John 11
John 11
The Relatable Humanity of Jesus
Throughout church history people have debated both Jesus’ humanity and his divinity. Yes, He’s divine, but John 11 shows us His genuine friendships with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We should be moved by how Jesus, with His divine nature, had real, close relationships and displayed deep affection for His friends. It’s incredibly comforting to know that Jesus walked among us with such genuine connections.
Theological Significance of Lazarus’s Death and Resurrection
A major theme of our discussion was the deep theological meaning behind Lazarus’s death and miraculous resucitation. We delved into Jesus’ statement that Lazarus’s illness “will not end in death” and the seeming contradiction when Lazarus actually dies. We explored how this “death” isn’t the end but a stage for God’s glory to shine through. It’s all part of the grand narrative of resurrection and divine intervention that runs throughout Scripture.
The Analogy of Spiritual Resurrection
There is an intriguing parallel between Lazarus’s physical resurrection and spiritual resurrection. Just as Lazarus was dead and needed Jesus to revive him, we compare this to being “dead in sin.” Spiritual revival, also relies on God’s intervention, much like how the Holy Spirit breathes new life into us when we’re spiritually dead. It’s a powerful reminder of our dependence on divine grace. One example from the Bible is in Ephesians 2:1-5 when Paul writes about us being saved by God’s grace even while we were “dead in our sin”. What do we learn in Ephesians 2:1-5?
saved - sozo - is grammatically in the passive tense meaning the one being saved is unable to do the saving, someone else must save them.
To be dead in sin does not mean you have lost your “will”. The problem is not that we can make choices. The problem is the choices that we make. We sin because we choose to but thank God the Holy Spirit has come to began working in our hearts, often well before we are aware of it!
Different Responses to Grief: Martha vs. Mary
The contrast in how Jesus interacts with Martha and Mary was another focal point. Martha meets Jesus with a mix of faith and grief, prompting Him to provide theological insight about His identity as the resurrection and the life. Mary, on the other hand, approaches with deep sorrow, and Jesus responds with empathy and tears. This difference highlights how Jesus meets people where they are, offering comfort or instruction based on their needs. It is important that we respond to others with sensitivity and discernment, just as Jesus did.
Encouragement to Engage with Scripture
Our encouragement to you is to dig deeper into the Scriptures, especially John 11. There is great value of not just reading but reflecting on and applying the lessons from this chapter to our lives. There’s so much to gain from engaging deeply with the text!
In summary, John 11 offers a rich blend of theological insights and personal reflections. It reveals both the deep humanity and divinity of Jesus, explores the concept of spiritual resurrection, and models how to respond to grief with empathy and truth. As we reflect on these themes, let’s be inspired to deepen our faith and offer genuine support to those around us.
