Read: John 11:1-16
Mary,
Martha and Lazarus were siblings (v. 1-2) and intimate friends of Jesus (v.
5). Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill but
He didn’t heal him, instead Jesus let His good friend die. We already know from the healing of the
official’s son in John 4 that Jesus did not have to be present with the ill
person in order to heal him/her. He promised
in v. 4 that the illness would not lead to death, yet Lazarus died. Jesus knew that the “time” was coming for Him to be put to death but first He would
perform the pinnacle of all His miracles, the final sign that He was the
Messiah. The disciples showed their lack
of understanding on two occasions.
First, they were afraid to return to Judea because of the possibility of
being killed there (v. 8, 16) and secondly they thought Jesus reference to
Lazarus being asleep meant that he was merely resting, while Jesus meant
Lazarus was dead (v. 12-14). They still
lacked understanding!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. What Jesus is doing here doesn’t make sense. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could heal
Lazarus, but instead Jesus let Him die.
It is times like these when faith is tested. Would they still He was the Messiah or would
this tough circumstance cause offense?
Have you ever experienced a circumstance when you didn’t understand
God? What was your reaction? What does this show you about your faith in
God? If you need to confess offense
towards God, spend some time doing so.
2. Ask the Lord to show you what He wanted to do or
wants to do through the circumstance that He revealed in question 1.
3. Thank God for His Sovereignty and control and
that even though we don`t understand what is going one, He can be trusted 100%
of the time!
