YAIY
   
 
 
      Volume 2, Issue 6  
   
    June 2008  
Lazarus and His Sisters
         
                 
      In Yahshua’s day, there was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem.  Lazarus had two sisters named Martha and Mary (more properly, Miriam).  Yahshua loved this family deeply and often stopped to visit them at their home.  Martha liked to prepare special dishes for Yahshua when he visited,
     
Inside this issue:
 
      Lazarus & His Sisters  
      Summer is Here  
      The Fruit of the Spirit  
       
but Mary preferred to sit at Yahshua’s feet and listen to His teachings.  One day Martha became angry because Mary was not helping her and she wanted Yahshua to rebuke her.  But Yahshua gently corrected Martha and told her not to worry so much about unimportant things.  He commended Mary for wanting to listen and learn and He would not take those things away from her.

       One day, Lazarus became ill.  Mary and Martha sent word to
Yahshua and requested He come and heal him.  But Yahshua intentionally delayed going so
     
 
     
Martha said
 
     
to Yahshua
 
     
our King:
 
     
 
     
"I know that
 
     
even now
 
     
Yahweh will
 
     
give you
 
     
anything
 
     
you ask."
 
     
 
     
-John 11:22
 
         
         
     

 that He could teach them an

         
important lesson.By the time thatYahshua finally went, Lazarus had been dead four
         
days.  Mary and Martha were deeply grieved.  Lazarus had already been placed in a tomb.   
                 
      During Bible times, caves were used as tombs.  The soil in Israel was quite hard and stony, so it was easier to place a dead body in a cave rather than digging a hole in the ground. Because Israel has a hot, desert-like climate, bodies decomposed very quickly and needed to be placed in the tomb as quickly as possible.  Bodies were prepared by being rubbed with certain spices and wrapped tightly with cloth.  Then the people would place a boulder at the cave opening to close off the entrance and prevent any-one from disturbing the body.  Later after some months would pass, the family would re-enter the cave and gather up the bones.  They would place the bones in special jars.  Then the tomb would be ready to use again.  Entire families would share the same tomb.
 
   

      It was time for Yahshua to teach the people an important truth.  “Remove the stone from the tomb.”  He ordered.

      “But, Master!” protested Martha, “By now the body smells bad as he has been dead for four days!”

 
   

      “If you believe, I will show you Yahweh’s glory!”  Yahshua then commanded Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.  And he did come forth, still wrapped in the burial cloths! 

      When the priests heard what had happened , they were shocked and then made plans to have Yahshua executed.

      So what lessons can we glean from the story of Lazarus and his sisters?  Fist of all we can learn that death does no have to be final.  Yahshua was able to bring a dead person back to life.  Since Adam and Eve, death has been the enemy of all mankind.  Yahweh made it possible through Yahshua to overcome that enemy.

      Another thing we can remember is that Yahshua had a good reason for delaying healing Lazarus.  Sometimes when we are going through painful trials, we want Yahweh to remove them right away.  But sometimes we can learn deeper lessons by not having our trials immediately removed.  For instance, we can learn patience— which is a very important fruit of  the spirit. 

      Yet another lesson we can glean is that we need to focus on the important things in life.  Like Martha, who was preoccupied with preparing fancy meals, we cansometimes focus on the less important things too.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to prepare a fancy meal, but sometimes a simple meal is fine too.  That way we can spend more time learning from Yahshua.  Following Yahweh’s way of life is really absolutely the most important thing we all can do!

 
   
                 
       
       
       
 
       
       
 
       
   Summer is the favorite season of many children.  School is usually out and the days are long, warm, and sunny.  There are lots of ways to enjoy Yahweh’s creation outdoors!  Whether you like hiking, swimming, biking, or just stopping to pick wildflowers, there’s no reason to ever be bored in summertime!    
       
 
       
   
 
               
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     In Galatians 5:22, we read about the fruit of the spirit.  Paul was using terms that the Galatians could understand.  Because they were farmers, they would easily identify with farming terms. For instance, if you “plant” bad seeds in life, you will “reap” a bad harvest.  But if you have the fruit of the spirit you will reap an eternal harvest.   Draw a line through the words that do NOT describe the fruit of the spirit.  Circle the words that do describe the fruit of the spirit.  
     
Love 
  Jealousy  
   
Self-control   
   
 
Goodness  
       
 
Faithfulness
 
Misery
 
   
  Unfaithfulness
Cruelty
 
   
Kindness
Impatience
   
   
Hatred
Insulting
   
   
Peace  
 
  Patience 
Joy 
 
   
 
Coveting   
Anger
 
   
  Gentleness
   
     
     
           
YAIY - Kids for Yah