The God Who Cries

The God Who Cries

READ: JOHN 11:1-45 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%2011%3A1-45&version=NIV] John 11:35 is famous for being the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.” We can so easily overlook just how powerful those two words are! Throughout our lives, we all face times when we don’t understand. Times when sorrow crushes us, and injustice seems to reign. Times when we ask, “Why, God?” and maybe wonder if He’s even there. Mary and Martha were asking those same questions as they mourned the death of their brother Lazarus. They wept and wailed, and both sisters recognized that if Jesus had only been there, He could have saved their brother. But He hadn’t been there. Jesus knew the reason. He knew the end of the story too—He knew that Lazarus wouldn’t stay in that grave. In verse 11, as Jesus and His disciples set out for Bethany, He foretold that Lazarus would come back to life. And He knew that Lazarus’s resurrection was a foreshadowing of His own death and resurrection— and the resurrection of all His people when He returns. But still, even seeing the big picture, He felt Mary and Martha’s grief—and His own. He wept. We have a God who loves us. He is all-knowing and all-powerful, and even as He sees the good purposes He has for the pain in our lives, He has empathy for us. Even though Jesus knows that He will return to right every wrong and put an end to death, His heart breaks with our hearts. He works all things for our good, but He doesn’t merely look on as we mourn. Jesus didn’t chuckle to Himself knowing their grief was in vain. He came alongside them and wept. What a gift to know that our God feels our pain with us while offering hope and light in the darkness! • Hannah Ruth Johnson • Why do you think Jesus wept, even though He knew Lazarus would come back to life? • Can you think of a time you felt God’s presence and comfort in the midst of grief? What was that like? Consider taking a moment to bring Him any grief you’re feeling today, and imagine Jesus sitting next to you, weeping. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Everything Points to Jesus

READ: MATTHEW 5:17-19; LUKE 24:27, 44-45; JOHN 3:16-17; 5:39-47; 20:31 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%205%3A17-19%3B%20LUKE%2024%3A27%2C%2044-45%3B%20JOHN%203%3A16-17%3B%205%3A39-47%3B%2020%3A31&version=NLT] Have you ever heard that “everything in the Bible points to Jesus”? That seems kind of weird, doesn’t it? How can it be all about someone who isn’t even named until the last quarter of the book? True, the Old Testament is sprinkled with prophecies about the Messiah: it’s easy enough to link those to Jesus Christ. But there’s still a lot that seems irrelevant. Chapters and chapters are filled with the story of the nation of Israel. What does that have to do with Jesus? When we start into the New Testament, Matthew summarizes Jesus’s ancestry. Right off, we see several of the “big names” from the Old Testament—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth, Jesse, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, etc. And that’s our first link! But then, after the Christmas story recounts the events of Jesus’s birth, we get into the life of Christ, with His escape to Egypt, return to Israel, baptism, and temptation in the desert. It looks like we’ve left the Old Testament far behind. But wait! Where have we seen Egypt before? Way back in Genesis, the Israelites escaped to Egypt when there was a famine. Later, in Exodus, God led them out of Egypt through Moses. And then what? They spent forty years in the desert as their children grew up. But even as God sustained His people, they gave in to temptation, rejecting Him and worshiping other gods. And Jesus? After escaping to Egypt from the murderous King Herod, He returns, grows up, and spends forty days in the desert. Coincidence? Maybe not. When the devil tempts Him, every answer Jesus gives comes straight from the book of Deuteronomy. These two Egypt stories link with an Old Testament prophet’s words: “I called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1). Israel was chosen by God to be His representative on Earth, to bless all the people of the world (Genesis 12:1-3). Though Israel fell far short, God didn’t give up. At just the right time, Jesus came. Fully God and fully human, He is the only one who could be God’s flawless representative. Jesus succeeded where Israel had failed, and He gave up His own life so that all who trust in Him could be forgiven and become part of God’s eternal family. It’s one story, culminating in Christ’s resurrection, of God revealing His love to all the world! • Christiana Albrecht • The Bible was written by lots of different people, in lots of different times and places. How does looking through the lens of the gospel—the good news about Jesus—help us see how it all fits together? Can you think of any other times Jesus mirrored or fulfilled the Old Testament? [Jesus said,] “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” John 5:39 (NLT)

Know Your History

READ: JOB 8:8-10; ROMANS 3:21-26; 15:4; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:6-12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOB%208%3A8-10%3B%20ROMANS%203%3A21-26%3B%2015%3A4%3B%201%20CORINTHIANS%2010%3A6-12&version=CSB] When I visited Gettysburg for the first time, my imagination whirred to life. I wanted to know the people who fought there. I wanted to hear their stories, to comprehend their politics, to peek in at their way of life. Because the events that happened on that field directly impact the world I live in now. By understanding the past, I can better understand today. The same can be said of the many events recorded in the Bible. God’s Word isn’t a collection of disjointed stories. It’s composed around a framework of history. So, by looking at biblical chronology (what happened when in the Bible), we are able to place those stories in context, gain a logical understanding of sequence, and better see the full scope of God’s loving plan. Here are some broad historical markers and dates to help you begin lashing individual stories into a sequential history. Not just the narratives, but also the prophets, books of poetry, books of law, and epistles all hang within this outline: • Creation, the Flood, and earliest history: Genesis • Patriarchs of the Israelite people (2000–1550 BC): Genesis • Formation of the Israelite nation (1550–1380 BC): Exodus–Joshua • Leaders of Israel up to the Exile (1380–539 BC): Judges–2 Chronicles • Return from the Exile (539–474 BC): Ezra–Esther • 400 years of silence • Birth of Christ and the early church (AD 5–90): New Testament When we use this framework as a general guide, we’ll notice right away that the Israelite people figure prominently within the story He tells. That’s because He used that particular family line to reach the climax of the Bible (and of history)—the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Through Jesus, people from every tribe and language and nation can know God (Revelation 7:9)! The next time you read from a particular book of the Bible, consider finding out who wrote it and when. Then fit it into this rough history. You’ll soon find random stories fitting together in a comprehensive whole—one redemption story centered on Jesus, the one who came to save us from sin and death and who promises to make all things new. • Michelle Isenhoff • Why can we view Jesus as the focal point of history? (Find out more on our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page.) “All the prophets testify about him [Jesus] that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 (CSB)

We Need to Talk (Part 3)

READ: PROVERBS 15:32; 27:17; EPHESIANS 4:1-6, 15-16 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PROVERBS%2015%3A32%3B%2027%3A17%3B%20EPHESIANS%204%3A1-6%2C%2015-16&version=NIV] Imagine a confrontation between two guy friends from the perspective of the one being confronted. Josh comes up to me and says the dreaded words, “We need to talk.” My stomach turns sour. He tells me I’ve been letting bitterness get in the way of our friendship—and my faith. Guilt starts to seep in. He has a point. At first, I was just angry because he started dating a girl I liked—even though I told him I was fine with them dating. But after a while, my anger became resentment. I hated seeing them as a couple, so I cut them out. The problem is, Josh was the friend who took me to church on Sundays. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve prayed too. Josh’s words are so gentle. He doesn’t seem angry. In fact, it still seems like he cares a lot about me. When he’s done talking, I take a deep breath and say, “I’m sorry. Forgive me?” It’s difficult to admit we’ve been wrong, especially when someone confronts us with the truth. The important thing to realize is that confrontation is often done from a place of love. True friends care about us and our spiritual wellbeing. When we’re tempted to get defensive about our sin, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to restore a posture of humility and repentance in us. Even if a friend doesn’t approach the topic as well as they should, we can remind ourselves that their intentions are probably good—and that we’re all broken people who need Jesus. When we remember that Jesus has made the way for us to be unified through His death and resurrection, we can have true peace—even during hard conversations (Philippians 4:1-9). • Naomi Zylstra • How would you want to react if a friend confronted you about a sin they noticed in your life? • Whenever we realize we’re struggling with a particular sin, Jesus wants us to come to Him. He is eager to remind us that He has already secured our forgiveness on the cross, and that He loves us with an unchanging love. And, through the Holy Spirit, He helps us repent of sin and grow in righteousness. Consider taking some time to talk to Him about any sins that come to mind. (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:9–2:1) As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

The Confrontation (Part 2)

READ: MATTHEW 18:15-17; GALATIANS 5:13–6:2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%2018%3A15-17%3B%20GALATIANS%205%3A13%E2%80%936%3A2&version=NIV] So now that you’ve decided to confront your Christian friend about their sin, how do you do it well? According to the Bible, one important part of confrontation is gentleness. In Galatians 6:1, Paul uses the Greek word katartizō to talk about setting a person right, and that same word can also be used to describe setting a joint. This gentle process hurts, but ultimately it moves the person toward correction and healing. Therefore, when it’s time to confront someone, approach them with Spirit-filled gentleness motivated by love (Galatians 5:22-23). In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus lays out steps for the confrontation. First, you should talk to your friend alone. This prevents shaming or embarrassing them in front of others. Plus, it can be easier to talk about tough topics with only two of you there. If the person doesn’t listen the first time, bring another friend. This can help show the person it’s not just you who thinks their behavior is an issue. If the problem persists after that, it’s time to call in church leadership. It’s okay to take things to a higher authority and admit something is too much for you to handle. Hopefully the person will come to their senses and repent, and you can pray for this all throughout the process. Remember, as believers, we belong to the family of God. Jesus Christ has freed us from the power of sin and death, so we no longer have to say yes to sin (Titus 2:11-14). Therefore, we have the privilege and joy of helping each other along in the journey of becoming more like Christ (Hebrews 10:19-25; James 5:16-20). • Naomi Zylstra • Can you think of a time someone showed you gentleness? What did they say or do, and how did they say or do it? • What would be difficult for you about confronting a brother or sister in Christ? • As Christians, why is it important for us to support each other on the journey of following Jesus? Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Galatians 6:1 (NIV)