April 19, 2026 - When God Calls Your Name (John 20:11-18

Devotional

Day 1: Stone Rolled Back, Stench Released

Jesus stood before Lazarus’ tomb, the sour smell of decay hanging thick. Martha protested rolling the stone away—four days dead meant rot and shame. But Jesus insisted. He shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man shuffled forward, linen strips clinging to his body. Jesus told them to unwrap him. This miracle required facing the stink head-on. [05:00]

Jesus didn’t shy from death’s ugliness. He entered the mess to prove His power over what seems irreversible. Lazarus’ story shows God’s glory shines brightest when we stop hiding our decay.

Many of us bury habits, grudges, or secret sins, afraid others—or God—will recoil. But resurrection starts when we let Jesus into the rot. What grave-clothed area have you been guarding? Write one sentence naming it plainly.

“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ‘Take away the stone,’ he said… Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out.”
(John 11:38-43, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to help you stop minimizing your spiritual deadness. Name one “stench” you’ve avoided confronting.
Challenge: Write the phrase “Jesus, uncover ________” on a sticky note. Place it where you’ll see it today.

Day 2: Grave Clothes and Morning Tears

Mary Magdalene wept outside the empty tomb, her hope stolen with Jesus’ body. A man she thought was the gardener asked, “Why are you crying?” Through tears, she begged for answers. Then one word shattered her grief: “Mary.” Her name in His voice turned despair to dizzying joy. [11:21]

Jesus meets us in raw sorrow. He doesn’t lecture or rush us. Like Mary, we often mistake His presence for something ordinary—until He speaks our name personally.

Are you staring at empty places—dreams, relationships, purpose—convinced death has the final word? Listen past your sobs. What if His voice is nearer than the next breath? When did you last sit quietly, letting Him interrupt your pain?

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out… ‘Rabboni!’… Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me… Go instead to my brothers.’”
(John 20:16-17, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for knowing your name. Ask Him to replace one specific grief with His presence today.
Challenge: Set a timer for 3 minutes. Sit in silence, hands open. If distracted, whisper, “Speak, Lord.”

Day 3: Three Questions by the Fire

Peter shivered by the charcoal fire, fish grease on his fingers. Three times Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” Each question dug up Peter’s three denials. But Jesus wasn’t shaming—He was rebuilding. “Feed my sheep” became Peter’s new purpose, replacing failure with mission. [19:24]

Jesus restores humbled people. He didn’t demand apologies or promises, just raw honesty. Peter’s worst moment became the launchpad for his greatest work.

Where have you let failure silence you? Jesus isn’t tallying your mistakes; He’s handing you a new assignment. What step could you take this week to serve someone, even if you feel unqualified?

“The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt… He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
(John 21:17, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one failure you’ve let define you. Ask Jesus to repurpose it for His glory.
Challenge: Text a trusted friend: “I messed up ______, but God isn’t done with me.”

Day 4: Dead, Not Just Dropping Screws

A man fumbled tools on a ladder, yelling for his wife to retrieve dropped screws. That’s “helpless.” But Lazarus was dead helpless—no breath to even ask for help. Jesus waited until all self-rescue options died so resurrection could rewrite the story. [03:20]

We prefer being “ladder helpless”—still in control, just needing a hand. But Jesus specializes in “dead helpless.” Only corpses get resurrected.

Are you trying to fix a dead-end situation with ladder logic—more effort, better plans? What if surrender, not strategy, is the path to life? What corpse are you still propping up?

“He who was dead came out, his hands and feet wrapped in linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’”
(John 11:44, ESV)

Prayer: Tell Jesus, “I can’t even reach for You. Breathe life where I’m dead.”
Challenge: Drop a literal screw or coin into a jar as a physical act of releasing control.

Day 5: From Graveyard to Testimony

Lazarus became “the guy Jesus raised.” Mary sprinted shouting, “I’ve seen the Lord!” Peter preached to thousands. Their worst moments became launching pads for God’s fame. Jesus didn’t just fix them—He made them living proof. [26:16]

Your story isn’t for hiding. Every resurrection, every tear turned to joy, every restored failure is a megaphone to declare, “He’s alive!”

Who needs to hear your “graveyard to glory” moment? Your testimony isn’t about your strength—it’s evidence of His. When will you share it?

“Many of the Jews… believed in Jesus. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.”
(John 11:45-46, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus for courage to share your story. Name one person who needs to hear it.
Challenge: Tell someone today, “Let me tell you how God helped me when…”

Sermon Summary

Jesus intentionally allows what looks like a dead end so a greater display of life can follow. The story of Lazarus emphasizes the difference between being merely helpless and being dead helpless: only a resurrection meets that need. The call to “take away the stone” exposes the stench of death that people hide—pride, mixed motives, addiction—and insists on honest arrival before God rather than trying to improve life by one’s own effort. New life begins when the grave clothes come off and weakness is confessed.

Mary Magdalene models a grief-stricken heart that finds renewal when the risen Lord speaks her name. Her tear-filled search turns to joy and conviction the moment her name is spoken, showing how the presence of Christ converts question marks into exclamation points. The voice that turns despair into hope is the voice of the Good Shepherd, and learned familiarity with Scripture, worship, and prayer sharpens the ear to that voice.

Simon Peter demonstrates how failure, when met with humble restoration, becomes the starting point of renewed purpose. Three questions about love and three commissions to “feed my sheep” undo three denials; repentance leads not merely to forgiveness but to a commissioned life. The risen Lord reshapes failure into vocation, calling the humbled into service for the kingdom.

All three encounters converge on a single posture: come empty, come honest, and listen. God calls by name, knows the deepest failures and griefs, and offers resurrection, renewed joy, and restored purpose. The call requires stillness to hear, courage to answer, and a tangible step of obedience afterward. Those who respond move from private encounter to public testimony—living proofs that death, grief, and failure do not have the final word.

Key Takeaways

1. Dead helpless, raised to live A corpse has no resources; resurrection alone flips the finality of death. Admitting utter powerlessness before God opens the way for sovereign life to enter where human strength cannot touch. This is not about better behavior but about receiving a new life that rewrites identity. [00:13]
2. Roll away the buried stone The command to remove the stone forces honesty about what smells in the tomb of the heart. Spiritual progress depends less on polished appearances and more on exposing the rot so God can act. Courage to reveal inner corruption invites cleansing rather than cover-up. [04:36]
3. Called by name, renewed joy A single spoken name transforms confusion and grief into recognition and worship. Intimacy with the Shepherd turns question marks into conviction, because personal address proves presence. Hope returns where the risen Lord personally meets the hurting. [11:21]
4. Failure refined into purpose Humble confrontation with failure makes room for a new commission rather than condemnation. Restoration includes a task: feeding sheep, preaching, serving—work that flows from grace, not merit. God repurposes brokenness into kingdom usefulness. [18:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Lazarus: the deadest dead end
[03:42] - Take away the stone: honesty
[04:36] - The stink of hidden sin
[09:22] - Mary at the tomb: grief
[11:21] - Jesus calls a name, joy returns
[13:11] - Hearing the Good Shepherd's voice
[18:52] - Peter: denial and restoration
[19:24] - From failure to commissioned life
[22:15] - Invitation to listen and respond
[25:22] - Take action: make it real

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 11:38-44 (ESV)
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

John 20:15-16 (ESV)
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

John 21:15-17 (ESV)
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Observation Questions

In John 11:39, why did Martha object to removing the stone from Lazarus’ tomb? What does Jesus’ response reveal about His purpose in this moment?
What specific word caused Mary Magdalene to recognize Jesus in John 20:16? How did her reaction change after hearing it?
How many times did Jesus ask Peter, “Do you love me?” in John 21:15-17? What task did He give Peter each time?
In the sermon, why did Jesus use Peter’s original name, “Simon, son of John,” during their conversation? [18:20]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus allowed Lazarus to die instead of healing him earlier (John 11:4-6)? How does this relate to the idea of “dead helplessness” versus mere helplessness?
Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus until He spoke her name. What does this suggest about how personal and intimate Jesus’ care is for those who are grieving?
Jesus asked Peter the same question three times. How might this mirror Peter’s three denials of Jesus, and what does this reveal about restoration after failure?
The sermon mentions that “spiritual progress depends less on polished appearances and more on exposing the rot.” How does the command to “take away the stone” (John 11:39) challenge common approaches to dealing with sin?

Application Questions

Martha hesitated to remove the stone because of the “stench” of death. What “stench” (pride, hidden sin, shame) are you avoiding exposing to Jesus? What practical step could you take this week to “roll away the stone” in that area? [05:00]
Mary’s grief turned to joy when Jesus called her name. When have you experienced Jesus speaking to you in a moment of confusion or pain? How can you intentionally create space to listen for His voice daily?
Peter’s failure became the starting point for his renewed purpose. Is there a past mistake or regret you’ve struggled to move past? How might God want to repurpose that experience for His kingdom? [19:58]
The sermon says, “New life begins when the grave clothes come off.” What “grave clothes” (old habits, lies, or identities) do you need others to help you remove so you can live freely?
Jesus commissioned Peter to “feed my sheep” after his restoration. What specific act of service or encouragement could you do this week to “feed” someone in your community?
The sermon ends with an invitation to “take action” after hearing Jesus’ call. If you sensed Him speaking to you today, what is one tangible way you’ll respond before the week ends? [26:16]

Sermon Clips

Now that line, there's a bad odor. There's just something about that. It stinks. Can we just pause for a minute and realize that we've got some stink in our lives? Is there somewhere there's the smell of death in your life that you don't want the stone rolled back and Jesus to smell? If you're going to have hope of new life in the face of death, you've got to be willing to let Jesus into your stink. [00:04:32] (33 seconds) #BringJesusIntoTheMess

Show me the people who are spiritually dead. Show me the ones who are humble. You see, he had to bring Peter lower. I think why he asked that question several times. Needed to bring Peter right to the bottom to realize even though Peter means rock, that he needs a foundation to stand on that's not himself. He needs the rock. He needs Jesus. And from there, he's useful to the kingdom in powerful ways. And I think you can be too. God wants to use you. He wants to call your name because he knows you and because he loves you. [00:20:55] (34 seconds) #FoundationInJesus

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April 19, 2026 - When God Calls Your Name (John 20:11-18 - Scott Gardziella)