Friday Morning
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening (Collect for Purity)
Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 11:1-27(NLT)
The Raising of Lazarus
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
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?”
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. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”
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Morning Reflection:
I believe in Jesus!
How do you face suffering, grief, and trials that threaten to overwhelm you? That’s what Martha was dealing with at the death of her beloved brother. She had hoped Jesus would come in time to save him, but to her dismay, Jesus arrived too late and Lazarus had died.
Nevertheless, Martha declared –
“Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
– John 11:21-22
So what did Martha believe that still gave her hope? And what do you believe when faced with your own trials –
+ Martha believed that Jesus was her advocate. She brought her troubles to Jesus in order to plead her case before the Father.
+ Martha believed that God was in control. She believed in God’s sovereignty over all of life’s circumstances. Nothing was impossible for God.
+ Martha believed that God keeps his promises re: eternal life. She believed in life after death.
+ Martha believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. She believed that Jesus was who he said he was.
+ Martha believed in Jesus for her dead brother’s life. She believed that Jesus was “the resurrection and the life” – that Jesus always has the last word over death.
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.
Do you believe this, Martha?” – John 11:25-26
+ Martha believed in Jesus. What do you believe?
Questions for consideration:
- Can you remember a time when you suffered great loss, or faced overwhelming trials? Perhaps you are going through something like that today? Please explain.
- Which of Martha’s beliefs did you/do you find helpful? Would you add anything? Please explain.
- What does living in Jesus and believing in him mean to you? Are you confident that you have eternal life? Please explain.
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Morning Prayer:
Come to me Lord Jesus in my times of great sorrow and overwhelming trials for I believe in you. You alone have the words of eternal life. You alone are the resurrection and the life. You alone are the one who works out all things for my good and your glory. I believe in you, and I trust you. You alone hold my destiny in your hands. Amen.
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“Jesus I Believe” – Big Daddy Weave
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Closing:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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