John 11 – The Resurrection and The Life

Dec23

Good day everyone, and welcome back to our journey through the book of John! 😊 Today we’re diving into chapter 11, and my prayer is that as we reflect together, God’s Word will bring encouragement, guidance, and fresh revelation for our daily walk.

John 11 opens with a desperate situation: Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, had become severely ill. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus because they knew He had the power to heal and deliver. They believed that if Jesus came quickly, their brother would not die. But what Jesus did next is what truly caught my attention.

“But when Jesus heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.’ So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days.” (John 11:4–6 NLT)

When Jesus heard the news, He immediately declared the purpose of the situation, this sickness would not end in death but would reveal God’s glory. This is the second time we see Jesus say something like this. The first was in John 9, when He said the man’s blindness existed so that the works of God could be displayed in him. Once again, Jesus shows us that our trials, challenges, and painful moments can become platforms for God’s power and glory to be revealed.

But what really stands out is verses 5–6. Even though Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for two more days. At first glance, it makes no sense. If He truly loved them, why delay? Why wait? Why not rush to their aid? As our Gen Z folks would say — make it make sense! But after reflecting, I realized something important: Sometimes God does not show up when we want Him to because the timing isn’t right. What feels like delay to us is divine timing to Him. So, can we still trust in His goodness and love for us even when he doesn’t show up according to our own timing? Remember, He is never late, because He operates outside of time itself.

“A single day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a single day.” (2 Peter 3:8 TPT)

To Mary and Martha, Jesus was very late. Lazarus had already died and been buried for four days by the time Jesus arrived. But to Jesus, it was the perfect moment for them to experience Him not only as healer… but as the Resurrection and the Life.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you’ve prayed, believed, and done everything you know to do — yet it feels like Jesus hasn’t shown up. It feels like the situation has already “died.” But I want to encourage you today: Jesus is still the Resurrection and the Life. His timing is always perfect. He will step in, and when He does, everything changes.

James 1:2–4 reminds us that trials produce maturity in us:

‘Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. ‘ (James 1:2-4 NLT)

And 1 Corinthians 10:13 reassures us that God will never allow us to face more than we can bear, and He always provides a way through.

‘We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. ‘ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

Mary and Martha eventually saw the glory of God. Jesus stood before Lazarus’s tomb and called him back to life — four days after he had died. A situation that looked completely hopeless became a testimony of God’s power.

So let me ask you:
What situation in your life seems “dead”?
What have you given up on because you think Jesus didn’t show up on time?

Take it back to Him today. Invite the Resurrection and the Life into it. He asked Mary and Martha, “Do you believe?” and when they said yes, they saw their brother rise again. The same Jesus who raised Lazarus is still working today. Don’t give up — believe, trust, and wait for Him. He is always on time. Never late.

I pray that God will give us the grace to trust Him deeply, to remain confident in His love even during difficult moments, and to hold on to the truth that Jesus ,the Resurrection and the Life, is still in the business of raising what seems dead.

Thank you so much for joining me in our study of John 11. I’d love to hear from you — what stood out to you most in this chapter? Share your thoughts in the comments so we can continue growing together in faith.

John 10 – The Good Shepherd

Dec13

Good day everyone, and welcome back to our journey through the book of John! 😊 Today we’re diving into chapter 10, and my prayer is that as we reflect together, God’s Word will bring encouragement, guidance, and fresh revelation for our daily walk.

This chapter opens with Jesus speaking to the people about the Good Shepherd. Through this illustration, He reveals who He is and how He relates to those who belong to Him. As I read verses 3–5, a few statements about the shepherd and the sheep stood out strongly to me:

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
(John 10:3–5, NLT)

From this passage, three key truths about the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep emerge. First, the sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice and follow him. Second, the shepherd calls his sheep by name and personally leads them out. Third, the sheep refuse to follow the voice of a stranger because they do not know it.

Many of the people listening did not fully understand what Jesus meant, so He went on to explain how this picture of the shepherd directly pointed to Himself. Throughout this chapter, Jesus makes several powerful “I AM” statements, one of them being in verse 11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NLT)

Unlike a hired hand who runs away at the first sign of danger, the Good Shepherd stays. He loves and cares for the sheep so deeply that He is willing to lay down His life for them. This is exactly what Jesus did for us. He gave everything, enduring the cross, despising the shame, and bearing unimaginable pain so that we could be reconciled to the Father and have eternal life. He knew His sacrifice was the only way to restore our relationship with God permanently.

Jesus reinforces this truth again in verse 14:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” (John 10:14, NLT)

Jesus truly is the Good Shepherd. He knows us by name, leads us intentionally, goes ahead of us, and steers us away from danger. At this point, I want us to pause and ponder – Is Jesus truly the Shepherd of our lives? Have we learned to recognize His voice? Do we know Him, and are we known by Him? We learn His voice through consistent fellowship—through prayer, studying His Word, and walking closely with Him. When we know His voice, we are also able to recognize the voice of a stranger and run from it.

Later in verses 27–29, Jesus reiterates the security and assurance we have as His sheep:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27–29, NLT)

It is not enough to simply hear or recognize His voice—we must also follow it. Obedience is key to thriving as His sheep. When we follow Him, we walk in eternal life and security. Nothing and no one, not even the enemy can snatch us out of the hands of our Good Shepherd. That truth alone should bring us great comfort today.

King David understood this deeply, which is why Psalm 23 remains one of my favourite psalms. David knew that as long as the Lord was his Shepherd, he lacked nothing. He experienced rest, restoration, guidance, protection, comfort, and the overflowing goodness and mercy of God. These same benefits are available to us today when we listen to and follow the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd

As I wrap up today’s reflection, I want to leave us with the words of a song I learned many years ago in Sunday school, titled Shepherd of My Soul by Integrity Hossana Music. Its lyrics beautifully capture the heart posture of surrender and trust that this chapter invites us into:

“Shepherd of my soul I give you full control, wherever you may lead I will follow.

I have made the choice to listen for your voice, wherever you may lead I will go.

Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle stream, the shepherd of my soul is by my side.

Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep,

The shepherd of my soul will be my guide.” (Song by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music and Martin J. Nystrom ‧ 1992)

Here’s YouTube link to song – https://youtu.be/D6HoFektajY?si=KWwB6uH_00FphYV1

I pray the words of this song will truly be the longing of our hearts today and always, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Thank you so much for joining me in our study of John 10. I’d love to hear from you—what stood out to you the most in this chapter? Share your reflections in the comments so we can continue growing together.