Lent Day 31: The Mourners

Pause

Take a few moments to practice gratitude today. In prayer or in your journal, thank God for specific people, circumstances, truths and things you are thankful for.

Read & Journal

Read John 11:38-45. Mull over what you’ve read with these journal prompts:

• What do you learn about Jesus’ character from His interactions in this passage? About Jesus’ mission or purpose?

• How do you see Jesus entering into human brokenness in today’s verses?

• Verse 37 ends with the people questioning Jesus’ power. When have you questioned Jesus’ power? His character? His ability to act in your life? What did you learn from that experience?

• Underline the phrase “so they will believe you sent me” in verse 42. How is this a mission statement of sorts for Jesus’ ministry?

Ponder

In these verses, Jesus’ interactions focus on the people and His Father. Still angry, He approaches the tomb and prays aloud so that the crowd of mourners gathered there can hear. Jesus had raised people from the dead before and while all of those instances were invitations to believe Jesus was the Messiah, He wanted to be sure that the people understood what He was asking of them.

Jesus wasn’t looking for fans; He wasn’t interested in fairweather followers. He wanted believers who understood His mission and purpose. In this interaction, He wanted to make His mission and purpose very clear. The crowd had heard Jesus ask His rhetorical question in verse 40: Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe? They had helped to physically roll the stone away. They had watched His interaction with Mary and heard His prayer to His Father. And verse 45 tells us that many who saw the miracle believed.

Jesus isn’t calling us to be fans or fairweather followers who trust Him only when He’s working in ways we understand or desire. His mission is to draw people to Himself, people who rest in His power, authority and character. That doesn’t mean we understand everything He does. It doesn’t mean that doubts and fears don’t ever enter our minds and hearts. Keep in mind that Jesus asked the doubting mourners to help Him roll the stone away. Jesus asked the doubters to be a part of the miracle, even if they didn’t recognize it at the time.

That flickering flame of faith in your heart, even in the midst of dark nights of doubt or fear, is a miracle, ignited by the Holy Spirit. In times of doubt, fear, confusion, and uncertainty, don’t turn away. Trust His character. Trust His mission. Believe. And ask Him to open your doubting eyes to His power and authority in your life and your specific situation. Don’t give up before the miracle happens.