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Monday
John 11:1-44
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’” (John 11:25a)
Scripture gives few details about the relationship between Jesus and the three siblings: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We know that Jesus spent time in their home (Luke 10:38-42), was greatly honored by Mary (Mark 14:3-9), and considered a teacher by the sisters (John 11:28), and that His love of the family was well known (v. 36).
This family is facing an overwhelming crisis: Lazarus was sick. But the emphasis of this chapter is on faith; you find some form of the word believe at least eight times. In what Jesus said and did, He sought to strengthen the faith of the three groups of people in John 11: the disciples, the sisters, and the Jews.
The raising of Lazarus from the dead was not Jesus’ last miracle before the cross, but it was the greatest and intensified the response from both His followers and His enemies. John chose this miracle as the seventh in the series recorded because it was the climatic miracle of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life,” by Jesus (v. 25), completely transforms the doctrine of the resurrection.
By His miracles, His teaching, and His own resurrection, Jesus clearly taught the resurrection of the human body. He demonstrated that death is real, that there is life after death, and that the body will one day be raised by the power of God.
Jesus’ declaration also places the promise in Himself. We realize we are saved by the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and not by a doctrine written in a book. When we know Jesus by faith, we need not fear death and what follows death.
By His declaration, Jesus moves the resurrection out of the future and into the present. Martha was looking to the future, knowing Lazarus would rise again and she would see him. Her friends were looking to the past and saying, “He could have prevented Lazarus from dying” (v. 37 paraphrased). But Jesus tried to center their attention on the present: wherever He is, God’s resurrection power is available now (Romans 6:4; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:10).
Lazarus’ story stands out because it demonstrates Jesus’ life-giving power and a picture of His own coming resurrection. And, as with all miracles recounted in the Gospels, it brings glory to God (v. 4).
Questions
What difference does is make in your daily life to believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
Prayers for Stephen & Kate Clark (Campus 2Campus Ministries)
Pray for unity amongst our team of 14. We all live in the same area, work together often, and basically function as our own house church and support group. Pray that God would work mightily in us and bind us together like a family.
Tuesday
John 11:17-27
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26)
God wants us to face life’s overwhelming trials with overwhelming faith in Jesus. People generally speak of faith in terms of hopeful optimism—that everything will be okay. The Bible explains faith in a different way. Faith is relational trust in God—not just that He exists, but that what He has promised is true and worthy of personal commitment.
A person who is connected to God and reliant on Him—not just in the moment, but through life—reflects true faith. Biblical faith involves “substance-belief” in something specific. Martha believed Jesus had the power to heal her brother (vv. 11-12). Jesus wanted this grieving sister to come to a higher level of faith in who He is. He knew that faith in Him is a major component in dealing with our grief and with our major trials.
Believing God is not the same as believing God exists. Those with faith believe that their salvation rests in the finished work of Jesus on their behalf. They believe the gospel is true (Matthew 16:16; John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 10:17; Colossians 2:13-15). Biblical faith is more than mental agreement with facts; it is a personal commitment to live life based on those realities. True saving faith leads a believer to repent from sin and follow Christ (Luke 9:23; 14:25-27; Acts 3:19-21).
Failing to personally apply the truths about who Jesus is and what He has promised leaves you at the mercy of your own interpretation of everything around you. Without true faith, God is a distant reality, uninvolved in this world or your life.
Martha was not like this. She responded, “Lord, I believe.” Then she immediately went on to say what she believed: “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” (v. 27). I want this to be my humble yet bold declaration in all my joys and trials.
Questions
How is your faith like Martha’s? What would your response be to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe this?” Finally, in what specific way is Jesus calling you to trust Him today?
Prayers for Stephen & Kate Clark (Campus 2Campus Ministries)
Pray for us as we learn the Indonesian language. We have started classes at a local language center and will hopefully be in this program for 2-3 years. Pray that God would give us a supernatural retention speed and that we would be able to build relationships and share with locals very soon.
Wednesday
John 11:20-27; 39-40
I didn’t doubt the truth of the miracles recorded in the Bible—in the Old Testament and the New Testament. But after I experienced God’s life-giving power in my son after a rock-climbing accident in 2008, God’s resurrection life transformed and deepened my belief that Jesus is the Son of God who has come to be the resurrection and the life for me and for all who believe.
Martha was changed following her brother Lazarus’ resurrection. We are given clues to this change as we examine two dinner parties—one before and one after the miracle. The first dinner party is familiar to many of us in Luke 10:38-42, where Martha and Mary have Jesus over for dinner in their home. Martha, often depicted as a Type A personality, is encumbered in preparations for the meal while her sister, Mary, sits at Jesus’ feet, ostensibly to learn from Him. Martha is driven to scold Jesus saying, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40). Jesus’ gentle response reveals that Martha’s priorities and attitude were the problem. Martha’s serving was not the problem, rather that she was distressed about it and was unkind to others as a result.
Martha’s transformed spirit is reflected in the accounts given in John 12, Matthew 26, and Mark 14, where she serves another dinner to honor Jesus. Mary is once again at Jesus’ feet, but it is a large dinner party to honor Jesus. Martha is no longer angry and unkind; she serves (John 12:2). Prior to the resurrection of her brother, Martha was self-focused as evidenced by her using the pronouns “my” and “me” in her scolding complaints. When she got her mind off herself and on to the Lord, she served with an untroubled heart.
How can we apply this to our serving? It is not a question of “should I” or “should I not” serve? But whom am I serving? And how? Are you serving yourself? Are you experiencing burn-out? Are you trying to build a reputation for yourself? Or are you serving the Lord Jesus Christ? If you are truly serving Him, such service will be a pleasure. Trust Jesus to see the glory of God.
Questions
Where are you serving God today? What encouragement do you receive from Martha’s response to Jesus’ resurrection power?
Prayers for Stephen & Kate Clark (Campus 2Campus Ministries)
Pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts and minds of Indonesians for the gospel. Pray that the Lord would go before our team and create divine appointments to see the Kingdom come into people’s lives, and that these first new believers would be pillars of the church.
Thursday
Ephesians 1:19-21; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1: 1-3, 10-11
”Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26)
This last Thanksgiving my son’s family had to put down a cherished pet dog. My son and his wife wisely and lovingly prepared for Moose’s final day, but it was very hard. They chose to bury Moose in their backyard. My granddaughter asked, “Where is Moose now? Is he with God in heaven?” Even the youngest heart longs for understanding what happens after the death of a loved one. How do we know that death is not the end? Because God has raised Jesus from the dead and He is alive in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:19-21).
Why should we believe that Jesus came back from the dead?
God planned for many people to witness and testify that Jesus was alive. Not only His friends, but soldiers who guarded His tomb saw it empty (Matthew 28:1-4). For forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, many eyewitnesses saw Him, talked with Him, and even ate with Him (John 21:10-14). In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul recounts that over five hundred people saw Jesus after His resurrection. Thomas was shown Jesus’ wounds as evidence (John 20:24-29). Death, the penalty for sin, could not hold Jesus because Jesus never sinned (Romans 6:23).
How does Jesus’ resurrection and life matter today?
Jesus is present in all of God’s children through the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21). When Jesus returns, He will come in His body, and everyone will see Him. Jesus rose in a new resurrection body as the first of God’s children to receive a new, perfect body that will never decay (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus is always interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25). Do you long for a time when Jesus will come and set up His kingdom and rule as the perfect king (Zechariah 14:9)? What a great day that will be!
Questions
How would you answer questions posed by a six-year-old: “Where is Jesus now? What is Jesus’ kingdom and why do we pray for it to come?”
Prayers for Stephen & Kate Clark (Campus 2Campus Ministries)
Pray for our team as we are currently on the housing hunt! We have 6-7 houses to find, and apartments here are few and not right for our situation. Pray that God would lead us to the neighborhood that’s right for language and culture learning, and for building relationships that could lead towards advancing the kingdom.
Friday
Romans 10: 9-10; Ephesians 2:1
When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? I caught myself sharing bad news about the pandemic while at work this week—again. It has become a terrible habit. But I can’t recall the last time I spoke about Jesus instead of Covid-19. I have been challenged by Jesus’ words in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Scripture is a mighty sword to cut through lies and false hopes to bring us to the very heart of the gospel.
The transforming power of the “I AM” statement declared by Jesus here in John 11 is recognized in the silent witness of Lazarus, the man raised from the dead. At the end of John 12, we find that Lazarus had become a great and effective witness to Jesus. For “the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him” (vv. 10-11). But Lazarus is never recorded as saying anything. Lazarus’ witness to Christ is that he was with Christ and identified with Christ at a time when it was dangerous (John 11:53).
Neither you nor I have been raised from a physical death by Jesus. But if we understand the miracles in the Gospels, the raising of Lazarus is an illustration of the spiritual resurrection we all participate in if we are Christians. The Bible teaches that before believing in Jesus, we are all spiritually dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1). If you are a Christian, you have been made alive spiritually; Jesus has performed a resurrection within you. Do you give evidence of this truth? Do you openly identify with the only One who can give us life as Lazarus did?
I want my actions and words to give witness to what Jesus has done in my life. I recognize not everyone gives witness by words easily. Jesus made it clear that our mission is to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:20). There is no better time than now to share the love of Christ and His life-giving resurrection power.
Questions
What steps do you need to take to identify with Christ in actions and words?
Prayers for Stephen & Kate Clark (Campus 2Campus Ministries)
Pray for our health and safety. We have two children on the team and couples hoping to get pregnant soon. Please pray that the Lord would keep the kids, potential new mothers, and all of our team members healthy. And pray for the Lord’s protection over us as individuals, over our homes, and over our possessions.
