1. Raising of Lazarus

    John 11:1-44 describes the raising of Lazarus, illustrating Jesus' power over death and his human compassion. This miracle in Bethany reveals Jesus' divinity and humanity, strengthening his disciples' faith. By raising Lazarus after four days in the tomb, Jesus shows that he is the resurrection and the life, inviting faith that leads to eternal life.

    John 11.1-44 (King James Version) :
    Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 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.Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.Then said Martha unto Jesus, 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 thee.Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.Jesus wept.Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
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  2. The vine and the branches

    The article “PER320 - The Vine and the Branches” explores Jesus’ teaching in John 15:1-17, using the image of the vine and the branches to illustrate the relationship with his disciples. Jesus presents himself as the source of true spiritual fruitfulness, calling for a reciprocal union centered on love and obedience.

    John 15.1-17 (King James Version) :
    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.These things I command you, that ye love one another.
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  3. Nicodemus’ search

    This article looks at the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who meets Jesus by night according to John 3:1-21. Nicodemus seeks to understand the biblical idea of being born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. He moves from fear to courageous faith, helping with Jesus’ burial after his crucifixion. This account shows how a genuine encounter with Jesus can transform a life. Nicodemus’ experience symbolizes the passage from intellectual curiosity to an authentic, committed faith.

    John 3.1-21 (King James Version) :
    There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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  4. Did Jesus want to escape the crucifixion?

    The article addresses the question of Jesus praying to avoid crucifixion, exploring Gospel passages that show both his desire to escape suffering and his determination to follow God's will.

    Luke 22.42 (King James Version) :
    Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
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