Devos for Dec. 21st

Scripture
Today's reading is John 10:1-21 and 11:17-44
Observation/Application
As I was reading in chapter 11, I was struck with the emotions of Jesus. I think so often, we forget that Jesus was not only fully God, but he was fully man. When Jesus saw that Mary and Martha were so broken over their brother's death, it says that Jesus was "deeply moved in his spirit." He felt their pain. He saw their sadness and he too was broken. I stopped at John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible, and read it a few times. It simply says, "Jesus wept." That was so powerful for me. God knows my pain. He understands what I'm feeling. When I hurt, He hurts too.

Ok, so going back a little in chapter 11, verse 21 and verse 32, Mary and Martha both said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." How many of us can relate to feeling this way? How many times have we told God similar things? Many times through my life I have questioned God and said to him, "Why weren't you there?" "Why didn't you do anything to stop this awful thing?" I went back to the beginning of this chapter to get the full picture of this story. When Jesus first heard news that Lazarus was sick, he said "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (v.4)  It says that after Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed in the town where he was for 2 more days. Maybe this is why Mary and Martha were so upset that Jesus wasn't there sooner to save their brother. Its not that Jesus thought that going to his friend's bedside was unimportant. I often have felt as though maybe bad things have happened in my life, to myself or those I am close to, because God simply didn't care that much. This isn't the case though. Jesus knew that through this, God would be glorified. I can look at my own life and see that God has taken things that were bad, and he used those times to show his goodness. He has taken pain in my life and has redeemed it. He has used different things, different experiences that I've gone through, and has allowed me to be a part of him using it to show his goodness and redeeming power to others. 

Upon Martha telling Jesus that had he been there sooner, her brother would still be alive, Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha responded by saying that she knew he would rise again in the resurrection on the last day but Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life." (V.5) Jesus didn't say that he gives resurrection and life, he said that he IS the resurrection and the life. We don't have to wait for the promises of God to be fulfilled. He is everything right now. In our brokenness, He IS our comforter. We don't have to wait for him to bring peace, He IS peace.

What are some ways in which God has redeemed painful experiences in your life “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it?”  Are there any hopeless situations in your life through which Jesus may be glorified?

Prayer
Lord, use my life's woes and troubles to be a light for others in their hard times. Be glorified in my life and alow me to see that you are my everything, my peace, comfort, healing and salvation. YOU ARE. Help me to see that you answer my prayers in your timing not mine. Just as Mary and Martha would have wanted their brother to have never died to begin with, but you answered that prayer in your timing. Lord draw me closer to you, so that I can see you clearer. I love you father. In Jesus name, amen.