Jesus, Here and Now
Devotional
Death does NOT have the final say. It has been defeated by Jesus! In John 11, we see the physical representation of a spiritual reality. Jesus is the resurrection now, not just in the future! Learn how God can restore you and bring you into right relationship with Him through the one who conquered death.
1 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 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” 11 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.”
JOHN 11:1-11
Questions:
- What do you think the origin of death communicates about God?
- In what ways has the “DNA of Adam” or sin affected your life?
- In your own words, what do you take away from Jesus’ promise in verses 25-26?
- “Resurrection is not just an event. It’s a person.” In what ways is resurrection needed in your life?
Practice The Way of Jesus:
John 11 details how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after Mary brought news of his illness. In doing this, he caused many people to believe that he was the Christ. However, the Pharisees feared for their positions and so sought to apprehend Jesus. This week, consider how can you be more like the people who believed in Jesus. Ask yourself what tempts you to be threatened by Jesus like the Pharisees.