HIS REVOLUTIONARY MINISTRY
By Clara Prince, Key Radio intern
This is part 3 of a series discussing, Who Is Jesus?
Read part 1 and 2 - The Ultimate Question, Flawless Character
Read part 1 and 2 - The Ultimate Question, Flawless Character
Jesus’ ministry took place during the last three years of His life, in which so much occurred. As John 21:25 (NIV) says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Can you imagine filling more books than the world has room for, with everything you did the last three years? These last two months, I’ve been writing essays for college applications and I’m describing who I am through the activities I’ve participated in. For example, I’m on the drumline in my high school marching band which has strengthened me as a leader and musician. I value succeeding in something hard with my friends. These colleges are looking at my identity and values to see if I would be a good fit for their school. Similarly, studying Jesus’ ministry will help us examine His core values, beliefs, and purpose.
Jesus healed all kinds of sicknesses and diseases, even raised the dead. In the New Testament the awakening of a dead man - the raising of Lazarus - is a well-known story that can be found in John 11:1-44. Something striking in this account, is that Jesus wept with Lazarus’ sisters.
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” (John 11:32-36, NIV)
Jesus cared about Lazarus and shared the emotions Mary and Martha were experiencing. Spending time to care about people was a significant part of His ministry. Verse 33 says that Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Jesus was troubled by death’s destruction and that it is a reality humanity must face. However, He had bigger plans for Lazarus and his family.
Another detail to notice is Jesus waited until the fourth day to raise Lazarus (verse 39).
“When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” (John 11:4-7, NIV)
Jews believed that one’s spirit lingered around its dead body for three days before it leaves and the body remains lifeless. Jesus waited because He wanted to reveal He could overcome anything. He wanted to reveal the truth about Himself – that He is the Messiah. John 11:25 says, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’” The primary purpose of His ministry was to demonstrate that He was who He said He was, and it was so influential that people believed He was the Messiah, for whom they had been waiting for 400 years.
It is inspiring to read about Jesus’ ministry and how much He cared about others. His ministry was about loving others and showing the world who He is. Jesus asked us to love God and love others and even though it’s hard, I am trying to put God and others before myself.
Jesus healed all kinds of sicknesses and diseases, even raised the dead. In the New Testament the awakening of a dead man - the raising of Lazarus - is a well-known story that can be found in John 11:1-44. Something striking in this account, is that Jesus wept with Lazarus’ sisters.
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” (John 11:32-36, NIV)
Jesus cared about Lazarus and shared the emotions Mary and Martha were experiencing. Spending time to care about people was a significant part of His ministry. Verse 33 says that Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Jesus was troubled by death’s destruction and that it is a reality humanity must face. However, He had bigger plans for Lazarus and his family.
Another detail to notice is Jesus waited until the fourth day to raise Lazarus (verse 39).
“When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” (John 11:4-7, NIV)
Jews believed that one’s spirit lingered around its dead body for three days before it leaves and the body remains lifeless. Jesus waited because He wanted to reveal He could overcome anything. He wanted to reveal the truth about Himself – that He is the Messiah. John 11:25 says, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’” The primary purpose of His ministry was to demonstrate that He was who He said He was, and it was so influential that people believed He was the Messiah, for whom they had been waiting for 400 years.
It is inspiring to read about Jesus’ ministry and how much He cared about others. His ministry was about loving others and showing the world who He is. Jesus asked us to love God and love others and even though it’s hard, I am trying to put God and others before myself.
Clara Prince is a high school intern at Key Radio and has been a volunteer since 2018. She currently resides in Provo, Utah and enjoys being on the Timpview Marching Band Drumline.
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