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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 2 April 2024:
John 11:4 — This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
Since we cannot understand what God is doing, and since we view circumstances from a self-centered perspective, it is very easy for us to misinterpret what is happening to us and to begin to think that God is neglecting us or punishing us when bad things are happening. It is hard for us the imagine that “bad” things aren’t really “bad” but rather best. When we are focused on God’s glory as our life ambition, we appreciate that all circumstances, which are all ordained by God for His purposes, are an opportunity to trust Him, obey Him, worship Him, proclaim Him and reveal Him to a watching world, resting on the assurance of His perfect love and providence. However, when self-gratification is the goal, anything which goes against what we desire or believe is best for us is viewed as a punishment, curse, or needless tragedy, robbing us of love, joy, peace, and contentment.
John 11:5, 14, 14 — Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was…. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus deeply, so He allowed them to go through a tremendous life crisis. The sisters asked for Jesus’ immediate help, but in His love, He delayed until Lazarus died. “Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother,” but where was Jesus in their time of great need? Martha and Mary couldn’t help but question why Jesus had apparently let them down — “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32) If He loved them so much, why would He let this happen when He had already demonstrated the power to heal?
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) Jesus’ delay was undoubtedly perceived by some to be inattentiveness or insensitivity. However, Jesus was fully aware of what was going on and had great compassion for Martha, Mary and all who were suffering through this crisis. Though Jesus “was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” by the pain experienced by those He loved, He didn’t prevent Lazarus’ death because He knew they needed to go through this crisis in order to realize a far greater joy of knowing from experience that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) They already knew Jesus could heal and perform miracles, but now they would know that Jesus is the Life — “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:26) Can you imagine how much deeper the relationship was between Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Jesus after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? Can you imagine how greatly God was glorified through Jesus’ relationship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus — “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36) “It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
If you have ever questioned why God allowed you to go through crisis or tragedy and seemed to leave your prayers unanswered, this story is for you. In His perfect love, God will never forsake you and will walk with you compassionately through hard times to draw you closer to Him and to glorify Himself through your life. Trust in God’s love through life’s challenges, draw closer to Him, and wait upon Him. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
- Romans 8:28-29 — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
- Romans 8:31-32 — What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
- Romans 8:35. 37-39 — Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 11:21 – Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
What emotions do you suppose were behind Martha’s words? In another incident when Martha was resentful for doing all the work, while Mary just sat at Jesus’ feet, she asked Jesus, “Lord, do you not care?” (Luke 10:10), a question the disciples also asked while Jesus slept in the back of a boat during an apparently life-threatening storm – “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” In many different ways, the psalmist, in apparently overwhelming circumstances, cries out to the Lord, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) Mary, the disciples, the psalmist, and many others in the Bible struggled with trusting in the “Lord” and “Teacher,” the “Good Shepherd,” in the midst of His perfect teaching moment. The Bible tells us their stories because God knows you will struggle too, and He wants you to learn to trust and hope in Him, and Him alone. As Romans 8:28-29 tells us, our perfect and sovereign God is using every experience in your life, not only for His glory but also for your best, to give you the best gift He could ever give you, oneness and eternal life in Him.
It takes great faith to trust God in His apparent silence or delay while going through life crisis. It takes great faith to believe in God’s unconditional, perfect love and not to start blaming Him. No doubt both Mary and Martha had their doubts, but they maintained hearts responsive to the Lord. They didn’t walk away from the Lord in doubt, they went to Him (John 11:20, 29), though Jesus was already coming to them but in His perfect timing. They were probably like the man who said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief (Matthew 9:24)!” In all cases, Jesus is working on the unbelief of those He loves through their circumstances, but they must, though doubting, respond in faith.
John 11:25, 26 — I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
If you really believe this, it changes your whole outlook on life, all your priorities, and how you respond to “crisis,” a word which means “decide” in Greek. In a crisis, you come to a decision point – Who will you trust? Yourself, the world around you, luck, or your Almighty, Sovereign Father who has already shown His love for you by giving you His Son? “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
John 11:27 – She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Jesus put Martha through life crisis to take her to the next level, to take her from head knowledge to heart knowledge, to make her faith real by giving her an opportunity to personally experience the Truth of God rather than to just rely upon teachings. Martha was going to see first-hand the power of God in her life; no longer would her faith rely on stories and the testimony of others. She was about to become a true witness. You won’t grow in faith unless you step out in faith, unless you place yourself, or are placed, in situations when you can truly see God work. God will not let you stay where you are in your relationship with Him. You will either step out in faith to truly experience Him, or He will push you out through circumstances that He will orchestrate for your benefit and for His glory.
John 11:32, 33 — Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
How differently do you think Mary, Martha, and Lazarus felt about Jesus after Lazarus was raised from the dead? But Jesus wasn’t just using this situation to draw those three closer to Him, he was using their situation to bring glory to God before a watching world — “Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.” (John 11:45) It takes great faith to believe that God’s delay is always for a greater good, a greater purpose that I cannot understand. But in faith we bring glory to God while He draws us closer and closer to Him. Through your crisis, you have an amazing opportunity to reveal the love of God to many watching around you as you respond to God in faith and a peace which surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
John 11:35 – Jesus wept.
One of the shortest verses in the Bible is one of the most powerful. Through it all, God Himself has great compassion for you because of His perfect love for you. Tied for shortest verse in the Bible is Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always.” These two short verses have much to tell us.
John 11:39, 40 – Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
Jesus has control over science and nature and uses them to reveal Himself. Today, most people seek to understand “science,” a word which means knowledge in Latin, without acknowledging the one who created it, though the Bible teaches, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) In fact, there is no professional field (apart from ministerial ones) which requires godly knowledge for accreditation or certification. Remember that when you listen to the advice of “experts.”
John 11:41, 42 – And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
What God does in your life is ultimately not about you but about God and His purpose of reconciliation in the world. God’s ultimate intent is not to give you a better life on earth but to glorify Himself and conform you to Christ-like character. Your goal should be His goal.
Jesus saw His public prayers as an important testimony to others. Don’t keep salvation through Jesus Christ a secret from those who are perishing because someone told you religion is a private matter.
John 11:43 — Lazarus, come out.
The blessings of God always require our instant, willing obedience to His commands. When you finally realize God’s Word is our life, you won’t hesitate to obey.
John 11:45-47 — Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do?
Jesus Christ will always be divisive. Everyone will pick a side, but no one stands in the middle. It is either all about Jesus or not at all about Jesus. Anyone who say’s they are Christian but don’t surrender all to Him are hypocrites.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 2 April 2024: Whatever is happening to you right now, or whatever happens to you today which is discomforting, pray that the Lord will help you see it as God’s gift to you (though it is a gift would never ask for) as your perfect “Lord, Teacher, and Good Shepherd.” Trust Him even when He is silent. The teacher is silent during the exam. There is no growth in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone. God is Good always! “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 