Daily Bread 2011 - John 11
Daily Bread 2011 – John 11
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. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept.
What Does This Mean?
I believe John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible, “Jesus wept”. We have now seen many encounters with Jesus and all sorts of people. Today, he encounters the death of his dear friend Lazarus, and his two sisters Mary and Martha, who will play a prominent role in the story. We remember that Mary was the one who sat at Jesus’ feet in adoration and anointed his feet with perfume, while Martha had scurried around attending to all the details. Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha you worry about so many things and Mary has done the one thing that was needful.”
We know from the details given earlier in the chapter that Jesus had been sent word by the sisters that Lazarus was very sick, but Jesus stayed where he was for two more days, indicating that this was for His Father’s glory that Lazarus had fallen asleep (died) and it was going to be worked through Him.
So when Jesus arrives it doesn’t surprise us when both Mary and Martha say, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Perhaps an indication of their faith, or perhaps an indication of their frustration that Jesus hadn’t arrived sooner. The story ends with the greatest sign (miracle) Jesus will ever do, raising Lazarus from the dead. This results in much faith in Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life, but also further plotting by the Jewish leaders to kill him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This greatest sign is meant to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Although Lazarus would eventually die, as will we, as we have faith in Jesus; we will realize He is the resurrection and the life. All the signs in John point to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and that by believing you will have life in His name.
And the Church moves out in the power of Jesus’ name and the power of the Holy Spirit given to the disciples at Pentecost and to us, we will continue to do signs that will draw people to the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus.
Heavenly Father we thank you for incredible signs you did through Your son, showing Him to the Messiah. May we come to the one who is the Resurrection and the Life for all of our healing both in this life and the life to come. Amen
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. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept.
What Does This Mean?
I believe John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible, “Jesus wept”. We have now seen many encounters with Jesus and all sorts of people. Today, he encounters the death of his dear friend Lazarus, and his two sisters Mary and Martha, who will play a prominent role in the story. We remember that Mary was the one who sat at Jesus’ feet in adoration and anointed his feet with perfume, while Martha had scurried around attending to all the details. Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha you worry about so many things and Mary has done the one thing that was needful.”
We know from the details given earlier in the chapter that Jesus had been sent word by the sisters that Lazarus was very sick, but Jesus stayed where he was for two more days, indicating that this was for His Father’s glory that Lazarus had fallen asleep (died) and it was going to be worked through Him.
So when Jesus arrives it doesn’t surprise us when both Mary and Martha say, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Perhaps an indication of their faith, or perhaps an indication of their frustration that Jesus hadn’t arrived sooner. The story ends with the greatest sign (miracle) Jesus will ever do, raising Lazarus from the dead. This results in much faith in Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life, but also further plotting by the Jewish leaders to kill him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This greatest sign is meant to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Although Lazarus would eventually die, as will we, as we have faith in Jesus; we will realize He is the resurrection and the life. All the signs in John point to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and that by believing you will have life in His name.
And the Church moves out in the power of Jesus’ name and the power of the Holy Spirit given to the disciples at Pentecost and to us, we will continue to do signs that will draw people to the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus.
Heavenly Father we thank you for incredible signs you did through Your son, showing Him to the Messiah. May we come to the one who is the Resurrection and the Life for all of our healing both in this life and the life to come. Amen
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