John 11:21-27 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
 
TAKE a moment to read Luke 10:38-42. Now, let’s consider Jesus’ first meeting with Martha and Mary: “A woman named Martha opened her home to him.” (Luke 10:38b) She modeled the first step we must all take as Jesus encounters you. You invite Jesus into your life.
    But then Martha became too busy. There were guests to care for and things to do. After inviting, “Come in.” Martha seemed to miss the reason Jesus’ teaching. Martha complained that Mary would not help her. Then Jesus teaches Martha: Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
    Jesus taught Martha to stop her work and take some time to hear his teachings. The Son of God was in the house! She needed to stop being busy, so she could hear God speak. The chores will get done. The house will be empty again. But when the Lord has come, we must stop for a while, sit at his feet, and hear his truth.
    Apparently, Martha listened to her Lord that day, and we can assume on other days. We see she has the “one thing” we all need. She has faith in Jesus as the Christ, who has come into the world from God. She believes in Jesus’ resurrection power. She knows he could have saved Lazarus from death. Her faith points her to the last days of resurrection.
    Martha’s faith confidently answers Jesus’ question, “Do you believe?” “Yes, Lord.” She answered. Her faith is real and alive. In faith she believes the Resurrection and the Life has come to them again. Martha will now call her sister Mary, who has stayed in their house. It’s time for the sisters together to receive the Lord of Life.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for teaching us to stop being busy and to start listening to you. Amen.  

John 11:17-20 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house.
 
CAN you blame Mary for staying in the house? I would have been disappointed, too, wounded as the Lord tarried. “Where was Jesus?” Mary agonized. “My brother is dying. Jesus claimed to love us. He is our friend. We believe in his life-giving power. But, where was he? What was Jesus doing? He has healed so many people, people he had never met. Why didn’t he come to make Lazarus well? Where was Jesus when we needed him?”
    Yes, Mary. Where is Jesus when we need him? We all ask that question. Thirty years ago, our friend Debbie died of cancer. Three young children and a husband left to mourn and miss her. No wife, no mother, no longer to love them. Her physical body lies in the cemetery near the house they had just built. I’m with you on this one, Mary. Where is Jesus when you need him the most?
    Amid the realty of suffering and death, let’s consider why Jesus came to earth. Jesus did not come to make our lives easy every moment – perhaps not all. He came to give us eternal life. “Where are you when I need you?” focuses on the temporary. Yes, Jesus will raise Lazarus and ease the sisters’ grief for a time. But we know even Lazarus would not remain alive forever. One day his physical body would die.
    What then? What will happen when Jesus has gone to heaven? We praise our Lord that he resurrects into eternal lie! He is the eternal God come to earth to draw his own into life forevermore. This is the gift we must dwell on because everything – I stress “everything” else is temporary.
    Debbie is gone from her family and from this earth. But she has received the glorious gift of the “resurrection and the life”. No, the Lord did not come to heal her body. But her soul is perfect in Christ. Her disease did not end in death. Indeed, her disease ended in the gift of timeless, joyful life.
    Are you dejected, disappointed and feeling a little miffed about Jesus? Do you think he doesn’t care about you or your loved ones? Do you wonder if he even considers you? Then stop and remember the Lord’s eternal gift. Rejoice that he came from his throne in heaven to offer you a home in heaven. Focus on and celebrate his remarkable gift. He is your friend forever.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus. You are my resurrection and life! I praise you for your unending love, grace and mercy. Amen.

John 11:11-16 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
 
JESUS has just talked to his disciples about working in the “daylight”. This is his example to do what needs to be done to minister the gospel, even if people oppose you. Now Jesus points them to a “daylight” task. He will resurrect Lazarus from the grave.
    But he says this indirectly, doesn’t he? When he says, “Lazarus sleeps.” Jesus uses a common reference to death of that day. And, of course, to wake up a dead person means resurrection. Jesus has raised at least two people in his ministry. His disciples would quickly and joyously accept the plan. Why, then, does he use “sleep” to define death?
    I believe the Lord of Life uses this metaphor to illustrate the gospel’s sure comfort, assurance and hope. As we are alive in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, we will never die. Not only is John 3:16 a good memory verse, we must have faith to remember Jesus’ resurrection promise of that passage: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Believe in God. You will never perish. You will live forever.
    In Jesus, then, our physical death is a sure, joyous passage into heaven’s eternal life. 1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
    Remember, Jesus is urgent to prepare his disciples to minister the gospel. They must fully, without any hesitation, give themselves to the work of Christ because death on earth is the entrance to life in heaven. This faith will empower them to truly live into Thomas’ words, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
    How much of your life are you willing to give to the gospel’s promise? Are you willing to stand firm, to labor for the Lord? Do you know your work for Jesus always impacts his world?  
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your sure promise of eternal life. In comfort, strength and joy we live in the anticipation of life forever with you. Amen.
 

John 11:7-10 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”
 
ONE way we can know God is sovereign over his church is to look at its world-wide impact. Since Jesus commanded his disciples to, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19a) cultures, governments and even false churches have tried to “stone” Jesus and his followers. Jesus’ fervent ministry sets for us an example that we must go now, even into conflict.
    In fact, the cross would not have happened if Jesus had refused to go to Jerusalem to face the opposition. Our Lord would not be our Lord and Savior if he held back from his appointed work. Jesus’ needed to confront evil, so he could defeat it for your eternal life.
    Jesus urges us to work now while we can in the “daylight”. The Lord’s incarnation, ministry and crucifixion have set a Spirit-empowered example of kingdom work. The Father sent the Son into a world that opposed God. Jesus’ was challenged and threatened. Yet, he persisted to keep working in his allotted time to accomplish his mission. He urged his disciples then to put away their fears and boldly do the same. Remember, they will soon be the church’s leaders. This “work now” mentality would be vital for their mission purpose.
    It is daylight in the world right now for the gospel work. The Father has given us time to come to faith and to tell others. Know where the Lord wants you to work, then do it. Work with Jesus as if there is no tomorrow. There may not be.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for setting the example to work now, even amid opposition, so your gospel would go powerfully into the world. Amen.

John 11:1-3 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 “The final result of this sickness will not be the death of Lazarus; this has happened in order to bring glory to God, and it will be the means by which the Son of God will receive glory.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

JOHN 11-18 records Jesus’ last 30 days of Jesus’ life on earth. Jesus will use this time to set the stage for his death, resurrection and ascension. He has much work to do as he strives to prepare his closest disciples to become passionate apostles once he has left earth.
              With that in mind, let’s look now at this account of Lazarus’ resurrection. Although the Bible has several resurrection accounts, this is perhaps the most well-known, second only to that of Jesus’ own resurrection.
              Resurrection is the Bible’s theme. Consider this: Jesus words, “The final result of this sickness will not be the death of Lazarus.” is a topic sentence, a purpose and a promise statement of the entire Bible! This is our hope as Jesus’ disciples, isn’t it? That is the hope we have when we begin to read this story of Lazarus. We know the final result of his death is resurrection! We have hope and joy in our heart. We are able to wait on Jesus’ lingering to go to his friend’s aid. We understand why he waits. We know God is about to unveil his resurrection power to Lazarus, Lazarus’ sisters and mankind.
              Genesis, though, evokes the opposite emotions. When you begin reading of God’s wondrous creation and see the words, “and it was good” do you not have a sense of grief lurks in your heart? You know what is will happen in Genesis 3 is not good. Disobedience, sin – death – enters into perfection. “Good” suddenly is gone, it seems. And the rest of the Bible is a story of rebellion against our Creator and his persistent love, even as he promises to resurrect Eden once again on earth.
              Amid the sin, slavery and judgment in the Old Testament, you find God’s persistent love. He repeatedly assures you that your life will not end in death if you obey his commands. Then comes Jesus and this moment. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is about to once again demonstrate God’s good, creative, life-giving power.
              When we live a “resurrected” life, we live with a trust in Jesus’ “good” power to bring us to God’s full life each day and eternally. Resurrected from our sins in Jesus, we can get up in the morning to confront the “not-good” events of each day. We can be glad for challenges. We can face adversity squarely in the face and have the strength of life in Christ to overcome it. You can even be at peace when Jesus lingers to come to you.


Prayer: Thank you, God, that this life does not end in death. In Jesus’ name I rejoice! Amen. 

John 10:40-42 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in th at place many believed in Jesus.
 
FOR some time, we’ve been reading about the ruling Jews’ unbelief. Their opposition to Jesus makes one’s soul weary, doesn’t it? Why was it so difficult for them to know and understand Jesus? Especially as they saw his miracles and heard his teachings, could they not conceive that God was made flesh, Immanuel had come down?
   Some are that way, and they will never believe. We can be frustrated at such antagonism toward God. But it will do no good. More appropriately, we should grieve their lack of understanding, pray for their eyes to open and hope for their salvation. Our role is to love God and love one another. We must be of the Holy Spirit, bearing his fruit in all circumstances.
   Keep in mind Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The apostles and early missionaries such as Philip, Priscilla and Aquilla had struggled mightily against unbelief. Paul writes elsewhere of his immense physical suffering and his spiritual grief. His response is not to be frustrated but to live in the Spirit’s power. In this way he encourages us all to demonstrate God’s fruitful living, so others will be saved.
   He goes on to encourage us with Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  
   The apostle Paul did not invent this process. He followed Jesus. Our Lord has been called a demon and accused of capital crimes against God. Still, he stayed in the Spirit’s power. He demonstrated the fruit of God’s power. Patiently and lovingly our Lord continued to be kind, good, faithful, gentle and controlled. As a result, he moved from the temple mount to the wilderness where John the Baptist had preached. There in the wilderness, as he did for Israel out of Egypt, God came to reveal himself. People believed and called on the name of the Lord.
   We can learn much from the Lord, his missionaries and his apostles.
 
Prayer: Teach me, Spirit, to live in your power, not my weaknesses. Amen.
 

John 12:34-39 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came – and the Scripture cannot be broken – 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”  39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
 
WHAT does Jesus mean regarding his “you are gods” statement? In the style of a rabbi who asked questions to help disciples learn, Jesus strives to teach and have the Jews believe he is the Son of God with a question from Scripture.
   His question comes from David’s Psalm 82:1-2 God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the “gods” 2 How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?...6 I said, You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.
   With the small letter “g”, David is not talking of idols but is referring to Israel as gods to label them as children of God. God has formed Israel to be his own. He has taught them wrong and right. They have a knowledge and ability to judge – to know –  the truth, even in their sin.
   Israel has a God-given relationship through Abraham’s line. Each Jew is a physical child of God’s covenant. They can know right and wrong and understand God’s way if they open their hearts to God’s Word.
   In effect, Jesus asked, “If the people of Israel sin and still do good works, why is it impossible to believe that I, who do miracles, am the Son of God?” He pleads with them to “know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”.
   Do you believe Jesus is from God? Then rejoice! Consider how beautiful it is to know and understand Jesus is the Son of God. He has come to teach us that we may know wrong from right, death from life. As you believe, absorb the wonder of this truth. Count yourself blessed with God’s greatest gift. Know he has revealed to you what he closed to the most learned men among his people.
   Live in God’s grace. Live with gratitude to the God of heaven and earth. With joy, know you are a spiritual child, saved in the covenant of grace.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for giving to me the knowledge and wisdom that Jesus is Savior. Through you, Jesus is in me, and I am in him. Amen.   

John 10:31-33 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
 
THE lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. (Proverbs 15:7) I wonder what the highly educated Jews would have said if they had listened to God’s Word such as Proverbs 15:7? Would these “fools” have become wise in the Lord’s knowledge?
   These ruling Jews had just forcefully implored Jesus to tell them who he is. He answered them, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) Foolishly, they didn’t believe him. So they picked up stones to kill him! They continued to approve, accept and even demand Jesus’ miracles; yet, they foolishly rejected his unity with the Father. They believed, it seems, the physical, while they rejected the spiritual.
   Are we prone to do the same? In my experiences in my own faith walk and in the church, it seems we almost daily pray for God to do a miracle. It could be to rescue a person from addiction or sudden, life-threatening illness. Often we pray for others’ salvation. We seek God for funds for a new church mission or community project. God’s Spirit, we pray, will miraculously revive a broken society or bring food and water to places in need.
   But let’s stop to think about our response to God’s Word. God has written his Bible to declare who he is and who we are. If we listen, we will learn God is Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Helper, Judge, Love and Life eternal. God tells us plainly who he is, what to do and what not do.
   Are you listening? Do you receive his commands with the same enthusiasm with which you receive his miraculous work? When a sinner is saved, you rejoice. Right? When food is on the table of a once-empty home, you celebrate. Right? When God commands you to stop your sin, you celebrate. Right?
   These spiritual miracles are God’s will for you. If you confess Jesus, “Lord.” the Spirit has revealed to you the way, the truth and the life of salvation. Receive all God is – his miraculous healings, provision and most of all, his truth and salvation. Yes, with a pure heart put away foolish thoughts and talk. Drop the rocks of unbelief. Pursue righteousness. Receive even his commands. Believe the Savior. Live in peace. Be wise. Spread knowledge.
 
Prayer: I pray, Lord, I am wise to receive your knowledge. Amen.

John 10:25-30 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
 
JESUS responds to the ruling Jews’ angry, exasperated words of John 10:24 “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” The Son of God then replies, “But I did tell you.” He has told them with his miraculous work. And he has taught repeatedly he is of the Father, doing only as his Father in heaven directs him. The Jews cannot understand he is the Christ – the prophesied Messiah. They are not as the Samaritans in John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” Why not?
   They do not understand the Good Shepherd because they have refused to be in his flock. Their self-centered lives have led them away from the sheep pen – from God’s covenant promise of a benevolent Father – Family relationship. Here’s a sample from Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people…14 But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands…17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.” 
   Read all of Leviticus 26, and you will see God’s extraordinary promises of peace and plenty to his people if they would live in his teachings. You will also see God’s profound penalties on their sins. He says that if Israel will set their face toward him (desire to know and obey him) and become his faithful children, they will know the Lord’s generous provisions. If, however, they turn their face – their desire for God – away from him, he will turn from them. He will send them out of his relational sheepfold.
   God’s Word is true. He will do as he says. The Old Testament describes Israel’s disobedience and God’s punishment. But then Jesus came to recall the lost sheep home. The Spirit of God must turn the Jews’ deaf ears to hear the Son. Only then will they believe Jesus is the Christ.
   Are you in the sheepfold? Praise God! Celebrate Jesus’ blessed assurance: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
   Believe and know you are his forever. His gift of faith that you call Jesus, “Savior.” Is an eternal gift.
   This is the great miracle of salvation. Your face – your attention, love, heart, desire – turns toward the Savior. You listen to the Christ. You receive the Christ. You keep Christ in your life forevermore.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your teachings, miracles and sacrifice. I turn my face toward you to acknowledge you are the Christ of my life. Amen. 
 

John 10:22-24 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
 
OUR Lord is now at the Feast of Dedication. This is in winter, two months after Jesus debated with the Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles. Other names for this feast are Hanukkah and Festival of Lights. This is an eight-day remembrance restoring the temple to worship God in 165 BC after Antiochus IV’s desecration in 168 BC.
   We continue, then, to see John connect light to Jesus’ salvation. At the Festival of Lights is the Light of the World. He has come to restore his people’s souls to worship God. Yet, the Jews’ view of the Messiah continued to defile the Light.
   When John writes, “The Jews gathered round.” the original language says, “They closed in on him.” The hostile Jews became as an aggressive territorial gang, determined to force Jesus to be the Messiah they desired. His mysterious teachings confused them. And they seemed blind to his miracles. They wanted Jesus to declare himself on their terms. “Tell us plainly.” they forcefully urged.
   When they asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense?” the Hebrew language means, “How long will you hold up our soul?” Seeing God with lightless eyes, they remained unwilling to love God with their heart, mind and soul. It’s as if they held their souls in their hands, unwilling to let themselves worship the Lord. Jesus would not accommodate them. If he did, they would see Jesus as a human ruler, prone to human force. They would miss the eternal King. Their souls had become so defiled, they had no room to worship the Living God, even as he came to deliver them from evil.
   This is our challenge, too, isn’t it? In the shadows of sin, we preconceive, for example, God will deliver to us all the “right” answers to our prayers. We can see him too often as a benevolent gift-giver who certainly will answer, “Yes!” to all our petitions. But what if he doesn’t? Is it not true you will “hold up” your soul while you wait for his answer? Perhaps you hold back joy, love or peace, hoping God will be who you want him to be. Is your worship only for the God who pleases you?
   What “abomination” must the Lord deliver from your soul? Are you willing to give him room in your soul to allow his will to come in and free you? Submit to the Lord’s ways. Faithfully look to the Light, remembering in his grace he has delivered you from sin’s desecration. Pray you do not hold back your soul from God. Worship him. Allow God to hold your soul forever in his arms.
    
Prayer: Lord God, forgive me for holding back my soul while I wait for what I want. I pray your will be done, Lord. Amen.