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Dying to Live

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.” JOHN 11:1-3 NLT

But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death.” JOHN 11:4 NLT

…No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this. JOHN 11:4 NLT

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.” JOHN 11:5-7 NLT

Faith is trusting God when we don’t understand

High expectations on our God is a good thing, but there is a difference between high expectations and wrong expectations.

The wrong expectations have to die so that God’s dream can live

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. JOHN 11:17 NLT

Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem… JOHN 11:18 NLT

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.” JOHN 11:19-21 NLT

“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 NLT

Your timing is not God’s timing 

Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” JOHN 11:23 NLT

“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, on the last day.” JOHN 11:24 NLT

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” JOHN 11:25 NLT

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 NLT

Your comfort has to die if you want faith to live

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” JOHN 11:39 NLT

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” JOHN 11:43 NLT

He calls you by name 

God knows your name and says some things have to die before they can live. 

And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” JOHN 11:43-44 NLT

If you are ready for things to die, he is ready to raise you back to life. 

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be quiet and distraction-free. As you still yourself, invite God into this time, releasing any anxiety, stresses, or worry into his care. Ask God to reveal any areas in your life where your expectations of him have been misguided. Confess those to him, acknowledging his control over all things. Next, ask God to show you which areas of your life you need to die to live. Visualize giving these over to God, perhaps through open hands, or writing them in a journal. Now, just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, ask him to breathe new life into those dead areas. Invite God to align your heart with his, and to show you some practical steps you can take this week to die to yourself so you can live in the fullness of God’s plans for you. Close your time by thanking God for his faithfulness and his goodness. 

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. Read John 11:1-44. What struck you as you listened to this story? What do you think made it stand out to you?
  3. Why do you think Jesus delayed coming to heal Lazarus when he was “only a few miles down the road” (v.18), knowing it would cause the people he loved so much anguish (v.32)?”
  4. When have you experienced a “delay” in God answering one of your prayers? Looking back, what did you learn or what are you learning from it now?
  5. Reread John 11:33-38. Why do you think Jesus had such an emotional reaction to Lazarus’ death when he knew he was going to heal him? What does that teach you about how you can handle your own emotions?
  6. Reread John 11:43-44. Is there any sin, habit, hobby or expectation in your life that needs to die so that you can live more fully for God or his people?