John - Week 33

Day and Night 

Day 1 

READ 

John 11:8-11 

8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”  

9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 

When Jesus said “Let’s go back to Judea” (John 11:7), His disciples were alarmed because in Judea He was a hunted person. Jesus, however, answered why He thought He could go to see Lazarus. To Jesus, Lazarus was not really dead, he was only asleep. And now Jesus said He would go and wake him up.  

REFLECT 

Has the Lord sometimes intervened in your life in unexpected ways? Have you learned that He doesn’t always do things in the way you expected? Can you praise Him for sovereignly working in your life even when you didn’t know the reasons? 

RESPOND 

Read Isaiah 55:8-11 that reminds us the Lord often works in ways we do not understand. Do you also notice in verse 11 that when you teach the Bible to others God’s Word will always accomplish His purpose in their lives? Christ-followers do not have the ability to convert anyone; all they can do is witness using God’s Word and He will accomplish His purpose in the lives of others. Are you personally teaching someone what you are learning? 

Plain Speaking 

READ 

John 11:12-15 

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” 

The disciples became confused. If Lazarus was only sleeping, as Jesus said, why would He want to risk His life to go see Him? Their seriousness was changed by the sobering statement of Jesus, “Lazarus is dead” (v. 14). This news now changed everything. But Jesus told them He was glad about it for what they would now learn from it. No doubt they thought it strange that Jesus was glad about the death of His friend Lazarus. 

REFLECT 

Have you learned more about God’s ways by how He has dealt with your needs in the past? Have you shared that with someone? When He didn’t act when and how you expected, were you able to praise Him later? 

RESPOND 

The Bible refers to those who have “fallen asleep in Jesus.” Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to see to whom this refers. The original language of the New Testament indicates that verse 13 says these people “have fallen asleep. This passage reveals that someday Jesus will return in the air to catch up believers from the earth.