Resurrection Hope: Finding Faith in Grief

This morning, we witnessed the powerful testimonies of individuals from all walks of life—children, students, adults—who have experienced the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. Each story was unique, yet all shared a common thread: the journey from brokenness, anxiety, anger, or emptiness to new life and hope in Christ. These baptisms are not just rituals, but public declarations that Jesus has made them new, and that He continues to work in the lives of those who seek Him.

Turning to God’s Word, we began a journey through the valleys of life, focusing on the “valley of the shadow of death” from Psalm 23. Every person, regardless of age or circumstance, will face seasons of loss and grief—whether through the death of a loved one or the reality of our own mortality. The story of Lazarus in John 11 reminds us that even in the darkest valleys, Jesus is present. Martha and Mary’s honest confrontation with Jesus—“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”—reflects the tension we often feel between disappointment and faith. Jesus does not rebuke their grief or questions; instead, He meets them in their pain.

Jesus’ declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life,” is not just a promise for the distant future, but a present reality. Resurrection is not merely an event; it is a person—Jesus Himself. In the face of death, He offers hope that transcends the grave. He enters into our grief, weeping with us, and demonstrating that God is near to the brokenhearted. The raising of Lazarus is a foretaste of the ultimate victory over death that Jesus secures through His own resurrection.

The central question Jesus asks Martha—“Do you believe this?”—is the most important question any of us will ever answer. Faith in Christ is not about reciting a prayer or following a ritual, but about trusting in the One who is life itself. Resurrection means reunion, but that hope is conditional on our response to Jesus. In a world filled with loss and uncertainty, we are invited to hold on to faith, allow Jesus to meet us in our grief, and live in the power of resurrection hope.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith in the Valley: When we walk through seasons of loss, it is natural to feel disappointment, confusion, or even anger toward God. Like Martha, we may wrestle with “what ifs” and “if onlys,” but faith is not the absence of these emotions—it is the decision to bring them honestly to Jesus and trust Him in the midst of our pain. [47:22]
• 2. Resurrection Is a Person: Jesus’ words, “I am the resurrection and the life,” shift our hope from a distant event to a present relationship. Resurrection power is not just for the end of time, but for every day, as we walk with the One who conquered death. This transforms how we face both our own mortality and the loss of those we love. [48:22]
• 3. Grief with Hope: Grieving is not a sign of weak faith; even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Yet, as believers, we do not grieve as those without hope. The presence of Christ in our sorrow brings comfort, and His promise of resurrection infuses our mourning with the assurance of reunion and restoration. [58:37]
• 4. The Power of Honest Questions: Jesus welcomes our honest questions and confrontations in times of suffering. He does not demand stoic faith, but invites us to bring our doubts, disappointments, and fears to Him. In that vulnerability, we encounter His compassion and His power to bring life out of loss. [46:47]
• 5. The Ultimate Question: The most important question in life is not about our achievements, our pain, or even our religious activity, but about our response to Jesus: “Do you believe this?” Our answer determines whether resurrection hope becomes our reality, both now and for eternity. [52:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:42] - Baptisms Begin: Stories of New Life
• [06:16] - Testimonies of Faith: Children and Students
• [10:23] - Testimonies of Faith: Adults
• [14:42] - The Shaffer Family: A Family Transformed
• [23:11] - God Is Moving: Transition to Worship
• [37:06] - Introduction to Psalm 23 and the Valley of Death
• [39:37] - Facing Grief and Loss
• [41:03] - The Story of Lazarus: Setting the Scene
• [43:39] - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life
• [46:47] - Wrestling with Disappointment and Faith
• [48:22] - Resurrection Is a Person, Not Just an Event
• [53:23] - Holding on to Faith in Loss
• [53:34] - Allowing Jesus into Our Grief
• [58:37] - Jesus Weeps: God’s Nearness in Sorrow
• [01:00] - Resurrection Hope Overpowers the Grave
• [01:03] - Jesus’ Authority Over Death
• [01:07] - Resurrection Means Reunion
• [01:08] - The Ultimate Question: Do You Believe This?
• [01:09] - Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

John 11:17-44 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole passage together, but here are the key verses.)

> 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
> ...
> 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
> 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
> 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
> 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
> 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
> 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
> ...
> 35 Jesus wept.
> ...
> 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.”

Psalm 23:4 (ESV) — > Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
> I will fear no evil,
> for you are with me;
> your rod and your staff,
> they comfort me.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) — > But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Observation Questions

1. What emotions did Martha and Mary express to Jesus when He arrived after Lazarus had died? How did Jesus respond to their grief? ([46:18])
2. According to John 11, what does Jesus mean when He says, “I am the resurrection and the life”? ([48:22])
3. In Psalm 23:4, what does David say about God’s presence in the “valley of the shadow of death”?
4. What is different about the way Jesus wept compared to the way the others were weeping at Lazarus’s tomb? ([57:29])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days before coming to Bethany? What might this have meant for Martha, Mary, and the people watching? ([44:39])
2. When Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” what does this reveal about her faith and her disappointment? How does Jesus handle her honest questions? ([46:18])
3. The sermon said, “Resurrection is not just an event; it is a person—Jesus Himself.” What does it mean for resurrection hope to be a present reality, not just a future promise? ([48:22])
4. Why is the question “Do you believe this?” so central to the story, and why did the pastor call it the most important question we will ever answer? ([52:47])

Application Questions

1. The sermon shared stories of people who moved from brokenness, anxiety, or anger to new life in Christ. Is there an area of your life where you long for Jesus to bring transformation? What would it look like to invite Him into that area? ([05:06])
2. When you have experienced loss or grief, have you ever felt disappointed or even angry with God? How did you handle those feelings? Did you bring them honestly to Jesus, like Martha and Mary did? ([46:47])
3. Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing that God is near to the brokenhearted. When you are grieving, do you tend to invite Jesus into your pain, or do you keep Him at a distance? What might help you let Him in? ([58:37])
4. The sermon said, “Grieving is not a sign of weak faith; even Jesus wept.” How does this truth challenge or encourage you in your own experiences of grief? ([58:37])
5. Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”—not just about a future resurrection, but about who He is right now. How would you answer that question today? Is there anything holding you back from fully trusting Him? ([52:47])
6. The pastor said, “Resurrection means reunion, but that hope is conditional on our response to Jesus.” How does this shape the way you think about your own mortality or the loss of loved ones? ([01:07:20])
7. Think about someone you know who is walking through a “valley” right now. What is one practical way you could show them the presence and hope of Christ this week? ([59:05])