When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled....Jesus wept.

John 11:28-37

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled....Jesus wept. John 11:33,35

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 11:28-37, where we continue the story of Lazarus, whom we know from the larger story arc is ill and dies, and that Jesus raises him from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: After learning of Lazarus' illness earlier in chapter 11, and then staying where He was for two more days, Jesus is now seen approaching the village where Martha, Mary, and Lazarus lived.  In response to Mary falling to Jesus' feet in grief over her brother's death (vv32), Jesus "was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled...[and He also] wept" (vv33,35).  Jesus sympathizes with us and our cares, concerns and worries.  Believers should understand that because Jesus took on flesh as the Incarnate Son of God, "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15-16).     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In v32, Mary reacts first in worship towards Jesus, as she falls to Jesus' feet.  Similar to her sister Martha (v21), Mary then expresses frustration towards Jesus as she believes that if Jesus had come earlier He would have healed Lazarus (v32) - this is frustration yes but also faith because Mary was definitive that "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."  The Jews in the village and with Mary and Martha consoled and loved them, and wept with them (vv31, 33) - this is a great example of how we are to love others (second greatest commandment).  Some of the Jews marveled at Jesus' love for Lazarus, while others questioned the extent of Jesus' authority and power as He recently healed the blind man (chapter 9), but He was not to keep Lazarus from dying (vv36-37).  There will always be people who doubt who Jesus is - but believers should never doubt that Jesus is God, and Lord and Savior - Creator and King of Kings - able to do anything (Colossians 1:15-17).    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not doubt Jesus and who He is.  Claim the promise that He saves, is able to do anything, loves us and sympathizes with us.  Follow the example of Mary who worshiped Jesus and saw Him as able to heal her brother.  Love others as the Jews consoled and wept with Mary and Martha.  Believe and have faith.        

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God who loves, saves, and sympathizes with us.  Thank You Jesus for all that You do.  I am not deserving of how You bless and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Romans 4

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at "faith for the impossible."  In this devotion John Piper refers us to Paul's text in Romans 4 where Paul highlights Abraham as the model for our faith.  Abraham believed in the promises offered by God in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12), "in spite of all human evidences to the contrary."  God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations, even though Abraham was about a hundred years old and his wife Sarah was barren.  Piper describes how Romans 4:20-21 highlights Abraham's faith as it "glorified God [and]...called attention to all the omnipotent, supernatural resources of God that would be required to fulfill it." As I posted yesterday, Hebrews 11 examines faith and how this well known text (aka Hall of Faith), defines faith (Hebrews 11:1) as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Related to faith is worry - something God wants us to avoid.  Worry makes us anxious, and causes us to be impatient or frustrated if things don't go as expected. We all have hopes, concerns, trials, etc. but we can rest (as Abraham) in knowing that God loves us, is faithful and good, always at work in our lives, and able to do what He promises.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You are good and able and I can rest in Your faithfulness and power.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.       

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Mark 16 and Luke 5

 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start a review of the story of "Peter: Gospel of the Second Chance*".

*Title of lesson nine from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado setting a broader context for a study of Peter - as much as anyone Peter must have felt enormous guilt and shame for denying Jesus three times just as Jesus predicted (see also Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 18).  Yet Lucado points out how, in Mark 16, often referred to as the Gospel of Second Chances, an angel of the Lord - found in Jesus' now empty tomb - directs Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome to "...go, tell his disciples and Peter".  Peter is specifically called out and many speculate as to why, and Lucado believes that he is called out because Jesus wants Peter to have relief from the guilt and shame of his denial - He wants Peter to know that he is forgiven and restored.  Hence we have the popular name of Mark 16 as the Gospel of Second Chances.  Lucado wants us to understand Peter's story and how Peter's second chance is our second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance.  We should not allow our lives to be defined by bad decisions or sin.  

Specifically for day one of the study, Lucado wants us to focus on the how Peter became a disciple and Lucado uses Luke's account of how Peter became a disciple.  Peter, James and John had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee, and cleaning their nets on the shore, when Jesus, who had been teaching nearby, then tells Peter to push out for more fishing.  Peter begrudgingly questions Jesus' request to push out to deep water for more fishing (Luke 5:5).  Of course we know the rest of the story as Peter, James and John capture a haul as big as they've ever seen.  Peter falls to his knees, acknowledges his need for Jesus and becomes a disciple (Luke 5:8-11). Lucado wants to appreciate that we may be tempted to question God's power but we should not and we are also encouraged to see God's power in all things - big and small.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have seen Your power first hand and I know it is great, it knows no bounds, and it is available to me - through You and the Holy Spirit.  I am grateful that I can bring all of my requests to You and how I know You are able.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide the Holy Spirit and so much more, including second chances!  Please forgive me for my often harsh treatment of others, particularly co-workers.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.