Live

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day three)

“He…began to wash his disciples’ feet.”  Jesus saw an opening to love them, and he took it.  It is possible that we’ve thought of Jesus as the author of object lessons, and that we have become dulled to recognizing love when we see it.  Jesus did not do this in order to teach his disciples a lesson, though it did accomplish that.  He did not do this in order to put them in a state of awe that the Lord would be so gracious as to stoop to such a lowly function, though it did strike them with wonder.  Jesus did this because he loved them.  Love is the way God lives.  Therefore, love is the only way to live the eternal kind of life.  At some point, we must stop theorizing and start living.  Jesus will teach us to live.

Do you understand?

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day two)
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?”

Have you ever had one of those moments when something outrageous happens and you don’t have time to react other than present shock? The disciples must have been mortified, as evidenced by Peter’s statement, at the mere suggestion of Jesus humiliating himself by washing their feet. Jesus, of course, knew this. He therefore finished, gathered himself and let it sink in. Can you just imagine the squirming silence that filled that room? Once he returned to his place he wanted to make sure they processed correctly what had just taken place. Jesus had just demonstrated for them a new type of love: a love by service. He would continue to demonstrate this through his death and resurrection. He demonstrates his love. That statement alone is a defining characteristic of our Savior, he puts his love into action. Let’s get moving.

Love to the end

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day one) 
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”–v 1.  It is a strange sentence (in Greek, if not in English).  Theologically evocative.  The NASV translates it, “He loved the to the end”.  End of time?  End of His life?  The word actually means the end of God’s plan and purpose.  “Telios” means finished product or completed project.  So, the NIV translates it “He loved them to the full extent”, never surrendering any part of His goal for His people.  Hebrews 7:25 uses a form of the same noun.  “Therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost (telios–completely, in accordance with all that He planned) those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”  Wow!  A love that never quits.  Never retreats.  Never makes concessions.  He keeps loving us until His perfect purpose is achieved in us!  He loves us to the end.

Disappointed with God

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day seven)
” ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died’ “–v 21.  She was disappointed with Jesus.  You can feel it in her words.  Her not-too-disguised question, “Why didn’t you come when I sent for you?”  “Why didn’t you hurry?”  I’ve been in her same place, asked her same question.  But, the issue is larger than schedule.  It involves purpose also.  “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the GLORY of GOD?”–vs 40.  When I am honest, I can see that my ambitions and prayers are often no larger than comfort and safety.  God’s purpose and plan is higher.  He wants me to see HIS GLORY.  And, if this ultimate purpose requires the payment of time and/or struggle, He is willing and gracious to require it of me.  Often, we are disappointed with God because we forget how LARGE and GOOD His plans for us are.

Resurrection!

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day six)
“The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings”–v 44.  Lazarus was RESUSCITATED.  Jesus would later be RESURRECTED.  Huge difference.  Lazarus was restored to his old body, returned to a life of limitation and restraint. Witness the grave clothes.  He would die again later. Jesus was later raised to a new body with new powers.  He would walk through doors, appear and then be gone (John 20).  God’s promise to us is RESURRECTION!  A miracle of such scope and power only God could do it.   The complete destruction of death.  Near-death stories that we hear (as miraculous as they seem) are more like what happened to Lazarus.  No comparison to what is ahead.  New bodies! Death and all of its sad history erased for good.  Now and someday.  In Christ.  “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life”–1 John 5:11-12.

Jesus Believed…

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day five)

When Jesus walked the earth, his actions and attitudes are worth noting and following.  By becoming flesh (human), Jesus affords us opportunities to see His Wisdom, Strength, and Authority.  There are great insights to be gained as we are presented with occasions to understand what Jesus really believed about:  scripture, eternity, heaven, a relationship with His Father (to name a few).

John 11: 41 – Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”

Jesus believed that not only was He able to hear from God, but also that God heard Him.  He really believed that God hears and responds to the prayers of His children.  He really believed that in a relationship with God, communication was not only possible, but also essential.

What would a real and honest conversation sound like between each of us and the Living God this day, this moment?  What would we say?  More importantly, what would God say?

Responding to Christ

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day four)
There are many responses to Jesus.  For those who have a relationship with Christ (Martha and Mary), the response was the same.  “If you had only been here, our brother would not have died!”  Trust.  For those who mourned with the family (the Jews), some were moved by His obvious love for Lazarus and some criticized Him for not saving His friend.  After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, some of the Jews believed in Him while others rushed to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done.  (Hint:  They were not witnessing to the Pharisees so they could believe!)  It is the same today…different people have different responses.  How we respond to Jesus is of critical importance.  For those who recognize who Jesus is (In verse 27, Martha says she has believed that Jesus was the Christ…sent from God.) and respond in faith and trust, they will have life.  That was why Jesus waited to come to Bethany…That others might believe!

Promise

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day three)

“This sickness will not end in death.”  Jesus fulfilled all the roles of the redemptive work of God among his people: Prophet, Priest, King.  But his statement is less a prophecy and more a promise.  We will see people die; we will see their bodies stop working, we will have their funerals, and we will live life without them.  But they themselves will not have known death.  No one who counts on Jesus will ever see death.  This pathogen-borne disease will not end in death.  This mental illness will not end in death.  This congenital problem will not end in death.  This accident will not end in death.  We will see death come for those we love, but what we understand as death will not end their lives.  No one could ever have made this promise but Jesus.

Jesus Wept

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day two) Jesus wept.

This wasn’t the initial design. Our communion with the Lord was to be perfect, unfettered by anything and eternal. Sin. Separation. Death. These painful consequences were not our intended purpose. Jesus looked at the suffering of his friends Mary and Martha, and it hurt him. He knew what he came to do, he knew that he would raise Lazarus as a demonstration of his power over death, but he still wept. He is not immune to our condition or plight. Our hurt is his hurt. His purpose is that none of us would be stung by death, and that we might live, truly live. The comfort that we can glean from this passage is not just that Jesus conquered death, but that he also understands and deeply feels our pain. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one.

Prevent?

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day one) 
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”—v 21.

It was as high as she could think.  The highest stretch of her imagination.  Prevent death!  Like a football team using a “prevent” defense.  Martha’s hope consisted largely of avoiding the reality.  Even the Lord’s reminder of the coming resurrection (v 23) seemed like cold/distant comfort to her.  We are often like her.  Eat healthy!  Exercise!  Pray for healing!  Avoid death as long as you can!  That’s our approach.  Jesus has a higher vision.  Defeat Death!  Restore life!  His own resurrection will prove the power to do so.  Lazarus’ resuscitation will include all of us in the promise.  “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth. . .to a resurrection of life. . .(or) to a resurrection of judgment”—John 5:28-29.  Prevent death?  Yes, when possible, but the Lord has a higher goal– defeat it entirely!