Life Lessons from John by Max Lucado

Author:Max Lucado
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

LESSON EIGHT

THE LOSS OF A FRIEND

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

JOHN 11:25–26 NKJV

REFLECTION

Losses are never an enjoyable part of life, and losing a friend is particularly sad. God’s presence in our lives should cast a slightly different light on losses—especially those caused by death, for even death does not limit God’s power. If we can trust him to bring good out of even matters of life and death, can we not learn to trust him with smaller losses? Think of a time in your life when a bad experience turned out for good. How did that affect you?

[Your Response Here]

SITUATION

As Jesus traveled in the region of Perea, located east of the Jordan River, he received word that his friend Lazarus had fallen ill. Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were close to Jesus, and he had often stayed in their home. Yet on this occasion, Jesus deliberately delayed in returning back to their home in Bethany. It had already taken time for the messenger to track down Jesus, and now he waited an extra two days. The travel from Perea to Bethany also took time. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.

OBSERVATION

Read John 11:17–44 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 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. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 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?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

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. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

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