Seeking God During Grief

July 19

Think About It

• Consider the quote:

• Which do you think is more important – faith or hope? Why?

“Faith is that which lays hold of God’s promises; hope is that spiritual grace

which sustains the heart until the promise is ‘received.’”

Consider that hope and faith go hand in hand …

Today we look at the hope we have as we

trust God to give victory over death.

Listen for an accusation by Martha.

John 11:17-21 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [18] Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, [19] and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

Listen for an accusation by Martha.

[20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Jesus Welcomes Our Questions

• What did Jesus find when He arrived at Bethany?

• What did Mary and Martha do when they heard that Jesus was coming?

• What did Martha say to Jesus about His having come after Lazarus had died?

• What do you think her attitude was?

Jesus Welcomes Our Questions

• How do we tend to respond (like Martha) when we are disappointed with the way God has chosen to work in our situation?

• Why do we question Jesus about His timing, His way of answering our needs?

• Martha was probably filled with grief over Lazarus’ death. How can our emotions impact our ability to trust God’s sovereignty?

Note that this is sin … lack of faith! Romans 14:23 … everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Jesus Welcomes Our Questions

• Recall image from Four Spiritual Laws booklet– Our relationship with Christ is based on the Facts

of the Truth and our Faith– Feelings (emotions) are nice but the train runs

without a caboose

Jesus Welcomes Our Questions

• When we do have questions of God concerning grief or loss, why is it better to talk to Him about them, rather than try to hide them from Him.

Listen for Martha’s lack of understanding.

John 11:22-27 (NIV) But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." [23] Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." [25] Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live,

Listen for Martha’s lack of understanding.

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."

Jesus Gives Hope and Comfort

• Compare what Jesus and Martha were saying about a resurrection, about Jesus

Martha’s understanding of resurrection and Jesus

Jesus’ view of resurrection

She may have been confused,

discouraged, grieved about her brother’s

death … But …

Martha clung to the basic Truth …

Jesus is the Son of God

She was discovering also that …

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

She may have been confused,

discouraged, grieved about her brother’s

death … But …

Martha clung to the basic Truth …

Jesus is the Son of God

She was discovering also that …

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus Gives Hope and Comfort

• What is the verb tense in verses 23 and 24? What tense is used in verse 25?• What was future, what was present? Who

said it?• How did Martha express her belief in Jesus?• How can these verses, these concepts help

you answer and give hope to your child or grandchild who asks about death?

Future Present

Listen for the sequence of events as Jesus brings Lazarus back to life.

John 11:41-45 (NIV) So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud

Listen for the sequence of events as Jesus brings Lazarus back to life.

voice, "Lazarus, come out!" [44] 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." [45] Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

Jesus Gives Eternal Life

• What did Jesus do before He called to Lazarus?

• What did Jesus say to the Father? Why? • How did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? • Under what circumstances have you doubted

the power of God?

Jesus Gives Eternal Life

• What helps you have faith in God’s ability to work out an impossible situation?

• Consider this altered version of Jesus statement. How does it make you feel?

Quote the verse correctly together – Thank God for the hope of eternal life

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and

believes in me will never die.

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and

believes in me will never die.

Application

• Sickness and death are realities of our earthly life– When sickness comes, when death threatens we

should take our needs to Jesus– Know that the timing we desire is not always

God's timing in dealing with the problem– Even when death is the eventuality, Jesus knows,

Jesus cares, Jesus will be present– Jesus is not insulted or hurt by our expressions of

grief, our questions of "Why?"

Application

• Mary and Martha had the right concept of to whom to go when they had a desperate need– Take your needs to Jesus– Know that He is sufficient– Know that His timing is perfect, even though not

always understood– Tell the Lord you are grateful for His help when

you feel helpless and hopeless

Application

• Praise God this week that he has dominion over death– Those who have Christ as savior may die

physically, but they continue on in spiritual life– Receive comfort from this fact if you have lost

someone close to you– Be assured of this fact if you are facing an

uncertain physical future– Know that living believers have already entered

eternal life!

Seeking God During Grief

July 19