Passage of the Day:
When 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.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “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.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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,” John 11:32-44.
Reflection:
Mary and Lazarus were close earthly friends, often sitting at Jesus’ feet, absorbing His teaching. Subsequently, when Mary blames Jesus for her brother’s death, He is brought to tears. Knowing God’s will is hard when you have to allow a close friend to die. Whether raising Lazarus was God’s specific will or done as a favor, Jesus trusts His heavenly Father. Jesus demonstrated great temperance, waiting for the exact time to roll back the stone to Lazarus’ tomb to demonstrate God’s power over life and death.
Prayerful Action:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26
Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:
One thing that I’ve learned since moving to South Carolina is to never promise anything unless you’re able to fulfill it. Early on, I met people who were carefree with their words, promising this or that but were never serious about what they said. Subsequently, I got my hopes up, expecting something that never happened. As for Jesus, He drops several hints throughout the four gospels about His destiny on a cross. None of the 12 disciples could grasp this unexpected ending. However, the resurrection gave Jesus extra time to be more than a friend, sharing a blueprint for the first century church and vision in the form of the Great Commission, Acts 1:8.
Song of the Day:
Friendships can take various twists and turns in life. You may need to rebuke a close friend one day and give them a hug the following day. May the Holy Spirit teach you to go and right distance and no further as you spiritual challenge your brothers and sisters in Christ.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 