Read John 11:28-37
 
John 11:35-36 Jesus wept. 36 “See how much he loved him!” the people said.
 
A short verse has much to say: “Jesus wept.” Oh, this is such great comfort! Can you imagine the Lord of Life standing in front of a grave? Yes, I’m sure he had done this before. I’m sure other friends had died. Apparently his earthly father Joseph was dead when Jesus’ ministry began. Certainly he had wept before. Why would the Lord of Life weep? After all, he knows that in a few minutes this grave will open and his friend will walk out. Why does Jesus weep? I think it is not for the reason those around him thought. I think and feel from this scripture, from Jesus’ life, and from his great love, that Jesus wept for all humanity. He wept because so very much had been lost. He wept because death had broken into paradise.  
    After all, Jesus was the Word spoken at creation’s dawn. With the Father and Spirit, he saw a void turned into a sparkling universe of extraordinary beauty and perfection. He knew that death was not part of the picture. Jesus was “there”, too, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Oh, the disappointment and grief that our loving Lord experienced at that moment! How could Jesus deal with death, the death of peace, the death of perfection, the death of humanity’s oneness with their creator? He could only tolerate it because he knew this moment was coming. Since eternity before time, he knew this moment would come when once again humanity would experience the life-giving wonder of the Father’s creative power. Jesus wept because he loves us. His walk to the cross is called “passion” for a reason. He has a deep passion to see his people witness and know his resurrection power. Can you see this power? Can you feel it in your life? I pray so.
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus grieves your sin.

Read John 11: 17-28
 
John 11:20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house.
 
I don’t blame Mary for staying in the house. I would have been ticked off, too. She may have been thinking something like this: “After all, Jesus claimed to love Martha and Lazarus and me. But he sure took his time to get to here. Where was he? What was he doing? He has healed so many people, people he didn’t even know. 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? Several years ago, a friend died of cancer. Three kids, a husband left alone. No wife, no mother, for them. Their loved one gone forever, lying in the cemetery across the highway from the house they had just built. I’m with you on this one, Mary. Where is Jesus when you need him the most? Are you really the “resurrection and the life”?
    I was confused about how to answer that until I consider what “resurrection and the life” really means.
    Jesus is so much more than about the here and now. “What have you done for me lately, Jesus?” is exactly the wrong way to think of what he offers to us. Even Lazarus would not remain alive forever. Yes, he was healed, made alive again, but he did experience a permanent bodily death.
    The eternal life is the gift we receive. It 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”. Yes, Debbie’s disease did not turn out as we desired. But her Lord had given her the gift of life beyond all time.
    Are you dejected, disappointed and feeling a little miffed about Jesus’ seemingly uncaring attitude toward you or your loved ones? Remember, he came from his throne in Heaven to offer you a home in Heaven. Focus on and celebrate his remarkable gift. It lasts forever.
   
Resurrection Truth: life is forever in Jesus.

John 11:4 “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.”

LENT is a period of reflection. It is a time of letting go. The 40 days is a time to purposefully direct our lives, moreso than other times of the year, to the Living Christ, the author of salvation. And more, Lent is a time of positive expectation.
    And thus, I think it appropriate to begin with a story on new life second only to that of Jesus’ own resurrection. Consider this: Jesus words, “The final result of this sickness will not be the death of Lazarus” is a topic sentence, a purpose statement of the entire Bible! When we begin to read this story of Lazarus, knowing the final result, we have hope and joy in our heart. We are able to withstand Jesus’ waiting to go to his friend’s aid. We understand why he waits because we have a full understanding of the life power he is about to unveil to mankind.
    Genesis, though, evokes the opposite emotions. When I begin reading of God’s wondrous creation and see the words, “and it was good” giving God’s glorious benediction to each day’s creation, a sense of grief lurks in my soul. I know what is coming is not good. Disobedience, sin – death – enters into perfection. “Good” lasts only until Genesis 3—and the rest of the Bible is a story of struggle against our Creator…until this moment, until Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, once again demonstrates 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.
    A resurrected life opens the doors wide, so we can step into each moment with confidence, love, hope and promise that come from Jesus. Are you feeling like you’re in the grave of hopelessness, discouragement or disappointment? Turn to Jesus. This Lenten season, use 40 days to focus on his life-giving power. Read the gospels. Receive the Spirit’s good grace to know Christ has resurrected you.
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus’ resurrection is for you to be alive in him.

Luke 12:22-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  
 
SOME of you reading this have great cause for worry, don’t you? You look around your village to see children without food, women without husbands and men who have no jobs. Each day the “worry cloud” darkens the “faith light” in your heart. “Will I have enough to eat today? Will I be able to live here another day? Can I protect my children from disease? Is there any possible way I can obey Jesus’ teaching? Does Jesus really speak the truth when he says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.”
    It’s easy for all of us to worry about our lives, isn’t it? We all face challenges of some form within our lives, family, community and nation. How then, do we not worry about our lives to, instead, trust the Savior’s comforting assurance here?
    What is worry? It is to be anxious about things we can’t control. Jesus, then, is teaching us to let go of those uncontrollable events and to believe the sovereign Lord is in control. You don’t control the birds of the air. God does. And God takes care of them. He will take care of you.
    How does God care for you? First, he created you with a mind to receive his teachings on the right way to live. Obeying God’s laws will form a sturdy foundation in your life to physically care for yourself and others. Much troublesome worry occurs when we ignore God’s laws. Yes, others can cause you harm. But strive daily to live in the Father’s “household” under the Father’s rules.
    Moreover, your mind is creative. You are capable of learning ways to solve the “worries” you can control. If you need a sure source of daily food, for example, what actions can you take to make that happen? If you need to resolve a troublesome relationship, what must you do for that to happen? A mind without worry has more room for creative, productive thinking.
    When inclined to worry, stop and say to yourself: “I believe Jesus is the Son of God made flesh, crucified, dead and buried, risen and ascended to Heaven. He is my Lord and Savior. I will trust the risen Lord for each aspect of my daily life.”
 
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray I live in the words of Psalms 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Luke 12:16-21 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
 
I have been reading a biography of Warren Buffet. Mr. Buffet is an extraordinarily wealthy man. He has accumulated a multi-billion-dollar worth through a keen understanding of business and a patience to stay with stocks, even as they were low in price. Of course, this is an oversimplification of his means to wealth. But the essence of his life is that he has worked constantly and steadily with essentially one thing on his mind: make more money.
    And this was not because he desired so much money – he really has seemed to have little use for it over his lifetime. But his money-making efforts have been for the sake of proving to the world his means and ways are right. He has done things differently than most investors these past 60 years. To use the metaphor of today’s Scripture, Mr. Buffet’s barns are surely full.
    In light of Jesus’ teaching here, we must acknowledge one significant truth regarding Mr. Buffet’s wealth: When he dies, the money and his purpose cease to exist for himself. Others will benefit, but it is done for Warren Buffet. Much worse, he denies God’s existence. His eternal future will be of unquenchable fire unless the Sprit opens his mind to prove Jesus’ true wealth to him.
    Most of us move from day-to-day to have money to use for our daily lives. Sometimes we have work. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes investments pay off. Sometimes they don’t. Money and the lack of it is, indeed, an issue for many of you reading this. Surely you desire to have a full barn that will steadily provide for you.
    I pray this is so for you. I also pray, even more, your heart is full and even overflowing with God’s kingdom wealth. I urge you to diligently work to accumulate a knowledge of God. Build your life with eternity in view as you strive for an active, living faith, sure hope and grateful love for a Savior, who has freely given you an eternal inheritance.
    Yes, many of us strive for our daily bread and material needs. In your work, be content to know that on the great day of the harvest, you will be gathered into Jesus’ eternal home. Nothing, nothing on earth matters but to have a heart full of Jesus. May it be so.
 
Prayer: Fill me up, Lord, with your sweet salvation. Feed me with your Bread of Life. May I drink your Living Water. Amen.

Luke 12:13-15 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
 
FOR some time, Jesus has been speaking to smaller groups of the Pharisees and then his disciples. Others in a crowd have been listening. Now one interjects into Jesus’ teachings. It seems the man wants a fair settlement of his family’s inheritance.
    The man’s desire is certainly valid. God’s laws in Numbers 26-27, 33, 35 and in Deuteronomy 21:17 point to the transfer of the inheritance to the next generation. The man looked to Jesus to act as a judge. The religious authorities then were the legal judges as well in such matters.
    Here again, Jesus moved to put our eyes on eternal wealth. He refused the man’s inquiry because he had not come to settle such matters. The Son of Man was already overwhelmed with his work. People pressed at him from all directions. They wanted to learn from him, be healed in him and even denounce him. There was no time to be a civil judge.
    Instead, the eternal Savior spoke to protect us from his eternal judgment. He warns us to accumulate eternal wealth. What we have in this world has no effect on our eternal position. When your life is held to account by the Judge, he will not account for your balance sheet. Your worth will be in your faith.
    You’ve heard that before, haven’t you? What then do you do with this teaching? Are you willing to assess your priorities? Where is money in your heart? Where is Jesus? What does he want you to do about it?
 
Prayer: Lord God Almighty, I pray you are my treasure. In Jesus’ holy name, amen. 

Luke 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
 
WE need a great deal of strength and confidence to follow Jesus, don’t we? Someone recently said that one reason Christianity is declining in some areas of the world is because Jesus’ followers are more and more reluctant to speak for him. Critics, friends and non-believers easily shut our moths simply by expressing their disapproval of our testimonies. Some even mock us, don’t they? What are we to do?
    We keep speaking of the Master and trust the Holy Spirit, don’t we? That is Jesus’ teaching and affirmation here. He, of course, knew his disciples who stood before him that day and his followers through the ages would face much more than mocking and disapproval. Many would face torture, imprisonment and death for his name. What would they say when questioned about Jesus? What words would come from their faithful lips?
    Jesus assured his disciples that his Spirit would speak with them. They could minister in confidence to express the gospel amid derision and persecution. As they opened their mouths, words would come to present the Christ to kings, rulers, authorities and even disbelieving family members. In faith they could “take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 5:17b) to lift the cross before the culture.
    It is good to know as much of God as we can, so we can clearly offer him to unbelievers. But it is not necessary to know everything. The main thing to know is the Lord is with you in turn and in Spirit. Remember that he has called you to be his own. Your life is in his hands. You will be his life-changing tool when you faithfully speak for the Lord of your life.
 
Prayer: I love you, Lord. I pray my tongue will always be loose to tell of you and your great love, grace and forgiveness. Amen.

Luke 12:8-10 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”
 
THIS last line often causes people to stop short and ask, “Doesn’t God forgive all sins, even to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, whatever that means?”
    First, let’s understand that to blaspheme is to deny God and speak against him. Jesus’ teaching here is also recorded this way in Matthew 12:32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Thus, we understand Jesus condemned words against the Holy Spirit. What then, are those words?
    The Pharisees blasphemed the Spirt as they denied Jesus’ deity. Even though Jesus’ proved himself as the Son of Man – a name the Jews’ equated with the sovereign Jehovah – many times. Our Lord’s revelations of grace within God’s laws, his forgiveness and his life-giving resurrections illustrated to the Jews that the prophesied, promised Messiah was in their midst. Yet, the religious rulers said, “We do not believe. We condemn this pretender.”
    You might ask, “How do these words against Jesus blaspheme the Spirit? It seems they are blaspheming Jesus.” Remember, God is three persons in one. A sin against one person of the Holy Trinity is a sin against God. Denying Jesus as God denies that the Holy Spirit brought the Son into the world. Consider also, that the Spirit anointed Jesus to minister. The Spirit empowered Jesus to teach, heal and resurrect. The Spirit protected the Son from angry mobs until it was time for the cross. To denounce Jesus is to speak against, even to curse the Holy Spirit, the One who empowered his human life. Even more, denying the Messiah is also saying to the Father, “I don’t believe you.”   
    This is why the Father will not forgive those who blaspheme the Spirit. Such a person does not believe in God. Jesus teaches believe in God or perish: “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.         
 
Prayer: Holy Spirit, you have revealed the Living Christ to me. I pray you reveal him to my friends and family who are yet to believe Jesus is the Son of God. In his name I pray, amen.
     

Luke 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
 
MY wife and I were comparing the labels on two loaves of bread recently. Both types of bread listed the same calories, carbohydrates, sugar and protein content. Our first impression was that it didn’t seem to matter which bread we chose. We concluded, “Let’s eat the cheaper bread.”
    But then we read the label more closely. We noticed the higher cost bread contained levels of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients that are essential to a body’s good health. This bread had more food value. The cheaper bread looked good but had none of those nutrients. Such “food” would not truly feed us. It could even harm us as we missed the needed nutrition.
    With the yeast comparison, Jesus teaches us to be good bread to nurture and give life to others. Good yeast is necessary for bread to rise well. In addition, Jesus’ yeast image also points to a symbolic cleansing of sin during the Passover. All yeast must be swept from the house before the Passover begins. This is to remind Israel they had left behind Egypt’s pagan culture. A sin-cleansed house would prepare the household for a new life in God’s care to the Promised Land.
    Jesus wants us to be clean of the Pharisees’ yeast, their hypocrisy. Yes, these men looked good; perhaps they even taught well with eloquence and some knowledge. Their words could even at times sound like Jesus’ teachings regarding God’s law, sin and future promises. But, in truth, on close examination, their words were a label of hypocrisy. As they kept false laws, rejected God’s law and rebuked Jesus, their teachings were empty of God’s nutritious, life-giving power.
    Too often we eat food that looks good and tastes great but has no lasting value. These foods fill us, and we have no appetite for the health-nurturing foods we should eat. In a like manner, the world pours out appetizing words, “Have it your way. You deserve it. You are number one. You can believe any religion. They’re all the same.” But these words keep God’s people filled with deadly food. We must help all receive the soul-nourishing Bread of Life:
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life… 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
    Let’s pay attention to the “label”. Know the difference between the Good Bread and empty bread. Consume the One who feeds you eternally.
    Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
    Is there any reason we wouldn’t want this?
 
Prayer: Alert my mind, Holy Spirit, to the sufficiency of Jesus, the Bread of Life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Luke 11:53-54 When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.
 
THIS is the 37th teaching on Luke 11. The chapter began with Jesus praying. A disciple asked Jesus to teach him and his fellow students how to pray. Countless disciples through the ages have all learned from Jesus’ answer.  From there, Jesus went on to do great healings, to even raise a girl from the dead. He expressed grace, compassion, forgiveness and love. He warned of the Father’s justice and the results of law-binding, unrepentant sins. Jesus was clear to draw the line on life without him and life with him. What did his listeners choose?
    We don’t see how everyone responded, but we read where the Pharisees, scribes and teachers of the law stood. Jesus’ kingdom line-drawing has placed these religious rulers in direct opposition to the King. See how they “besieged him with questions waiting to catch him in something he might say.”  You know people like that, don’t you? They keep asking questions about Jesus to “catch him” in ways they are eager to reject. Their questions are not designed to stand with Jesus or you, but are used to defend their own side of the line. As the people around Jesus then, many in our culture today continue to besiege the Savior to discredit him. Their ears are too dark to hear the Light of the World tell them, “You have sinned. Judgment will come. Come to me and be saved.” God’s light of sacrifice, humility, grace and truth is hidden beneath questions designed to barricade the truth
     How do we break down the barricades? Let’s begin with our own walls. Where might our hearts be closed to God’s answers? Are we afraid to seek solutions? Have we become too comfortable or restrictive in our own habits? We can begin to answer those questions when we sit down with open ears to pray, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalms 25:4-5) The psalmist prays submissively to the receive the Lord’s teachings.
    Throughout Luke 11, we have seen the Lord do remarkable work. And we have looked into history to see how his own people opposed him. We must learn the lessons. Jesus saves. Receive his power. Know his truths. Live in faith. Call on the name of the Lord. Prepare your hearts to hear his teachings. Submit to his words. Be saved in him.  
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your resurrection power you have so freely given to me. I await to hear your voice guide me to you. Amen.