How does John 11:56 encourage us to seek Jesus in our daily lives? Setting the Scene John 11 captures the growing tension just before Jesus raises Lazarus. Verse 56 gives a glimpse into the bustling temple courts during Passover week: “ So they kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, ‘What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?’ ” (John 11:56) The crowd’s eager expectation is more than historical detail—it models the posture we’re called to adopt every day. Looking Closer at John 11:56 • “They kept looking for Jesus” – persistent, active searching, not casual curiosity. • “Asking one another” – a shared, vocal yearning; seeking Jesus isn’t a solitary pursuit. • “In the temple courts” – the very center of worship; they searched for Him where God’s presence was celebrated. • “Will He come…?” – a hope-filled anticipation that assumed His nearness and readiness to appear. Daily Life Applications: Seeking Jesus Moment by Moment 1. Attentive Expectation • Start each day assuming He intends to show up. • Look for His fingerprints in ordinary tasks—commuting, conversations, decisions. 2. Persistent Pursuit • Set rhythms that turn casual glances into deliberate focus (Psalm 27:4). • Refuse to settle for secondhand reports; open Scripture yourself (Acts 17:11). 3. Shared Conversation • Ask family, friends, or small-group members, “What are you seeing Jesus do?” • Let mutual testimony stir faith (Hebrews 10:24-25). 4. Worship-Centered Search • Gather regularly with believers; the temple courts remind us that corporate worship is a prime meeting place (Matthew 18:20). • Sing, read, and listen with the expectation that He will speak. Practical Ways to Seek Him Today • Schedule pockets of stillness—five minutes before meetings, ten minutes at lunch—to re-orient your heart. • Write down “God-sightings” nightly; notice how He answered prayers or surprised you. • Keep a verse card in your pocket; recite it when waiting in line (Joshua 1:8). • Turn routine drives into dialogues: thank Him aloud, ask for guidance, intercede for coworkers. • Serve someone quietly; acts of love often become windows where He reveals Himself (Matthew 25:40). Scriptures that Echo the Invitation • Jeremiah 29:13 — “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” • Psalm 105:4 — “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually.” • Hebrews 11:6 — “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” • James 4:8 — “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Encouragement to Keep Pursuing The temple crowd in John 11:56 did not know exactly how or when Jesus would appear, yet their yearning was rewarded in the very next chapter as He entered Jerusalem. Likewise, daily persistence positions us to recognize His presence and respond in faith. Keep looking, keep asking—He delights to be found. |
    |