Red Letters : How Jesus Described Himself // I Am the Resurrection and the Light

Red Letters : How Jesus Described Himself // I Am the Resurrection and the Light 

John 11:3-7 NIV 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.” 

1. The Question of TIMING 

John 11:4 NIV 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.” 

John 11:14-15 NIV 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.” 

John 11:17 NIV 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 

John 11:25-26 NIV 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?” 

2. The Question of TEARS 

John 11:32b-35 32b “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 

3. The Question of TRUST 

John 11:38-43 NIV 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 

John 3:16 NIV 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Questions: 

1. Have you ever felt like God was too late in answering your prayer? How did you process that experience? 

2. Jesus feels your pain. What does it mean to you that the God of the Universe hurts when you hurt? How does that impact your relationship with others? 

3. Describe an experience in your life where trust was broken. How did you react? What are the steps you are currently taking to courageously walk in faith?