Listen for the message behind the words of the Scripture. Who is speaking and to whom? Abraham received imputed righteousness because of his actions.
Why would Jesus apologize for praying in public? Why do we think its fine. Jesus was grieved that his people did not know him. Lazarus was healed to die again - not resurrected. Jesus' crowd had mixed appreciation.
Resuscitation of Lazarus was not a resurrection. The writers of Scriptures were intentional. Grace defined as unmerited favor (now the traditional meaning); is not based on Scripture.
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John 11:1-53
Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, whose home was in Bethany, was sick. The sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying:
“Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.”
When the word concerning Lazarus reached Jesus, he said:
“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
Jesus remained where he was for two days, and at the end of that time said to his disciples:
“Let us go into Judea again.”
His disciples replied:
“Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee. And goest thou thither again?”
Jesus answered his disciples, saying:
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of the world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.”
Then Jesus told his disciples why he wanted to go into Judea, saying:
“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”
The disciples, not knowing that Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, thought only that he was resting in sleep. They said to Jesus:
“Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.”
Then Jesus spoke plainly, saying to them:
“Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”
Thomas, the disciple who was called Didymus, said:
“Let us go, that we may die with him.”
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he found that Lazarus was dead and had been in his grave four days.
Because Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away, many Jews from that city had come to comfort Martha and Mary. When Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she went out to meet him while Mary remained at home. She said:
“Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know that, even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it...
