The Gospel of John: John 11.38-48

Read and meditate on John 11.40, 41a.
The only antidote to living by the standards of this world is to pay attention to every word Jesus speaks – not just listening, but hearing.

⁴⁰He said to her, “Did not I say to you
that if you would believe in Me, then you
would see the glory of the Lord?” ⁴¹So then
they took away the stone from where the man
was lying, dead.

- John 11.40, 41a

Reflect
1.  Review John 11.39. On what is Jesus’ mind fixed? What about Martha’s? She is listening to, looking at, and standing in the presence of the One she has confessed as Christ and Son of God, but she’s not seeing what He sees. Why not? Does this ever happen to you? Complete this prayer: Lord, it’s so easy to lose sight of You in this world, because…

2.  Let’s look more carefully at Jesus’ response to Martha. He asks a question. How do questions work to sometimes arrest our train of thought and help us to refocus? Why did Jesus ask Martha this question? Lord, let Your Spirit ask me question after question, so that…

3.  In looking back at verses 25 and 26, we note that this is not exactly what Jesus had said to Martha. To what was Jesus equating “you would see the glory of God”? How would this glorify God? What would it signal about Jesus? Was Jesus expecting Martha to make the connection between what He said and what He meant by what He said? Explain. Lord, help me to make the connections between what You say to me in Your Word and how I...  

4.  How would Martha have received this question? As a gentle reminder? A rebuke? An opportunity to “connect the dots” of Jesus’ words? What train of thought would this question likely have set in motion in Martha’s mind? Is it good to get people thinking like this? Explain. Lord, we don’t always have to tell everyone everything, but if we can get them thinking about You, then You…

5.  The grave keepers didn’t wait for Martha’s response. She was probably so dumfounded that she could not speak. They simply did what Jesus had commanded them to do in verse 39. What would have been the initial result of their action? But to what did that ultimately lead (v. 44)? Does the glory of God (v. 40) sometimes shine brightest through our doing something we might regard as unpleasant or inconvenient? If we hesitate because of the potential for unpleasantness, can we expect to see the glory? Explain. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“But now, between the words ‘Take away the stone’ and ‘therefore, they took away the stone,’ the words of the dead man’s sister hindered the removal of the stone. And it would not have been taken away at all even later had not Jesus answered and said to her unbelief, ‘Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ It is good, then, that nothing intervenes between Jesus’ command and the action enjoined by his bidding.” Origen (185-254 AD)

If we’re always worried about unpleasantness or inconvenience or other kinds of difficulties that can arise from obeying Jesus, will we ever obey Him? Explain.

Closing Prayer
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40.1-3

Psalm 40.1-5 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
Lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save.

Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
Lord, Your worth who can declare? None with You can e’er compare.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.