October 24, 2025; John 11:1-44

Daily Dose of Hope

October 24, 2025

 

Scripture - John 11:1-44

 

Prayer:  Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe.  Forgive us, for we struggle to keep a focus on you.  Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts.  Help us remember who and whose we are. Holy Spirit, speak to us today.  We want to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.

 

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin John 11.

 

In today's text, we again meet Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  This is a family that Jesus loves dearly. 

 

Mary and Martha definitely know that Jesus had the ability to heal Lazarus.  They request his presence when Lazarus becomes ill.  After he dies, they still want Jesus to come.  Afterall, when we are grieving, we desperately need those in our inner circle who will offer comfort and give us a shoulder to cry on.  The sisters knew that Jesus loved them and their brother, and that alone would have been enough reason for Jesus to come.

 

But it's precisely because he loves this family that we wonder why Jesus didn't rush to their side earlier.  We all know, based on his miracle-working skills, that Jesus could have healed Lazarus with the first sniffle.  But Jesus stayed.  He didn't go anywhere.  It was like he intentionally waited before heading out to go see the siblings.  But we soon learn that it is precisely because Jesus loves them so much that he waits.  He knows that his glory will be revealed in a tremendous way, and it will be one more sign that Jesus is Lord.

 

It isn't surprising that Martha does not hide her disappointment from Jesus.  She goes out to meet him an tell him that if he had only been there, then Lazarus would not have died.  At the same time, we can see in Martha a faith that is quite strong.  Even though her brother is dead, she knows Jesus can still do something.  But will he do it?

 

The short answer is yes.  Jesus has something much bigger planned.  But I do love that we see Jesus' humanity here in a very real way.  When an anguished Mary finally leaves the house to meet Jesus, along with all the mourners, Jesus himself is moved to tears.  Think about it.  Jesus knows that he will raise Lazarus from the dead.  That was his whole reason for delaying his visit.  But when he sees Mary's grief and the tears of the people around him, he is moved to weep as well.

 

When we see grief around us, when people are sobbing, and you can just feel their pain and anguish, it isn't unusual to begin to cry as well.  We can feel the pain of others.  It's called empathy.  Jesus loved Lazarus, he loves Martha, and he loves Mary.  He feels their pain.  He is pained that they are having to go through this.  And he weeps. 

 

But there