Daily Devotionals

Trouble Maker Week 7: Saturday

But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” John 11:4

We have been discussing in our Bible study together about Jesus’ miracles this week. Today, we will talk about perhaps the most significant miracle that Jesus performed. You see, multiplying fish and bread was incredible. Making the storms still left no doubt that Jesus had power. Nothing was more powerful, however, than when Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, leaving no one to doubt that He was no ordinary man but the Son of God. 

In John chapter eleven, Jesus received a message from His friends Mary and Martha that their brother, and His friend, Lazarus, were sick (verse 3). Jesus responded to this message by saying, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” (verse 4). Those listening probably took this literally, believing that Lazarus would not die from his sickness. Next, Jesus did something that may seem unexpected to us: He stayed where He was for two days before going to Lazarus. In fact, He waited to go to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus until Lazarus had already died. When He arrived to see Mary and Martha, both questioned why He waited to come to Lazarus. Jesus was deeply moved by their pain and asked to see where Lazarus had been buried. Next, He Himself wept. He wept because of the pain His friends were experiencing, even though He knew this was not the end of the story.

After weeping with Mary, Martha, and all who loved Lazarus, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He called Lazarus to come out of the tomb, and Lazarus walked right out. As a result of this incredible miracle, many people believed in Jesus (verse 45). This was Jesus’ plan the entire time. He knew that He would raise Lazarus so that His power could be on display. That is why Jesus said earlier, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death” (verse 4). But, Jesus did something even greater than physical healing, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, and His glory and power were on full display. May His miracles remind you and me today that He is fully in control and that His power is beyond anything we could hope or imagine.

Moving toward action

Jesus has power over life and death. This, my friends, is something to celebrate. So please make plans to come to worship with us this weekend to celebrate the life that we have in Jesus. Bring a friend, too. We can’t wait to see you there!

Going Deeper

John 11:1-44 (NLT)

"A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles[d] down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 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. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever 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.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

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, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 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.”

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!” 44 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!”