Feb. 27

Read John 12: 12-19

¹⁶The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.

 ^17-19The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Why do you think it was difficult for the disciples to make the connection between what Jesus was doing and what was written in the scriptures that they knew so well?
• Why do you think the crowds wanted to make Jesus their political leader after he fed the crowds bread and fish and after he raised a dead man back to life?
• Are you more likely to see Jesus at work in your life when it is happening or much later after it has happened? Why do you think this is the case?
• What do you want most in a political leader? In a religious leader?

Feb. 20

Read John 12: 1-11 

^1-3Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.

 ^4-6Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. (The Message)

 Some thought to ponder and share with others:

·         What do you think led Mary to bring the oil to Jesus?

·         Have you ever felt the desire to give as extravagantly as Mary did?

·         When you see someone giving extravagantly do you respond more like Judas or like Jesus?

·         What would it take for you to give as extravagantly as Mary?

Feb. 13

Read John 11: 38-57
^45-48That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. "What do we do now?" they asked. "This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have." (The Message)

Some thought to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think the Jewish leaders were most worried about now following this latest miracle from Jesus?
• Why do you think John includes this story in his gospel when none of the other writers of the gospels do?
• What was your turning point in believing in Jesus?
• What difference does Jesus power to raise people from the dead make in your life?

Feb. 6

Read John 11:17-37
^21-22Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you."

 ²³Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up."

 ²⁴Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time."

 ^25-26"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" (The Message)

If you would have, can quickly become, why didn't you Jesus?
Sometimes it doesn't seem like enough to have Jesus with us we want him to fix things. Martha and Mary are caught between being glad to have their friend with them and wishing he would have showed up sooner so that maybe things would have turned out differently. They had seen Jesus do a number of very powerful miracles and they were wondering if he didn't have one for them as well. Could they still believe even when things didn't go the way they had wanted them to? It is a question that many of us are left dealing with in our own lives because even when miracles do a cure they aren't always all we want.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think were Martha's first thoughts when she saw Jesus?
• How do you think Martha's faith in Jesus might have been tested by the reality that she was experiencing?
• Have you ever wondered where your miracle was when you have seen the powerful work of God in other places?
• If you focus upon the story prior to Lazarus being raised from the dead what do you relate to in your own life story?