Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 09, 2024: SOAP #5363: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11:3 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 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus….
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus did not immediately respond to Mary and Martha’s message—but He loved Lazarus; and he loved them.  Jesus did not speak a word of healing—but He loved them.  Jesus waited until Lazarus died and was buried for four days—but He loved Lazarus and his sisters.  Jesus even wept at the grave—but He loved him. 

I wonder if at least one of the disciples had the thought, “Jesus, you sure missed it this time.  You said this sickness would not end in death.”  For those of us who now know the rest of the story we see that the end results was not death but death was only one step in the pathway that led to “God’s glory.”

John (NIV) 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

APPLICATION:  It is good for us to understand that Jesus’ love for us does not always mean that he will do what we want when we want it.  His actions may seem to us that he has ignored our request, or not taken it very seriously.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  He loves us!  Even in this passage that fact is repeated in verses three, five, and thirty-six. These were people that Jesus loved!  We are important to him, the issue of His love was settled on the cross! 

For the Christian nothing ends in death‼  Death is the doorway into eternity! 

PRAYER: Lord, that you love me cannot be questioned.  You care about what troubles me.  And you are using those troubles for my good and Your glory!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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