EM/Youth

John 11:20-27, Do you believe this?

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작성자 카마리오한인연합감리교회 작성일24-04-04 12:23 조회4,462회 댓글0건

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During the last Lent, all of you worked hard to practice and live a Christian life. We are the people of Christ who rose from death, and we are a faith community that proclaims the cross and resurrection. Today is a day of salvation, not only for us but also for everyone in the world.

 

Jesus, during His time on Earth, brought heavenly hope and taught a life of faith. Conversations with Jesus brought joy and happiness to people. In John 11, we find the story of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (John 11:1)

 

Jesus sometimes visited the Lazarus’ family in the village of Bethany. The name “Bethany” means that “Beth” (meaning “house”) and “anya” (meaning “poor”). The village was a poor town, and there was the home of Lazarus.

  

As we see in the Scripture reading, a trial came to the family of Lazarus, who lives in the Bethany. Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary, contacted Jesus. While Jesus was waiting far away, Lazarus became sick and passed away. A deep sorrow came to this family. What kind of people were Lazarus and his sisters? Even Martha and Mary were a family that believed in God and followed Jesus Christ.

 

The family faced challenges and heartbreak. Today, we’ve only covered the middle part of John 11. The words related to Lazarus continue until verse 57 and are also connected to chapter 12. When we read about Jesus in these passages, we understand that the Lord had a plan and purpose on that day. Jesus delivered a message to Martha, Mary, and the many people gathered there: There is a spiritual understanding that people can find, no matter what they encounter, and it is for “the glory of God.”

 

We can understand that the family’s difficulties are similar with Jesus’ experience. Jesus suffered deeply on the cross, and he had to endure the pain alone. However, Jesus did not turn a blind eye to God's plan and received the cup of suffering himself. Jesus prayed, “...not my will, but thine be done!” What Jesus accomplished after being resurrected after all the suffering and death was “for the glory of God.”

  

In the story from John 11, Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus had already been buried. Jesus prayed, and said: “Lazarus, come out!” “The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:44) As we read this family's experience of resurrection, we can see the faith that deserves it.

 

It is the faith between this family and Jesus. This family's faith in Jesus Christ is absolute faith and a relationship of absolute trust. Bible recorded their faith as follows: 21. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.... 23..."Your brother will rise again."...25..."I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26. and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27."Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

 

Our faith, rooted in trust in Jesus, allows us to experience God’s grace. Despite Bethany being a poor village, Lazarus’ family there witnessed resurrection through Jesus Christ. Let us live as families with Jesus as our only hope and faith. Then, we will have the experience of resurrection with Jesus. Let us listen in our hearts always, “Do you believe this?” We can confess with our faith saying, “Amen, I believe!”


 


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