Faith that Sees

This week we’re going to wrap up our study of the Lazarus miracle.  But before we do, carefully read or re-read the verse at the top.  How do these words speak to you?  Take a moment to ponder them…

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to Martha who was questioning His instructions to open up the tomb of her dead brother.  Throughout the gospel of John we find the word believe, which is generally used regarding belief in Jesus as the promised Messiah and Savior and that He is God.  But what about this instance?  Was Martha doubting Jesus’ divinity?  No!  Ten verses earlier she declared Him to be “the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”  So then, why was Jesus chastising her for her unbelief?  Let’s answer that by putting ourselves in Martha’s place.

Unusual Love

“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.”  

~John 11:5-6

Did you know that God loves you?  And that His love for you surpasses that of all the people in your life—siblings, parents, friends, family, spouses—put together?!  The psalmist said that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.  And through our study of the gospel of John, we’ve seen God’s inexpressible love put into action.  So this week as we begin chapter eleven, we’ll discover another example of Divine love, displayed in an exceedingly unexpected way.

In His Hand

Last week we looked at Jesus as our Good Shepherd, who knows us and calls us each by name, and this week we’re going to discover that we are held in His capable hand.  Verse twenty-eight of chapter ten gives us a glorious promise that we, believers in Jesus Christ, have eternal life and will never be snatched out of Christ’s hand that holds us.  What a reassuring promise!  What a beautiful picture!

#3 - Holy

Travel back with me to the Middle Ages and imagine that you are a serf out working in the fields.  Suddenly, a knight in shining armor rides up to you and informs you that your presence is requested by the king and escorts you to the royal palace.  Would you be trembling in fear?  Would your knees start shaking and your hands grow clammy with nerves as you approach the throne room of the most powerful person in the land?  Would you be wondering why the King desires to see you?  Would you wonder if you were in trouble or had done something wrong?

Called by Name

John 10 is a beautiful picture of how deeply and tenderly the triune God loves us, His flock.  Throughout Scripture, God’s people are pictured as sheep.  The psalmist of Psalm 95 wrote, “We are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”  Sheep are totally dependent upon their shepherd for protection, guidance to new pastures, and a myriad of other things.  Likewise, we must be totally dependent upon our Good Shepherd and allow Him to take care of us.  Because just as woolly little sheep have dangerous enemies and predators,