Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

August 9: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Scripture: John (NIV) 11:21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.”…
32 Mary reached the place where Jesus was. When she saw him, she fell at his feet. She said, “Lord, I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.” …
37 But some of them [the Jews who were present at Lazarus’ house] said, “He opened the eyes of the blind man. Couldn’t he have kept this man from dying?”

Observation: When Lazarus was sick, his sisters, Mary and Martha, called for Jesus to come. But Jesus took his time and did not arrive until Lazarus was dead and had been in the tomb for four days. Mary and Martha’s faith, and those present with them, reached to the point of dying, but not beyond death. They believed Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but now that he was dead, there was no hope. Death was the barrier over which their faith did not lift them. Their faith was to death, but not past death. Jesus walked up to the open tomb and called out into death. He called for Lazarus to return. Lazarus’ body was dead, but Lazarus was not! He heard the call, recognized the voice, and returned!

Application: I am so thankful for the faith I have for this life. But I need to be sure my faith reaches beyond the grave. There is comfort in knowing my mom and dad are alive in God’s presence; a time will come when I will join them there. Death loses its terror when my faith reaches beyond it.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for a faith that does not stop at death’s door. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!