In the Apostle John’s Gospel we find that Jesus and His 12 disciples have learned that His friend Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, has become ill in his hometown of Bethany, which was some distance away from where they were staying. Upon hearing the news, Jesus said to the disciples: ” This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God can gain glory ” (through the sickness) (vs 4). This tells us that in some cases God allows sickness to take place so as to gain glory by healing the sick person. This was also true of the man who was born blind as revealed in John 9:1-3,6,7.

After hearing of His friend’s sickness, Jesus and His disciples remained where they were for two more days (vs 6), at which point He tells them that Lazareth has died (vs 14). Then He voiced a “fine print” statement that, though extremely important, is noticed by very few Bible readers. He told His disciples that He was glad that He had not been in Bethany when Lazarus became sick, for He would have been expected to heal him. Why was He glad? He had deliberately waited for Lazarus to die, “… for your (disciples’) sake SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE …” Bear in mind that these 12 men, including Judas (whom Jesus knew was “a devil” who would betray Him–Jn. 6:67-71), had been preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc. (10:1-3)–EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT YET BELIEVE (vs 6). The Lord is teaching an important lesson in this episode that will become clear as we progress in this series.

Earlier, as recorded in Luke 10, Jesus had sent out the 12 plus 70 other disciples to minister in the towns where He would later visit. They had later returned from that ministry experience exclaiming that “even the demons are subject to us” (vss 1,17). Here we learn that Jesus had sent out 82 disciples to preach, heal the sick, cast out demons, etc. Surely they all believed in Him. However, this was not the case. In John 6:6 we learn what happened to 70 of His miracle-working disciples. Follow their successful ministry tour they had gone with Jesus to a synagogue where they heard Him tell the people things that upset the 70 so much that they left Him and went back into the world. Verse 64 reveals that JESUS HAD KNOWN ALL ALONG WHO DID NOT BELIEVE–YET HE USED THEM TO DO HIS MINISTRY WORK AS NOTED IN LUKE 10:1,17. Notice what the Apostle Peter said to Him in verses 68,69. Then notice in verse 70,71 that He knew that Judas, who had remained with Him, would betray Him–YET HE CONTINUED TO USE HIM IN THE MINISTRY! Read All That Glitters. Key word–Glitters. REALITY IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE.

Recall that God had not allowed King David–“… a man after My own heart”–to build His temple in Jerusalem. Instead, He chose Solomon, David’s son, to build it. It is noted that Solomon was the wisest of men. Which is why God chose him to build His Temple. The young king knew how to get physical things done. Not only was the temple the most incredible structure on earth at that time, under his kingship Israel became the most powerful, most prosperous, most famous nation on earth. Kings and queens came from far-away lands just to see the grandeur of the nation and its king–the Queen of Sheba being one of the most famous visitors.

History records that though Solomon was the wisest of men, he was also one of the most vile, sinful and rebellious kings ever to lead god’s chosen people Israel. He repeatedly rebelled against God by doing the exact opposite of what God commanded him to do. In spite of the Lord’s specific commands, He made covenants with the kings who ruled the heathen nations that bordered Israel. He also married many of their daughters who worshiped and obeyed various heathen gods. To keep his wives happy he allowed them to bring their heathen gods and religious practices into the Israelite nation. As if that was not sinful enough, he led the Israelites to worship those gods, two of which required their followers to sacrifice their children to them. Solomon went so far as to designate the valley of Hinnum for such sacrifices, even building alters upon which to kill them. Let us not forget the “Songs of Solomon” in which we find many beautiful passages in which the king extoled the greatness of Israel’s God. Though extremely wise and gifted, Solomon’s life was dedicated to serving the gods of his wives and causing his fellow Israelites to do the same. Solomon, the king of God’s Chosen People Israel, led the nation into almost total apostasy (a “falling away” from God).

However, not everyone in Israel followed the lead of her king. God has always had a remnant, His “little flock” who remain true to Him regardless of what the other 99.99% of believers do. As I have repeated time after time, MAN’S FAITH AND GOD’S GRACE SAVE NO ONE. GOD COMMANDS OBEDIENCE TO HIS LAW IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SALVATION UPON THE RETURN OF HIS SON TO EARTH. THOSE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT RELIGIOUS SYSTEM TODAY CALL HIM THEIR LORD, WORSHIP HIM AND PROCLAIM THEIR BELIEF IN HIM WHILE EXTOLLING HIM IN PRAYER, PREACHING AND SONGS. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT OBEY HIS LAW, WHICH DISQUALIFIES THEM FOR SALVATION UNLESS THEY TURN AWAY FROM SERVING THE GOD OF THIS WORLD–SATAN–AND TURN TO THE BIBLICAL GOD. THEIR PROBLEM CENTERS ON THE FACT THAT THEY MUST PROVE THEIR LOVE FOR HIM BY OBEYING HIS LAW (JN. 14:15,21; 15:10/ 1 JN. 2:3-5 AND 3:1-10–NOTE VS 4).

It is the believers’ love for God, which can be proved ONLY BY OBEDIENCE TO HIS LAW (His Ten Commandments) that separates Biblical Christians from church christians. This obedience, which constitutes Biblical WORKS, is commanded as we are told repeatedly in James 2:10,14,17,18,20,24,26. The primary problem is that the church has done away with God’s Law, claiming that God “nailed it to the cross of Jesus.” What was nailed to His cross was the law of animal sacrifices written on animal skins by Moses, not the Law written in stone by Jesus Christ Himself. Read The God of the Old Testament. Key word–Old. L.J.