Responding to Christ in Grief
John 11:1-4, 17, 20-21, 28-29, 32
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
32 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.”
Concept
God understands that when we approach Him, we often do not do it in the same way or with the same mindset. The old Baptist Hymn, Just As I Am, indicates that Jesus will receive us regardless of our current spiritual condition if we only trust Him.
Study Questions
How was Martha's and Mary's response to Jesus different and similar? Why do you think Martha ran out to meet Jesus, while Mary remained at home? How can grief keep us away from God? How can it bring us closer? Why do you think both women responded with the same words?
Further Study
Read Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John. Look at the differences in the responses of Paul, John, and Mary Magdalene. Notice the differences in their actions, even subtle things like the fact that Paul immediately entered the tomb and John did not. Also note that while all three "saw" things like the open tomb, clothes folded in the tomb, etc., the meaning of the word "saw" is different for each person.
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
32 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.”
Concept
God understands that when we approach Him, we often do not do it in the same way or with the same mindset. The old Baptist Hymn, Just As I Am, indicates that Jesus will receive us regardless of our current spiritual condition if we only trust Him.
Study Questions
How was Martha's and Mary's response to Jesus different and similar? Why do you think Martha ran out to meet Jesus, while Mary remained at home? How can grief keep us away from God? How can it bring us closer? Why do you think both women responded with the same words?
Further Study
Read Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John. Look at the differences in the responses of Paul, John, and Mary Magdalene. Notice the differences in their actions, even subtle things like the fact that Paul immediately entered the tomb and John did not. Also note that while all three "saw" things like the open tomb, clothes folded in the tomb, etc., the meaning of the word "saw" is different for each person.
Fight the Good Fight
2 Timothy 3: 16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4: 1-5
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Concept
As Christians one of our main concerns should be winning the lost to the Kingdom of God. In order to do that we have to be prepared, active, and unrelenting.
Study Questions
Look at 2 Timothy 3: 16-17. What should we use to in order to prepare ourselves to do God's work? Why is it important for us to be rebuked at times? What are some of the ways that God corrects us? Are these ways always gentle or are they sometimes difficult?
In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells us to be prepared to do several things. What are they? What does it mean to be "out of season"? What two qualities should our ministry have?
Verses 3 through 5 in 2 Timothy 4 indicate that there will come a time when people will not live by sound doctrine. What do you think this means? Are we living in that time now? When this occurs, what must Christian's do?
Summary and Challenge
Preparation, correct action, and stamina will be required for all Christians who are called to preach and to teach. Look ahead to the next few verses in chapter 4 to see what Paul says that our rewards will be if we follow these three core concepts.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4: 1-5
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Concept
As Christians one of our main concerns should be winning the lost to the Kingdom of God. In order to do that we have to be prepared, active, and unrelenting.
Study Questions
Look at 2 Timothy 3: 16-17. What should we use to in order to prepare ourselves to do God's work? Why is it important for us to be rebuked at times? What are some of the ways that God corrects us? Are these ways always gentle or are they sometimes difficult?
In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells us to be prepared to do several things. What are they? What does it mean to be "out of season"? What two qualities should our ministry have?
Verses 3 through 5 in 2 Timothy 4 indicate that there will come a time when people will not live by sound doctrine. What do you think this means? Are we living in that time now? When this occurs, what must Christian's do?
Summary and Challenge
Preparation, correct action, and stamina will be required for all Christians who are called to preach and to teach. Look ahead to the next few verses in chapter 4 to see what Paul says that our rewards will be if we follow these three core concepts.
