Bible reading
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John 11:32-44When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
“Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
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.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Observation questions
- In John 11:32-44, what specific commands does Jesus give at the tomb, and how do people respond to those commands?
- What emotions are described about Jesus in this passage (deeply moved, troubled, wept), and what in the story seems to prompt those emotions?
- What words of belief or unbelief do Mary and Martha speak in this scene, and how does Jesus answer them?
- A picture was given of the church standing beside Jesus—calm, confident, Spirit-filled, unafraid. What does that posture look like to you, and why? [03:26]
Interpretation questions
- If Jesus is moved by the unbelief around Lazarus’ tomb, what might that reveal about how unbelief misjudges who He is and what He can do? [20:26]
- Jesus could have rolled the stone Himself, yet He told others, “Take away the stone.” What does this teach about partnering obedience and God’s power working together? [25:20]
- “Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.” How can speaking truth aloud (about Jesus and about identity in Him) reshape the way a person thinks and lives? [10:11]
- “Go to the throne before the phone.” What does this say about the first reflex of a trusting heart, and how might that change the way a community carries its needs? [23:51]
Application questions
- Where have you quietly concluded, “It’s too late”? Bring that place to Jesus this week. What simple, doable “stone” can you move as an act of trust? [27:49]
- Name one lie or label that has followed you. What Scripture truth will you confess morning and night for the next 30 days to replace it? Be specific with the words you will say. [11:30]
- “Go to the throne before the phone.” What is your plan to make first prayer your new reflex—what trigger, what cue, what small change will you make? [23:51]
- Take a higher step of believing this year. In one concrete area (healing, provision, reconciliation, guidance), what will you ask God for—and what act of obedience will you pair with that prayer? [13:54]
- Choose three “in Christ” truths (for example: I belong to Jesus; I am redeemed; I am washed; I am in Him). How will you speak these over yourself and your home this week? [14:58]
- Where might Jesus be grieved by your hesitation or unbelief? What would repentance look like in action over the next seven days? [23:00]
- Make a simple prayer target list: one person for healing, one situation for turnaround, one neighbor who needs freedom. Commit to pray daily and share any movement next meeting. What small step of participation will you take alongside those prayers? [30:04]
