Memory Verse:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)
At the core of Christianity is the resurrection. Paul said if there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity (1 Cor. 15:16–19). In the next four sessions, we are going to learn about patiently waiting on God’s timing, about five essential lessons on death and grief, and what to do when you come to the end of your faith.
The fifth “I AM” claim that Jesus made is the clearest in the connection between the miracle (the raising of Lazarus) and the message (that Jesus is the source of eternal life). It is noteworthy that three of the seven I AM statements speak of life: I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Resurrection and the Life and I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. Surely Jesus wanted to convey that He is Life Itself.
Mary and Martha knew Jesus could have done something to prevent the death of their brother, but He didn’t. You too will experience that God is sometimes not what you think He should be and He acts in ways that you do not think He should act.
This chapter marks our half-way point in our seven week journey. Keep going, knowing more and growing more in the Lord.
Day 24: Morning
When Following Turns To Fainting: An On-Time God
(Read John 11:1–6)
When Jesus left Jerusalem, John 10:39 says the leaders sought to kill Jesus, “but He escaped out of their hand.” Jesus had previously said He was not going to Jerusalem (John 7) and for good reason. After the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple (Hanakkuh), Christ went east, to the other side of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist had earlier worked.
Even though John the Baptist did not perform miracles, many believed his prediction that a greater Person was coming after him. The Baptizer’s witness of Jesus was proven to be true by Christ’s words and miraculous works. John 10:42 says that many believed on Jesus there. What leads you to believe Christianity is true?
THE MIRACLES or THE MESSAGE
(Circle one or both)
In Jerusalem, Jesus was rejected and was even wanted dead, yet, just a few miles away, many were coming to salvation. Jesus knew His time on earth was short, and many were trusting in Him and responding positively there because of seeds sown by John the Baptist. No wonder Jesus did not go immediately to heal Lazarus!
All three siblings, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, were all still in the home of their father, Simon, indicating they were young, perhaps not much more than teenagers, and Lazarus was likely the youngest of the three. Yet all three had a fondness in Jesus’s heart, so much so that the sisters referred to their brother as “he whom You love.”
Jesus was pulled by His earthly affections for His friends, yet prioritized His ministry. Sometimes your affections will tempt you to leave where you fully see God working in your ministry. As a result of Jesus staying, God received even greater glory than if Jesus had dropped everything and left.
When Jesus made the decision to go back to Jerusalem (Bethany is just east of the city), the disciples tried to talk Him out of it. Jesus responded in verse 9, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” What do you think He meant by that?______________________________________
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The disciples knew the danger Jesus would be in by returning to Jerusalem (verse 16). But Jesus trusted God’s perfect timing (that’s likely what Jesus meant in not stumbling). When we pray for God to act or when He calls us to act, we need to look for His leadership. There’s a phrase that says, “God may not always be on time, but He is never late.” Trust God to answer your prayers in His time. Respond to God when He tells you to.
Pray this prayer to God: “Lord, I commit my life to follow Your light. As long as You shine Your will clearly in my life, I will do my best to walk in Your time and in Your truth. Amen”
Day 24: Evening
When Friends Fall: Lessons From Death
(Read John 11:1–27)
When sickness or death comes, John 11 is a good passage to read. Readers will often rush to read about the resurrection of Lazarus, but there are several lessons that we can learn from death, sickness, and grief before we get to the chapter’s climax.
Lesson 1 (verse 3): Death and affliction can be interceded for. We can go to God in prayer for the sick and the dying, like Martha and Mary did. Unlike eastern religions, sickness is not a result of bad karma. Unlike certain cults, sickness is not a state of mind or from a lack of faith. James 5 says one of the functions of the church leadership is to pray for the sick. Mark 16:18 states we should expect healing to occur. Church prayer lists are filled with requests for healing because we are to pray for those who are sick.
Lesson 2 (verse 4): Death and sicknesses can be instruments for God’s glory. If we do not see instantaneous healings, it may not because of a lack of faith, but because God seeks to glorify Himself through it all. The Bible says those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
Lesson 3: (verses 6–10): Death is intentional. Jesus purposely waited for Lazarus to die. God has a purpose in death, primarily to save us from this sinful world. Read Genesis 3:22–24--God purposely disallows us from living forever in this fallen state of sin. But if we walk with Jesus, His light will guide us, regardless of the circumstances around us (John 11:10–11). A frequent statement made by missionaries serving God is “The best place to be is in the center of God’s will.” Notice that the center of God’s will is not always the safest place and being in God’s will is not a guarantee that you won’t encounter death. Being in God’s will assure us of this: God will be glorified.
Lesson 4 (verses 11–15): Death is inevitable. Heb. 9:27 says everyone will die. For a Christian, this earthly life is a small segment of eternal life and “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8). Notice in John 11:15 that the death of Lazarus caused grief to Mary and Martha but it caused Jesus to be “glad” because their struggle actually helped them to believe. Through adversity we grow stronger in our faith. Ps. 116:15 calls the death of His saints “precious” in God’s eyes.
Lesson 5 (verses 16–27): Death is NOT invincible. Since death is guaranteed, we have cause to rejoice that Jesus has overcome and defeated it, and instead offers eternal life to us. The only way to beat death is to have a belief in Jesus Christ. Belief to the Christian is not just agreement, but it is an assurance, it is putting faith in the only One who can deliver us from death by beating death Himself.
Pray this prayer to God: “Lord Jesus, help me to see Your working in all things, even adversity, sickness, and death. In Your name I pray. Amen.”
Day 25: Morning
When Faith Fails: At The Feet Of Jesus
(Read John 11:28–40)
An interesting study is one of Mary and Martha. Mary is frequently pictured at the feet of Jesus, while Martha is shown as busily working. John identified Mary as the one who would wash the Master’s feet. There was another time when Mary was at the feet of Jesus. Read Luke 10:38–42. Which does Jesus say is more important, hearing from Him or doing for Him? ______
Which of the following is true?
A) Serving God is bad
B) Being busy can distract us from hearing from God
C) People should only listen to God.
While serving God and listening to God are both important, we often want to work for God rather than listen to Him.
In John 11:21 and 32, the two sisters said the same thing so they likely had been complaining to each other about His delay. Martha “the doer” went to talk to Jesus, but “Mary stayed seated in the house.” What emotions must Mary have felt?
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Mary did not immediately go out to meet Jesus and her complaint indicates that she may have come to the end of her faith. While Martha professed her faith in verse 22, Mary’s grief led Jesus to groan, weep and be troubled.
If Jesus wept, surely God understands that we too will mourn when we lose a loved one in death, even if we know they are in heaven. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life and faith in Him is all we need to have life after death. Even still, grief at death is normal and was an emotion that even Jesus expressed.
Read 1 John 5:13. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” What gives the Christian the confidence that he or she is going to heaven?
God’s Word and our faith give us confidence in eternal life. If you have come to the end of your faith, there is only one place to go. Fall at the feet of Jesus. At His feet (that is, submit to God) we learn of faith. At His feet we declare our love. And it is at His feet we fall when we have nowhere else to turn.
It is one thing to profess your faith in Christ. But as Martha found, it is another thing when Jesus tells us to move the stone. Has God ever asked you to put your faith in action and actually do something for Him that might raise a stink?
If you want to see the glory of God, move that stone!
Pray this prayer to God: “Jesus, I say with Martha, ‘I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Give me faith when I face adversity, sickness and even death. Help me understand that Your delays are not denials, but preparations for greater deliverances. In Your name I pray. Amen.”
Day 25: Evening
When Funerals Are Not Final: Resurrection’s Power
(Read John 11:41–57)
When Lazarus was raised from the dead, it was a symbol of Jesus’s power of resurrection and the power of new life. One day, all believers will be raised up from the dead. It will not matter whether our bodies decayed, were cremated or were totally eliminated. The resurrection will be God’s work and God’s glory (verses 4 and 40). The hope of the resurrection should strengthen our faith every time we go to the grave or funeral of a believer (verses 15, 42).
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1–9. If we are absent from the body or in other words if we die, where are we, according to verse 8?
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But before our physical death, Jesus also gives us life. When people come to faith, it is as though they have died to their old way of life and are born again (read Romans 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20). We are to consider ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God. How does that apply to Lazarus being bound hand and foot with grave clothes, his face wrapped with a cloth?
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If you have been spiritually raised from your sins, from what “grave clothes” should you be loosed from?_____________________________________________
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Caiaphas, the High Priest, made a prophetic utterance that revealed the real reason why the Jews were so determined to suppress Christ. They were afraid of Rome and what it would do if someone like Christ would see to set up a different kingdom.
But in fact, one man did die so that the whole world would not perish. It was not the Jewish leaders who put Christ on the cross. It was all the sins of the world and according to the “determined purpose of God.” (Acts 2:23)
Pray this prayer to God: “Our Father in Heaven. Give me faith to believe that You have raised me from spiritual death and that when I face physical death, You will still be with me. Loose me from my sinful nature and help me to walk in the liberty You have given me to live for You. Amen”
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