What can we learn about faith from Jesus' statement in John 11:14? Setting the Scene John 11 takes us to Bethany, where Lazarus has died. The disciples are confused by Jesus’ earlier words that “this sickness will not end in death” (v. 4). Then, in verse 14, “So then He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’” The Simple Statement “Lazarus is dead.” Jesus does not soften the reality. He names death directly, yet His entire mission in this chapter is to overrule that reality. Faith Lessons • Faith faces facts without denial – Jesus acknowledges Lazarus’ physical death, showing that biblical faith is never wishful thinking. • Faith rests on the character of Christ – The same mouth that announces death will command life (vv. 43-44). Confidence flows from who He is (John 11:25). • Faith waits for God’s timing – Jesus delayed two days (v. 6). Trust means accepting divine schedules even when they intensify the crisis. • Faith expects a greater purpose – “For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe” (v. 15). God often permits loss to deepen dependence on Him. • Faith anticipates resurrection power – By stating the finality of death first, Jesus magnifies the glory of the coming miracle, foreshadowing His own resurrection (John 2:19; 1 Corinthians 15:20). Connecting Scriptures • Mark 5:35-36 — Jairus hears “Your daughter is dead,” but Jesus replies, “Do not fear; only believe.” • Romans 4:19-21 — Abraham “faced the fact” of his body’s deadness yet was “fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.” • 2 Corinthians 1:9 — “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” Living It Out 1. Acknowledge realities honestly—name the “dead” situations without minimizing them. 2. Anchor trust in Christ’s unchanging nature, not in visible circumstances. 3. Submit to God’s timing, believing that delays can strengthen faith. 4. Look for God’s greater purpose in trials, expecting His resurrection power to bring glory to His name. |
    |