Each Sunday in Lent will focus on one of Jesus’ miraculous signs in the Gospel of John.
PREPARE
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time. Before you read, meditate on John’s words about his Gospel:
But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name – John 20:31.
READ
REFLECT AND PRAY
1) The raising of Lazarus is Jesus’ most public, powerful demonstration of his authority over life and death, given to him by the Father, and a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own resurrection. At the same time, Jesus’ human emotions are very close to the surface in this story. He cries, becomes angry, and is “deeply troubled” (vs. 33).
What are your own feelings about death? As you reflect on Jesus’ response to death as both God and man, how does this shape your understanding of Jesus? Of death and resurrection?
2) Throughout the story, Jesus is the only one who understands how it will end. Lazarus’ sisters and friends still have to go through a time of mourning before Jesus raises him from the dead. During that time of mourning, Mary and Martha both have an opportunity to reject Jesus; instead, Martha declares her belief in Jesus and Mary runs and weeps at his feet.
Are there any people or things you are mourning right now? Any ways you are waiting for Jesus to act, to bring healing and new life? What would you like to say to Jesus?
OBEY
Before Jesus tells Lazarus to “Come out!”, he says, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me” (vs. 41-2). On Palm Sunday, consider finding a way to celebrate “out loud” (either by words or actions) Jesus as King and the ways he has brought resurrection to your life.
You are also invited to hear a sermon on this passage. It will be streamed on the Vineyard One NYC Facebook page beginning at 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time. (Previous sermon audio files are available at vineyardone.nyc.)
“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).