"Dealing With Death?"

How does the reality of resurrection impact my life now?

John 11: 1-57

John 11:21-27, 33-44

!Think About It!

How is death viewed differently between a believer and a non-believer?

For a non-believer, I think a person would be more scared since they wouldn't know what to expect after death. For a believer, it's a wonderful thing. To be going on to a life of eternity with the heavenly father, no pain, happiness forever. 

Setting: A friend of Jesus, Lazarus was sick. His sisters were Martha and Mary. They sent a message to Jesus that Lazarus was dying. At first, Jesus did not travel to Bethany, which is near Jerusalem. Jesus' disciples had warned Jesus not to travel there because they feared for His safety. By the time He did reach Bethany,Lazarus had already been dead and in his tomb for 4 days.

Why Is 4 Days important?

In the old days, some people believed to leave the deceased in a tomb for 3 days. They had no way of knowing if a person was truly dead. I am assuming they used this rule of thumb maybe to know for sure they were dead.

 John 1:21-25: (21) Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.(22) But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."(23) Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." (24) "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." (25) Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."

!Think About It! 

What hinders us having a strong faith in the promise of eternal life?

John 11:26-27: (26) Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?" (27) "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."

!Think About It!

When has knowing Jesus promised life after death helped you overcome a time of grief?

Meanwhile, Martha went home and told Mary that Jesus wanted to see her as well. She came to Jesus and said almost the same thing as her sister... "If you had been here sooner, my brother would not be dead." 

John 11:33-35: (33) When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. (34) "Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, com and see." (35) Then Jesus wept.

!Think About It!

Do you think we make Jesus weep when we fail to acknowledge His personal concern for us by acting and living as though the negative aspects of our lives are too great for Him to handle?

Why or Why Not?

John 11:36-39: (36) The people who were standing nearby said,"See how much he loved him!" (37) But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?" (38)Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb,a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance.(39) "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible."

!Think About It!

In what ways do we discount or underestimate our Savior's power because 2,000 years separates us from His earthly ministry?

 John 11:40-44:  (40) Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe ?" (41) So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. (42) You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." (43) Then Jesus shouted,"Lazarus, come out!" (43) And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

!Think About It!

Has there been someone in your life that when their physical bodies fail them, you will be at peace with their death knowing they will have eternal life?

 

*The key word here is to believe in your savior and he will rescue you in your time of need. 

It's hard for us to grasp sometimes of what He can do, people were able to actually see the miracles unfold in front of them. In today's times, we have to believe in Him and use our faith to ensure he still does and always performs miracles in our everyday lives. Never doubt what the Lord can do, He does many great things! With losing my Grandmother 3 years ago at Christmas time it's still hard to get through. My husband Lost his grandfather this year, and things are hard as well. With God's help we are gonna pull through it all.

God Bless,

Emily