Jesus: Our Hope Amidst Suffering and Death
Summary
In today's reflection, we journeyed through the profound narrative of Lazarus's resurrection in John 11, exploring the deep emotions and spiritual truths embedded in this story. We began by considering the groans of our own lives—those moments of deep personal anguish and the cries of injustice we feel when confronted with the world's brokenness. These groans are not foreign to Jesus; He, too, groaned deeply in spirit as He approached Lazarus's tomb, embodying both empathy and righteous anger against death and suffering.
We delved into the cultural context of the Gospels, written in a Stoic world where detachment was often the response to suffering. Yet, Jesus's incarnation presents a radical alternative: a God who enters into our pain, weeps with us, and acts decisively against the forces of death. This is not a passive acceptance of the world's brokenness but a divine intervention that challenges and transforms it.
The narrative of Lazarus is a powerful reminder that Jesus does not require perfect faith from us. Even in our doubts and fears, He calls us to witness His glory. Martha's hesitation at the tomb, fearing the stench of death, mirrors our own struggles with doubt and the haunting "tombs" in our lives. Yet, Jesus reassures her—and us—that belief will lead to the revelation of God's glory.
As Jesus commands the stone to be rolled away and calls Lazarus forth, we see the power of His voice to awaken the dead. This act is a foretaste of the ultimate resurrection, a promise that death is not the final word. Jesus's authority over death is a testament to His identity as the Son of God, sent to bring life and hope to a groaning world.
Finally, we reflected on the irony of Caiaphas's prophecy, where the religious leaders' plans to kill Jesus unwittingly fulfill God's redemptive purpose. Through the cross, Jesus takes on our suffering, and His resurrection becomes the cornerstone of our faith, assuring us that He has come for us, and in Him, we find the hope of eternal life.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus's groaning at Lazarus's tomb reflects His deep empathy and righteous anger against death and suffering. He enters into our pain, not as a passive observer but as a warrior ready to confront and overcome the forces of darkness. [07:45]
- The narrative challenges the Stoic detachment of its cultural context, presenting the Incarnation as a radical alternative where God is deeply involved in human suffering, offering hope and transformation. [11:01]
- Martha's doubt at the tomb, fearing the stench of death, mirrors our own struggles with faith. Yet, Jesus reassures us that even imperfect faith can lead to the revelation of God's glory. [13:46]
- Jesus's command to Lazarus to come forth demonstrates His authority over death, offering a foretaste of the ultimate resurrection and the promise that death is not the final word. [20:42]
- Caiaphas's prophecy, though unintended, highlights the irony of God's redemptive plan, where Jesus's death on the cross becomes the means of salvation, offering hope and life to a groaning world. [26:59]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:24] - The Groan of Sickness and Injustice
- [07:45] - Jesus's Empathy and Anger
- [11:01] - The Incarnation as a Radical Alternative
- [13:46] - Martha's Doubt and Jesus's Assurance
- [16:57] - The Power of Jesus's Voice
- [20:42] - Authority Over Death
- [24:00] - The Reality of Resurrection
- [26:59] - Caiaphas's Prophecy and Irony
- [30:14] - The Roar of the Cross
- [30:14] - Jesus's Sacrificial Love
- [30:14] - The Hope of Resurrection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Resurrection of Lazarus
Bible Reading:
- John 11:38-44
Observation Questions:
1. What emotions did Jesus express as He approached Lazarus's tomb, and how do these emotions contrast with the cultural norms of the time? [07:45]
2. How did Martha respond to Jesus's command to roll away the stone, and what does this reveal about her faith at that moment? [11:01]
3. What was the significance of Jesus praying aloud before calling Lazarus out of the tomb? [16:57]
4. How did the religious leaders react to the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection, and what prophecy did Caiaphas unknowingly fulfill? [26:59]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus's empathy and anger at Lazarus's tomb challenge the Stoic detachment prevalent in the cultural context of the Gospels? [07:45]
2. In what ways does Martha's initial doubt at the tomb reflect common struggles with faith, and how does Jesus address these doubts? [13:46]
3. What does Jesus's command to Lazarus to come forth reveal about His authority over death, and how does this foreshadow the ultimate resurrection? [20:42]
4. How does Caiaphas's prophecy illustrate the irony of God's redemptive plan, and what does this teach us about God's sovereignty? [26:59]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced deep personal anguish or witnessed injustice. How did you respond, and how might Jesus's empathy and righteous anger inspire a different response? [07:45]
2. Consider a "tomb" in your life where doubt or fear has taken hold. How can you invite Jesus to roll away the stone and reveal His glory in that situation? [13:46]
3. Jesus's voice has the power to awaken the dead. What areas of your life feel spiritually dead, and how can you listen for His voice to bring new life? [20:42]
4. Caiaphas's prophecy was fulfilled in an unexpected way. How can you trust in God's plan even when it seems contrary to human understanding? [26:59]
5. Jesus's resurrection of Lazarus was a foretaste of the ultimate resurrection. How does this promise of eternal life impact your daily decisions and interactions with others? [24:00]
6. Reflect on the irony of the religious leaders' plan to kill Jesus. How can you remain open to God's unexpected ways of working in your life and the world around you? [26:59]
7. Identify a specific area where you need to experience Jesus's resurrection power. What steps can you take this week to invite His transformative presence into that area? [30:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus's Empathy and Righteous Anger
In the story of Lazarus's resurrection, Jesus's groaning at the tomb reflects His profound empathy and righteous anger against death and suffering. Unlike the Stoic detachment prevalent in His cultural context, Jesus enters into human pain, embodying both compassion and a warrior's resolve to confront the forces of darkness. His deep emotional response is not a sign of weakness but a testament to His divine love and commitment to overcoming the brokenness of the world. Jesus's tears at Lazarus's tomb remind us that He is not a distant deity but a Savior who intimately understands and shares in our struggles. [07:45]
Isaiah 63:9 (ESV): "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."
Reflection: Think of a moment of deep personal anguish you have experienced. How can you invite Jesus into that pain, trusting in His empathy and power to bring healing and transformation?
Day 2: The Incarnation as a Radical Alternative
The narrative of Lazarus challenges the Stoic detachment of its time by presenting the Incarnation as a radical alternative. Jesus, fully God and fully man, enters into human suffering, offering hope and transformation. This divine intervention is not a passive acceptance of the world's brokenness but an active engagement that seeks to redeem and restore. Jesus's presence in our lives assures us that God is not indifferent to our struggles but is deeply involved, working to bring about His redemptive purposes. [11:01]
Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV): "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."
Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the reality of Jesus's incarnation in your daily life, allowing His presence to transform your response to suffering and injustice?
Day 3: Imperfect Faith and God's Glory
Martha's hesitation at the tomb, fearing the stench of death, mirrors our own struggles with doubt and imperfect faith. Yet, Jesus reassures her—and us—that belief, even when fraught with uncertainty, can lead to the revelation of God's glory. Jesus does not demand perfect faith from us; instead, He invites us to trust Him amidst our fears and doubts. This story encourages us to bring our imperfect faith to Jesus, knowing that He can work through it to reveal His power and glory in our lives. [13:46]
Mark 9:24 (ESV): "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle with doubt. How can you bring this doubt to Jesus, asking Him to reveal His glory through your imperfect faith?
Day 4: Authority Over Death
Jesus's command for Lazarus to come forth demonstrates His authority over death, offering a foretaste of the ultimate resurrection. This act is a powerful testament to Jesus's identity as the Son of God, sent to bring life and hope to a groaning world. The resurrection of Lazarus assures us that death is not the final word, and in Jesus, we have the promise of eternal life. His victory over death invites us to live with hope and confidence, knowing that He holds the keys to life and death. [20:42]
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (ESV): "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'"
Reflection: How does the assurance of Jesus's authority over death impact your perspective on life's challenges and the hope of eternal life?
Day 5: The Irony of God's Redemptive Plan
Caiaphas's prophecy, though unintended, highlights the irony of God's redemptive plan, where Jesus's death on the cross becomes the means of salvation. The religious leaders' plans to kill Jesus unwittingly fulfill God's purpose, demonstrating that even in the midst of human schemes, God's sovereignty prevails. Through the cross, Jesus takes on our suffering, and His resurrection becomes the cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and life to a groaning world. This irony reminds us that God's ways are higher than ours, and His redemptive purposes will always prevail. [26:59]
Acts 2:23-24 (ESV): "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life where things did not go as planned. How can you trust in God's redemptive purposes, believing that He can bring good out of even the most challenging circumstances?
Quotes
Deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone lay against it. And Jesus said, take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, Lord, by the time there, by this time, there will be an odor, for he has been dead for four days. And Jesus said to her, did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? [00:00:03] (27 seconds)
So they took away the stone and Jesus lifted up his eyes and prayed, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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. When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, Lazarus, come out. [00:00:30] (28 seconds)
And the man who died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen straps, his face wrapped with a cloth. And Jesus said to them, unbind him and let him go. This is the word of the Lord. So Chris said to you last week, if you were here, that he was constructing a house, a house of straw and wood. [00:00:57] (29 seconds)
And it's a groan, a groan born of rage or indignation where you hear of something that's happening in the world and there is a, a deep hum that you feel in your soul that this isn't right. One of my favorite movies, I was an English teacher for a time of my life. And one of the movies I watched that motivated me to be an English teacher was a movie called Dead Poets Society. [00:03:02] (35 seconds)
And there's this one particular scene early in the movie where this young boy, Todd played by Ethan Hawke, um, where, where he's trying to get Todd to get to this place where there's a, there's a groan that's inside of him that he just wants to beckon out of him. He calls it a barbaric yelp, right? And so Todd, he asked Todd to let out his barbaric yelp, but he just, he can't muster it. [00:03:42] (27 seconds)
Garber here is, is groaning, right? Now, he, he kind of pulls back the, the lens of this story, and he, he, he, he talks about this Harper's Magazine discussion that's happening that he's reading about. And I'm going to try to connect this for us, but it's a discussion about TV and entertainment between two philosophers of, of the day, between Carmen Paglia and Neil Postman. [00:06:07] (24 seconds)
The discussion in Harper's Magazine was about the, about the effects of television on human beings. And the question was, how can we take it all in? How is it possible, uh, Postman asked, to watch the neat, the evening news and five minutes later hear about a plane crash in India, an earthquake in Chile, a rape in Central Park, and the Mets beating the Cardinals, and finally an ad for hemorrhoids medicine and somehow take it all in? [00:06:32] (30 seconds)
He argued that as human beings, we cannot do so, so we, we choose to step back, unable to respond to the torrent of information, poignant and horrific, playful and commercial as it is. And then Paglia interjects into that conversation. She's a Buddhist, and she says, but Neil, that's the way the world is. Buddha smiles at it all. [00:07:01] (23 seconds)
And Garber, when he read these words, remember his friend had been stabbed. When I read her words, I recoiled, knowing that was not an adequate response to my friend's murder. It was not an adequate response to any degree of suffering and shame. Buddha smiles on it all. And Stephen reflects, it was deeply unsatisfying. [00:07:24] (26 seconds)
And that's when he's met with this particular text in John 11. Now, B .B. Warfield is a theologian. He argues that the Gospels were written into a Stoic culture. So much like what the Buddha smiling at it all is, the Gospels are written into the Stoic culture so that the Incarnation must be seen as an alternative account of the universe. [00:07:50] (28 seconds)
He maintains that the Incarnation is a counter -argument to this Stoicism. And that's what we're seeing here in this text. What does Jesus do? He enters into Bethany. He hears the wails of the village, especially the wail of his friends at the death of Lazarus. And he is present. He weeps. And maybe we start here this morning. [00:08:18] (25 seconds)
Just that the groan of our God is one who enters into our grief and loss and sadness and death. And he weeps with us. But that weeping turns to this as well, this bellowing anger. It's the same words a Greek poet would use to describe a war horse readying himself to enter battle, readying to enter conflict as the warrior himself. That Jesus responded like this matters immensely. [00:08:43] (34 seconds)
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