How can we emulate Jesus' love for others as shown in John 11:5? Setting the Scene “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” – John 11:5 This simple statement sits at the heart of the Lazarus account. Before any miracle, before any teaching, Scripture anchors everything in Jesus’ personal, genuine love for three ordinary siblings. What Jesus’ Love Looks Like • Personal: He knows each by name—Martha, Mary, Lazarus. • Consistent: His love remains even when He delays (vv. 6, 14). • Empathetic: He weeps with them (v. 35). • Sacrificial: His journey back to Judea risks hostility (vv. 7-8). • Purposeful: His love seeks God’s glory and their ultimate good (v. 4). Practical Ways to Emulate This Love • Learn names and stories—value people as individuals, not projects. • Stay present in crises even when solutions aren’t immediate; sometimes love looks like waiting with them. • Share in others’ sorrows—weep, listen, bear burdens (Galatians 6:2). • Accept inconvenience and risk for another’s welfare (Philippians 2:3-5). • Aim for God’s glory and others’ growth, not self-promotion (1 Corinthians 10:31). • Let actions follow words; Jesus moved toward Bethany, then to the tomb—so visit, call, cook, give, serve. Supporting Scriptures John 15:12-13: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Ephesians 5:2: “Walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” 1 John 4:10-11: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Benefits of Reflecting Christ’s Love • Others see a living picture of the gospel (John 13:35). • Unity flourishes in families, churches, and communities (Colossians 3:14). • Our own faith deepens as we rely on the Spirit to love well (Romans 5:5). • God is glorified, and hearts are drawn to His Son, just as many believed after Lazarus was raised (John 11:45). |
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