How Jesus Helps Us in Seasons of Suffering

Light in the Darkness

Part 11 – How Jesus Helps Us in Seasons of Suffering

John 11

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” John 11:1-3

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” John 11:4-7

Dearness and nearness to Jesus doesn’t make anyone from .

God those near to Him when we are suffering.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God’s aren’t necessarily .

4 When he heard this,… he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” John 11:4, 6, 7

God’s are on .

18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;

    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice.

    Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18

4 …“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14-15

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now 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. 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. 22 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.” John 11:17-24

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27

Jesus does more than give life; He is life, and has no over Him.

• Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is a .
• Martha’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus proved that knowledge of eternal life is a .
• Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrects her, showing that victory is a .

6 …Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:26b-27

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-56

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. John 11:33-35

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.

Jesus is for all who believe!

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.” John 11:44

If Jesus can conquer death, there is nothing that can Him or us, who trust in Him!

How God Helps Us in Seasons of Suffering

• Dearness and nearness to Jesus doesn’t make us immune from suffering, but we can count on His comfort!
• God’s delays aren’t necessarily denials and they are always with a purpose.
• Jesus does more than give life; He is life, and death has no power over Him.
• Jesus grief is gain for all who believe because He made the way for our salvation!