Day 11

In John 11, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their beloved brother Lazarus was sick. Rather than rushing to their side, Jesus responded by promising that this sickness would not end in death but instead be used to glorify God. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Moved deeply by the grief of Mary and Martha, Jesus wept alongside them before asking to be taken to where Lazarus was laid. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb, and Lazarus did, walking out still wrapped in his grave clothes! Lazarus’s resurrection brought to life the words Jesus had spoken just moments before in verses 25 and 26: "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." Rather than drawing the religious leaders to him, however, this miracle only made them even angrier, and they began plotting in earnest to have Jesus killed.

Prayer
God, thank you that death does not have the final say. Thank you that we get to rest in the words that you are both the resurrection and the life. Teach us to trust you when our grief doesn’t make sense and remind us that you are grieving right there with us. Comfort our hearts today and help us comfort those in mourning. Amen.