Peace When The Bottom Drops Out! | John 11:20-44

Today we are going to meet two sisters whose hearts are breaking. The bottom has dropped out for them in John chapter 11. Jesus was a frequent guest in the home they shared with their brother Lazarus. They all loved him dearly, and that’s why Mary and Martha didn’t understand why Jesus didn’t come and heal Lazarus when he was sick. Why he died when the Lord could have saved him. We pick up the story in John chapter 11, verse 20.

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Transcription:

When I was a camp counselor, I remember singing on the bus with all the kids. One of our favorites was, I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. I remember belting that out with gusto, and there have been many times in my life when I’ve had peace like that. Peace like a river. And many times too, when that river of peace has dried up. What happens when the bottom drops out in your life? I have found that when the worst happens, the peace Jesus offers can still make it through the cracks of your broken heart.

Hi, I’m Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy people. Today you and I are gonna meet two sisters whose hearts are breaking. The bottom has dropped out for them in John chapter 11. Jesus was a frequent guest in the home they shared with their brother Lazarus. They all loved him dearly, and that’s why Mary and Martha didn’t understand why Jesus didn’t come and heal Lazarus when he was sick. Why he died when the Lord could have saved him. We pick up the story in John chapter 11, verse 20.

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. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask. Jesus told her, your brother will rise again. Yes, Martha said. He will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day. 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? Yes, Lord. She told him, I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, the teacher is here and wants to see you. So, Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So, they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Can you her heart cracking over those words? Can you hear the bottom dropping out in her life?

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger well up within him, and he was deeply troubled. Where have you put him? He asked them. They told him, Lord, come and see. Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, see how much he loved him? But some said this man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying? Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb. A cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. Roll the stone aside, jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man sister protested. Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible. Jesus responded; didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe? So, they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.

Then Jesus shouted, Lazarus come out. And the dead man came out his hands and feet bound in grave clothes. His face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, unwrap him and let him go. Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.

I bet. Jesus always shows up and with him comes the peace; and people notice when you receive that peace because it’s real. Next time you and I get together, I’m gonna share my friend Deborah’s story. It’s a story about peace in the midst of pain, and Jesus walking right into the middle of it. It’s powerful and I promise you will be inspired. Today, I wanna leave you with this. When the bottom drops out of your life, you are not ever gonna have to face that alone. The Lord is with you and because he’s with you, peace is always possible. Till next time, remember, you are loved.

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