CONFUSION REIGNS!
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Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence in me. Use the things I read in Scripture today to build my faith and strengthen my walk with Jesus.
Read JOHN 11:1–16
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Death of Lazarus
11 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.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Footnotes
- John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is your natural response when things in life are unclear? To panic, to prepare, or to pray?The boring commute to work. The moody teenager. The close friend dying of cancer. From the mundane to the deeply painful, life can be full of things that bemuse, frustrate, and hurt. Today we come to the opening of one of the most moving chapters of the New Testament. We may know how the story ends, but in its opening today there is one dominant emotion: confusion.
Jesus’ actions are, at least at first sight, a little confusing. John tells us of Jesus’ love and affection for Lazarus and his sisters yet, despite this, ‘when [Jesus] heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was two more days’ (v. 6). Confusion is clearly felt by the disciples, too, as they question why Jesus would want to return to Judea where his life is at risk (v. 8). They also misunderstand Jesus’ reference to Lazarus sleeping (v. 12), and Thomas seems to get completely the wrong end of the stick (v. 16).
Confusion reigns! But then it often does in moments of pain, uncertainty, and challenge. We can find it hard to see how God is at work at such times. How we respond to this lack of clarity is a significant test of our faith and our trust in Jesus.
Apply
Is there a situation in your life where it seems confusion reigns?
Closing prayer
No matter what are my circumstances today, Jesus, despite any lack of clarity, help me to trust you. Help me to remember that you always prove your faithfulness and will carry out your good purposes.
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