Week 4

Look Back

May 15, 2022 Thankfully, God rates us based on our relationship with Jesus. Did you take the opportunity this week to ask God to rate you, to ask our loving Father He thinks about you? When we know Jesus, we are perfection in His eyes. How would God rate you today?

Look Up

Read John 11:1-16 - The Death of Lazarus

1. Who are the friends you call on when someone is sick in your circle?
2. How many times in these scriptures did John stress Jesus’ love for this family? What does this say to you about the relationship Lazarus and his sisters had with Jesus?
3. What hope or encouragement do you find in Jesus’ grieving Lazarus’ death?
4. How do we respond when we hear a good friend is sick or has died? Why do you think Jesus’ response is so different?
5. In verse 11, what did Jesus say had happened to Lazarus and why do you think he worded it that way?
6. Why do you think Jesus said he was glad he wasn’t there?

Read John 11: 17-45

1. What illness in your life or in the life of someone close to you has God used to draw people to Him? Or at what cost has God drawn you closer to Him?
2. In verses 21-26, Martha’s approach to the situation was more with words, while Mary responded with emotion. What do Jesus' unique responses to each of these sisters teach us about how we ought to respond to those who mourn and grieve?

Read Jesus’ words in verses 25-2

1. How easy is it for us to believe? How do His words make you feel?
2. How do you think you might respond if you knew today was your last day on this earth?
3. Discuss the possible reasons Jesus was deeply disturbed, or in more literal translations, to the point of anger?
4. Jesus' actions in John 11:43 prove his words in John 11:4 and 25-2 What does this mean to you considering the many claims Jesus makes throughout the gospel? What does this mean for us and our everyday life of faith in Jesus?

Overall (Discovery Bible Study)

• What does this passage say about God, about His love for us, about His commitment to us? What does it say about people and our seemingly hopeless situations? How will I apply this to my life?

Look Ahead

Are you confident about what will happen to you after your last day? If not, what will you do to change that? If so, who do you know who needs to hear this?

Notes

: What’s amazing about verse 2 is that Mary has not anointed Jesus yet. John is sharing this to show the extraordinary relationship between Mary and Jesus. Then verse 3 - “Lord, he whom you love is ill” - the extraordinary love between Lazarus and Jesus. Then verse 5 - “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Three times John stresses Jesus’ love for this family even though Jesus’ delay doesn’t feel like love to most. This entire story shows the extraordinary love of God through Jesus. When we seek a love relationship with the Lord, we glorify Him and can have full trust that he is working regardless of the circumstances.