Embracing Suffering: Finding Hope Before the Miracle
Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into John 11:1-36, focusing on the theme "Before the Miracle." We explored the story of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and how their close relationship with Jesus did not exempt them from suffering and pain. This narrative serves as a profound reminder that being a follower of Christ does not shield us from life's hardships. Instead, it equips us to navigate through them with faith and hope.
We began by acknowledging the numerous attempts on Jesus' life and how He continued His mission despite the opposition. This persistence underscores the reality that the enemy will always try to thwart God's plans, but God's purpose prevails. The religious leaders of Jesus' time, who should have been His supporters, were often His greatest adversaries. This paradox highlights the layers of deceit and betrayal that can exist even within religious communities.
The story of Lazarus is a poignant example of how Jesus' timing and methods often differ from our expectations. When Jesus heard of Lazarus' illness, He intentionally delayed His visit, allowing Lazarus to die. This delay was not a sign of neglect but a setup for a greater demonstration of God's glory. Jesus' emotional response to Lazarus' death, including His weeping, shows His deep compassion and empathy for human suffering.
We also discussed the importance of authenticity in our faith journey. In a world where comparison often leads to spiritual stagnation, we are called to pursue genuine relationships with God and others. The story of Lazarus challenges us to embrace our suffering as a part of our spiritual journey, understanding that it can lead to greater faith and character development.
Moreover, we examined how the New Testament church thrived amidst suffering and persecution. Unlike today's often superficial expressions of faith, the early Christians found strength and unity in their shared hardships. This historical context calls us to reevaluate how we handle our struggles and support one another in our faith communities.
In conclusion, the story of Lazarus teaches us that suffering and death are integral parts of the Christian experience. They are not to be avoided but embraced as opportunities for God's glory to be revealed. As we navigate our own trials, we are encouraged to find joy and hope in the midst of them, knowing that Jesus walks with us through every valley.
### Key Takeaways
1. Suffering is Part of the Christian Journey: Being close to Jesus does not exempt us from pain, suffering, and sickness. Instead, it equips us to navigate these challenges with faith and hope, knowing that God has a purpose in our pain. [24:38]
2. Authenticity Over Comparison: In a world obsessed with comparison, we are called to pursue authenticity in our faith. This means being honest about our struggles and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys, rather than trying to measure up to others. [05:33]
3. God's Timing is Perfect: Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not neglect but a setup for a greater miracle. This teaches us that God's timing and methods often differ from our expectations, but they are always perfect and for His glory. [45:49]
4. Embrace Suffering as a Path to Growth: The early church thrived amidst suffering and persecution, finding strength and unity in their shared hardships. We are called to embrace our suffering, understanding that it can lead to greater faith and character development. [32:17]
5. Joy in the Midst of Trials: We are encouraged to find joy and hope in the midst of our trials, knowing that Jesus walks with us through every valley. Our response to suffering can be a powerful testimony to others of God's grace and love. [40:27]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - Introduction: Before the Miracle
[02:04] - The Reality of Suffering
[03:52] - Layers of Deceit and Betrayal
[05:33] - Pursuing Authenticity
[09:12] - The Danger of Comparison
[12:38] - Reading John 11:1-36
[18:07] - The Emotional Response of Jesus
[24:38] - Suffering and Friendship with Jesus
[32:17] - Embracing Suffering for Growth
[40:27] - Finding Joy in Trials
[45:49] - God's Perfect Timing
[50:09] - Jesus' Power Over Death
[51:50] - Conclusion and Call to Community
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 11:1-36
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus' initial reaction when He heard about Lazarus' illness, and how did He respond? ([13:28])
2. How did Martha and Mary each react when Jesus finally arrived in Bethany? ([16:00])
3. What was Jesus' emotional response when He saw Mary and the others weeping? ([17:32])
4. How did the disciples misunderstand Jesus when He said Lazarus had "fallen asleep"? ([14:09])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus delayed His visit to Lazarus despite knowing he was gravely ill? ([13:28])
2. How does the story of Lazarus challenge the notion that being close to Jesus exempts us from suffering? ([22:57])
3. What does Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' tomb reveal about His character and His relationship with humanity? ([17:32])
4. How does the early church's experience of suffering and persecution compare to modern expressions of faith? ([11:35])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was delaying in answering your prayers. How did you handle the waiting period, and what did you learn from it? ([13:28])
2. In what ways can you pursue authenticity in your faith journey, especially when facing struggles? How can you support others in your community who are also struggling? ([05:33])
3. How can you find joy and hope in the midst of your current trials, knowing that Jesus walks with you through every valley? ([40:27])
4. Think about a recent hardship you faced. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future to embrace suffering as a path to growth? ([32:17])
5. How can you change the narrative in your faith community to value and support those who are going through hard times, rather than judging or avoiding them? ([29:14])
6. What specific steps can you take to avoid comparing your spiritual journey to others and instead focus on your unique relationship with God? ([09:12])
7. Identify one person in your life who is currently suffering. How can you offer them support and encouragement this week, reflecting Jesus' compassion and empathy? ([17:32])
Devotional
Day 1: Suffering is Part of the Christian Journey
In John 11:1-36, we see that even those who are close to Jesus, like Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, are not exempt from suffering. Their story reminds us that being a follower of Christ does not shield us from life's hardships. Instead, it equips us to navigate through them with faith and hope. Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not a sign of neglect but a setup for a greater demonstration of God's glory. This teaches us that our pain and suffering have a purpose in God's plan, even if we do not understand it at the moment. [24:38]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Think of a current or past hardship in your life. How can you see God's hand at work in that situation, preparing you for something greater?
Day 2: Authenticity Over Comparison
In a world obsessed with comparison, we are called to pursue authenticity in our faith. This means being honest about our struggles and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys, rather than trying to measure up to others. The story of Lazarus challenges us to embrace our suffering as a part of our spiritual journey, understanding that it can lead to greater faith and character development. Authenticity in our faith journey allows us to build genuine relationships with God and others, fostering a community of support and growth. [05:33]
Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you find yourself comparing to others. How can you shift your focus to being authentic and honest in your faith journey?
Day 3: God's Timing is Perfect
Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not neglect but a setup for a greater miracle. This teaches us that God's timing and methods often differ from our expectations, but they are always perfect and for His glory. When we face delays or unanswered prayers, it is essential to trust that God has a greater plan in mind. His timing is always perfect, even when it doesn't align with our own. This trust in God's timing can strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with Him. [45:49]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt God was delaying an answer to your prayer. How did that experience shape your faith and understanding of God's timing?
Day 4: Embrace Suffering as a Path to Growth
The early church thrived amidst suffering and persecution, finding strength and unity in their shared hardships. We are called to embrace our suffering, understanding that it can lead to greater faith and character development. Suffering is not something to be avoided but embraced as an opportunity for growth. By facing our trials with faith, we can develop a deeper reliance on God and a stronger sense of community with fellow believers. [32:17]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Identify a recent trial you have faced. How can you view this trial as an opportunity for growth and deeper faith?
Day 5: Joy in the Midst of Trials
We are encouraged to find joy and hope in the midst of our trials, knowing that Jesus walks with us through every valley. Our response to suffering can be a powerful testimony to others of God's grace and love. By finding joy in our trials, we demonstrate the strength and hope that comes from our faith in Christ. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with Jesus, who is always with us. [40:27]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you find joy in your current trials, knowing that Jesus is with you? What steps can you take to share this joy with others as a testimony of God's grace?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The whole point of the New Testament. The whole point of the gospel was so that he was accessible to everyone. And then we go back to pigeonholing the gospel into, I wish I could do it like them. That's what it was with Moses. And as if it wasn't enough in the Old Testament to see that the people who were closest to God, right? Let's talk about Moses. Let's talk about David. Those people had serious moral failures. They weren't designed to have that type of pressure." [09:12] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The truth of the gospel will set you free. The truth of Jesus, the truth of what his death, burial, and resurrection for the church means, it will absolutely set you free. But the false teaching around that truth will put you back in bondage. It will not set you free. You will remain in your sin. And this idea that church, is this place that I come so that everything gets better, is misrepresenting the gospel." [25:58] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Stop trying to avoid the very things that the Lord wants to take you through. Can I just like teleport onto the other side of this? You're missing the point of the gospel. This story is such a beautiful story. When we watch all the emotions that take place around it, Jesus, of course, is at the center of it, not Lazarus. The point is, it's just because you're friends with him, you don't avoid those things. You know how to go through those things when you're friends with him." [33:32] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We boast in our afflictions because we know that afflictions produce what? Endurance. Endurance produces proven character and proven character produces hope. This hope will not what? Disappoint us. Because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. That is the gospel, ladies and gentlemen. And that is the exact opposite of what people want today." [32:17] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we ponder suffering, it is normal for us to go to the elements, watch this, of time and wish to will the clock forward to a place at which our pain will pass. We often create this type of dialogue, in our prayer lives. How long, O Lord? Will you take this from me? It is important to understand and accept that no matter how hard it may be for us, we should not define the goodness of God according to the amount of time it took to solve the problem." [46:22] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "What is important is for us to run our race. For us to understand where we are in Christ as it pertains to the church and for us to run that race well. Not for us to say, oh, my goodness, I'm so glad I'm not like that person. That's pharisaical. I'm so glad that I have an okay house and that my bills are paid. Right. Like, we're not really going there. I'm saying, like, what are you going to do when bad things happen in your life?" [21:23] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Just because you're friends with Jesus doesn't mean you are exempt from pain, suffering, and sickness. These are so vitally important, these truths. I feel like this is like the meat that the church is missing in scripture. Why? Because many people are coming to church to avoid such things. To avoid pain. To have a God. To have a higher power that has power over sickness. And this is where the emphasis on healing is great. It's phenomenal. It's a part of the story. But guess what? Guess what is also a part of the story? Death." [24:38] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The hard times are something to talk about. Don't be bashful about the hard time that you're going through. Now, I think there's a difference between talking about it and talking about it. And, well, anyway, we'll move on from that. I don't think that that would, yeah, that won't edify us in that way. The hard times are something to talk about. Watch this. In parentheses, I put this. In a positive way with joy. How do we do it? How do we do it?" [36:48] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The hard times are something to walk through. Don't quit. Don't quit. Next week, we're going to experience a miracle, but look, you may be right in the thick of it this week, right now, this moment. It may have been a hard year. Let me help you with something. Don't quit. The Lord's not going to use this. The enemy will whisper to you, oh, God's not using it. This is your fault. This is because of your sin. Guilt, fear. There's therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." [42:31] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Lord's timing is his own. We don't have ownership. When it comes to us, we don't have ownership. When it comes to when and how God does things. I do see in scripture that prayer affected that. The Lord used our prayers, changed his mind in certain situations. He is sovereign over those decisions, and he can make those decisions to change his mind. But we see that regardless, the Lord's timing is his own." [44:42] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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