the way Americans are acting about God lately was already told in the Bible and so in realtiy I am glad it is happening because it means that we are closer to the second coming of Christ and getting out of this hell hole this country has become because of the Athiest movement to force their views on people. Hmmmm. And being downright nasty about it. Hmmmmm. Anyway, I'm glad that I can expand my mind to the point of being able to believe in God and to know that He is always going to be there and that one day all those people who have been so nasty about His existence will have to explain their choice not to believe. As I always say, you can't see air but you know it is there. God is real just as much as air is real.

Answer 11

I suppose the problem is v. 26 : "and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

I don't know Biblical Greek, but I do know Spanish.

"Joh 11:26 Y todo aquel que vive y cree en mí, no morirá eternamente. ¿Crees esto? " [Spanish Sagradas Escrituras]

Here it is quite clear that Jesus in not talking about physical death, but about eternal death, total annihilation from God. This is supported by many commentators. One example is Adam Clarke :"Shall never die - Or, Shall not die for ever. Though he die a temporal death, he shall not continue under its power for ever; but shall have a resurrection to life eternal."
Strong's Concordance also supports this meaning.