This morning, we continue our series, “The Miracles of Jesus.” Before we get into the miracle, let’s look at the foundational scripture I will share with you all year.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us. I pray you get refreshed and restored as we study each miracle.
Read John 11
In our last message, we saw how Jesus finally had His encounter with Mary. Mary’s words were no different than Martha’s initial words. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Although Martha had spoken these same 12 words to Jesus, they did not move Him to action. Mary may have said the same thing, but she said it from a different position of the heart. Mary spoke these words from her knees, from a position of worship and surrender. Mary laid at Jesus’ feet, crying, worshipping, and releasing her pain. Jesus was moved to do something about it.
The Bible says that when Jesus saw her weeping, and He looked around and saw all those that had come with her weeping as well, He was deeply moved. Jesus was often compelled by compassion. He looked past her words of frustration and saw a pure heart—a heart of worship, a heart surrendered to God. It hurt Jesus that this family, a family He loved, had to endure so much pain. He already knew what the ‘end of the story‘ was going to be, but it pained Him to have to watch as a family suffered. So instead of going into a lengthy discussion, like He had with her sister (a discussion that had gotten nowhere), Jesus asked, “Where have you laid him?” Mary could not say a thing. She was still overwhelmed with grief. Those with Mary said, “Lord, come and see.”
Then the Bible says, “Jesus wept.” That’s it, just two words. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible but one of the most powerful. Jesus was moved to tears because of the tears of Mary and the others. He literally wept. He cried. He sobbed. He identified with their pain. He connected with their hurt. He was moved by their situation. Why? Because He loved them. See, part of the reason why Jesus came down from heaven to live like we live, walk like we walk, get tempted like we get tempted, feel like we feel, and hurt like we hurt, is so that He can identify with our pain.
The writer of Hebrews said, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned” (4:15). Jesus is our High Priest. He is in heaven as our advocate with the Father, and He can identify with us. Jesus knows what it is like to feel pain, discomfort, and disappointment. He lived down here, so He can connect with our situations from up there. Jesus wept.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. The pain Mary and Martha felt just got more real to me than I expected.
While I am teaching this miracle, and I am trying to identify with the sisters, so I can help you identify with them as well (the message has to preach TO me before it can preach THROUGH me), my personal life took an unexpected turn yesterday that makes this passage even more real. As I was going through my day yesterday, I found out that one of my uncles was in intensive care. We started praying and believing God. However, unfortunately, in a sad turn of events, he died.
I believe he had walking pneumonia. I am not sure at this point. What I am sure about is that he was my mother’s little brother, the youngest of the siblings, and my mother, her one remaining brother, and all her sisters, are mourning today, like Mary and Martha were. The entire family is mourning, but I am making the connection to the sisters, specifically for the purposes of this text.
For me to think about the pain Mary and Martha were going through, I only needed to hear my mother’s voice and think about her sisters. They lost their little brother, and they are in mourning. This was the situation Jesus walked into when He made His way to Bethany. He met a family who was in pain.
I humbly ask you to pray for my family, especially for my mother and her siblings, as they bury their brother today.
2. God can get glory out of bad situations.
— God does not create bad situations just so He can turn around and help you out of them. That would make God a monster. But what God does is take bad situations and turn them around for your good and for His glory.
— The Bible is riddled with situations that satan meant for evil, and God turned around for good.
— When God is working through a bad situation in your life, knowing how He will manifest His glory in due season, it does pain Him to see you endure hardship and pain in the process.
— God did not create the sickness that attacked Lazarus’ body and ultimately killed him. But He did use the situation to advance Jesus’ ministry in the earth. That’s how it is with you and your life. God does not make bad things happen to you, but He will turn them around for your good.
3. Pain is often involved in any story where God gets the glory.
— The story of Lazarus is amazing. We are preaching this story over 2,000 years later. When it happened, the news spread like wildfire. God was glorified. Jesus was exalted. Hopes were lifted. Faith was stirred. Impossibilities seemed possible. But don’t forget that a family had to endure tremendous pain in the process. Lazarus had to die. Mary and Martha had to mourn. Jesus had to cry. Remember that the next time you are facing a painful situation where you know God will get the glory.
— God never promised us a pain-free life. As a matter of fact, the Bible says, “All that live Godly will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Thankfully, He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— Pain is part of our human experience. We will not have pain when we get to heaven. So when something bad happens, like it did for my family yesterday, take in the pain and remember it is part of your life, down here, in this world. One day you will be in a place with no more pain. For now, pain is part of the experience.
4. We serve a God who cares.
— You don’t serve a distant, despondent, or disconnected God who cannot identify with your situation or the pain it has caused you.
— When Jesus saw Mary crying and all the people with her crying, He was also overwhelmed with grief and pain. Jesus wept because the people He loved were in pain.
— Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. As God, Jesus could see how both He and the Father would be glorified through the situation. But as a man, He wept. He cried. His heart hurt for the family who had to go through this terrible situation.
— Your God knows both ‘the end of the story’ and the pain you are enduring in the process of getting there. His providence ensures His purpose is manifested in due season. His love ensures you are able to hold on until that time.
5. Sometimes, healing and restoration come after pain and suffering.
— The story of Lazarus teaches us that even though we may experience pain and suffering in our lives, God can still bring healing and restoration in the end.
— When we face challenging situations, we must maintain our faith in God and His ability to bring about His expected end. Reminding yourself that God is still God and that He still has a plan for your life will help you endure heartache and pain.
6. God’s presence and comfort are available to us during our times of pain.
— People may think they are ready, but most families are never truly ready to deal with the death of a loved one. If it’s not death, it can be some other terrible situation. My point is that we are often “not ready” when it happens, but what helps us get through it is acknowledging God’s presence.
— God never promised it would be easy. He just promised to be with us every step of the way.
— Just as Jesus was present with Mary and Martha during their time of grief, He is also present with us during our times of pain and sorrow.
— In times of pain and suffering, we can find peace in knowing that Jesus is intimately acquainted with our struggles and can provide comfort and support through the Holy Spirit.
— The Psalmist said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…” (Psalm 46).
7. Your mess becomes your message, and your test becomes your testimony.
— The story of Lazarus’ resurrection spread far and wide, becoming a testament to Jesus’ power and God’s faithfulness. Likewise, when we persevere through our pain, trusting God, our experiences can become a testimony of His goodness and faithfulness to others.
— As we share our stories of overcoming pain and adversity, we can encourage and uplift others who may be going through similar situations. In this way, we can find purpose, even in pleasure, in the pain!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
You are revealing Yourself to me in a way that helps me endure the pain of the process.
I know I am called to Your purpose. I know Your will, will be manifested in my life.
I know I am on the road to my destiny. But that does not mean I am exonerated from challenge, opposition, or pain.
When I am enduring pain, I remind myself that You are sovereign. You know the end from the beginning. You already know the end of the story. This gives me peace.
I also remind myself that You love me enough to keep me until I see Your overall expected end.
You did not promise me a pain-free life. But You did promise to be with me every step of the way!
I overcome because You are with me, Father. I overcome because You already overcame!
Despite the pain, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
