When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been buried four days before. Bethany was less than three kilometres from Jerusalem, and many Judeans had come to see Martha and Mary to comfort them over their brother's death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, Lord, my brother would not have died! But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask him for.” “Your brother will rise to life,” Jesus told her. “I know,” she replied, “that he will rise to life on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; “Yes, Lord!” she answered. “I do believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” After Martha said this, she went back and called her sister Mary privately. “The Teacher is here,” she told her, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up and

Jesus is the Lord of our lives.   The cross represents the price paid, forgiveness.   Jesus had to die.  On the cross Jesus was left naked, beaten, horrendous sight.  No death was more scandalous.  Blood poured from the flesh torn.  The effect of the scouring in Pilates palace was dreadful.  Before the cross, he went to the garden to pray to His Father this was before the torture. By the time he died on the cross, it was finished.  Jesus experienced the shame, degridation on the cross. Isaiah 52:14 Isaiah 53:2 Isaiah 53:3-12 When someone is under a struggle we point and say they must have done something wrong, even when they did not. Jesus was bruised, suffered, whipped; yet on the cross he completed the work of the cross. Jesus has paid the price.  To think you are not good enough for God; is to not understand how important you are to God. We cannot understand how deep God's love is. We thank you Father for the message of the cross.