Oh, How He Loves You
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” John 11:5
As John begins to share the gospel account of when Lazarus was sick, he reminds his readers that Jesus "loved" him and his two sisters. He reminds the readers of Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus as if it says preemptively, as you continue to read, don't determine how Jesus felt about this family by the circumstances of what seemed like a delayed response to the news that Lazarus was sick. Don’t get it twisted. Jesus loved this family.
Similarly, God loves you. Although like Lazarus' sisters, you won't always understand the hand of God, you can trust the heart of God. But in order to do so you must not determine your view of God by looking at your circumstances, but instead view your circumstances through the lens of the cross which displays God's love for you in Christ. Remember that on the cross, death did not have the final word. Three days later Jesus walked out of the grave demonstrating His power to save. The resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus can take what seems like the worse thing that could have happened and turn it into the best thing that could have happened.
We must not only view our circumstances through the lens of the cross (God's love), but we must also view His will for our lives through the lens of His faithful love. Many today who don't know God see His will as a restriction to their lives rather than an expression of His love. And as a result, they act independently of God, which is the essence of sin. As Oswald Chambers noted, "The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good." The opposite is also true. The root of all loving and faithful obedience to God is confidence in God's faithful love for us.
The Apostle John emphasized that Jesus specifically loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. But he didn’t do so to teach that Jesus has favorites. God doesn't have favorites, but He does have intimates. This family opened wide the door of their home and hearts to Jesus. Their house was a home away from home for Jesus. Many today don't know the love of God because they are not cultivating an intimate relationship with God that begins when we receive Him as Savior and Lord. Consequently they live their lives in a way that says, Jesus you’re not welcome.
Jesus loves you. He laid down His life for you to save you from your sin so that you might be reconciled to God. But to personally and intimately know His love, you must receive the gospel of His saving grace through repentance and faith. And if you have received Him, you must grow in intimacy with God so that when you can't understand His hand, you will trust His heart. Even when obeying Him is costly, you will do so gladly because you know your loving Father always has your best interests at heart.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco
As John begins to share the gospel account of when Lazarus was sick, he reminds his readers that Jesus "loved" him and his two sisters. He reminds the readers of Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus as if it says preemptively, as you continue to read, don't determine how Jesus felt about this family by the circumstances of what seemed like a delayed response to the news that Lazarus was sick. Don’t get it twisted. Jesus loved this family.
Similarly, God loves you. Although like Lazarus' sisters, you won't always understand the hand of God, you can trust the heart of God. But in order to do so you must not determine your view of God by looking at your circumstances, but instead view your circumstances through the lens of the cross which displays God's love for you in Christ. Remember that on the cross, death did not have the final word. Three days later Jesus walked out of the grave demonstrating His power to save. The resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus can take what seems like the worse thing that could have happened and turn it into the best thing that could have happened.
We must not only view our circumstances through the lens of the cross (God's love), but we must also view His will for our lives through the lens of His faithful love. Many today who don't know God see His will as a restriction to their lives rather than an expression of His love. And as a result, they act independently of God, which is the essence of sin. As Oswald Chambers noted, "The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good." The opposite is also true. The root of all loving and faithful obedience to God is confidence in God's faithful love for us.
The Apostle John emphasized that Jesus specifically loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. But he didn’t do so to teach that Jesus has favorites. God doesn't have favorites, but He does have intimates. This family opened wide the door of their home and hearts to Jesus. Their house was a home away from home for Jesus. Many today don't know the love of God because they are not cultivating an intimate relationship with God that begins when we receive Him as Savior and Lord. Consequently they live their lives in a way that says, Jesus you’re not welcome.
Jesus loves you. He laid down His life for you to save you from your sin so that you might be reconciled to God. But to personally and intimately know His love, you must receive the gospel of His saving grace through repentance and faith. And if you have received Him, you must grow in intimacy with God so that when you can't understand His hand, you will trust His heart. Even when obeying Him is costly, you will do so gladly because you know your loving Father always has your best interests at heart.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco