John 12:1-11: Response to Lazarus' resurrection

Dear TVCC Students,

It is always such a joy to worship with you all on Wednesday evening. It encourages us so much to see you intimately worshipping Jesus. Last night Sonny taught on John 12 and delivered to us some great nuggets of truth to dwell on. Here is a recap...

John 12:1-3: Mary, Martha and Lazarus are all worshipping Jesus in these passages but are worshipping Him in different ways. Sometimes the Lord wants us to glorify Him by serving others, sometimes He wants us to just recline with Him and listen, and sometimes He wants us to literally give something costly to Him as an act of worship. 

Q: Do you spend time worshipping Jesus in different ways? There are so many ways to show Jesus that He is our hearts greatest desire. How have you shown Him that this week? In what way of worship do you feel closest with Jesus (He created us all differently so it can be different for us all)?

John 12:3: Mary anoints Jesus with perfume that was about a years salary. That would be like us giving Jesus in worship something around $50,000. Mary was showing Jesus in a physical way that He is worth more to her than even a year's salary.

Q: Are you willing to give to the Lord anything He would ask of you as an act of worship? Is He really more important to you than anything in this life?

John 12:3 Mary anointing Jesus with her hair was an act of vulnerable and intimate worship. In those days only a husband saw the wife's hair. Mary was showing Jesus in a physical way that she was fully His. The Lord already knew her fully and she was just responding in a way that demonstrated that her heart was fully His.

Q: Are you living a life of complete honesty and vulnerability with the Lord or are you trying to hide areas of your life from Him? Remember that He already knows you fully but desires for you to realize this and live in complete intimacy with Him.

John 12:4-6: Judas responds with disgust at Mary's worship of Jesus. Judas had always been with Jesus for the wrong reasons and again he is angry because he would not benefit from this situation. Though Judas was always around Jesus and "heavenly" things, his heart was always hard and he was continually trying to do what was best for himself, not the kingdom of God.

Q: Are you like Judas? What are your motives for doing "Christian" things ( ie. going to church or serving others)? Are you genuinely trying to honor Jesus in all that you do or are you trying to make a name for yourself? Just as with Judas, one day ALL of our motives will be exposed. We encourage you to check your motives now and ask for forgiveness from the Lord where your motives have been wrong (and help from the Spirit to love Jesus with pure motives).

John 12:7-8: Jesus responds by saying that Mary was doing the best thing with her time and money. She gave herself fully to the Lord and He was pleased with her. We need to continually be seeking to know from the Lord how He would have us worship Him and then act accordingly. He wants our all and that looks different for each of us.

Q: What does it look like for you to give your all to loving Jesus? Are you doing that?

John 12:9-11: The crowd was so fickle. After this event some went to follow Jesus and some sided with the Pharisees in wanting Jesus dead. Following the crowd is never a good place to be. Sometimes the crowds were shouting "Hosanna!" to Jesus and then shortly later were shouting "CRucify!" If we are just "following" Jesus because others around us are, we will never fully know intimacy with Him. We must have a PERSONAL relationship with Him where we are willing to love Him even if the crowd does not.

Q: Are you easily swayed by the crowds or is your faith rooted in the Lord? Are you willing to "go against the crowd" if the Lord calls you to?

Dear students,
We pray that last night was encouraging to your souls and that you were able to engage with the Lord through worship and teaching. We pray that you will meditate on John 12 this week and ask the Lord to change any parts of your life that He desires to change that you may walk with him in a vulnerable and intimate way. We love you and are praying for you!

WIth hope,
Sonny and Casi

John 11: Jesus raises Lazarus

TVCC Students,

It was so great to worship with you guys again last night. We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed time with family and friends. Last night Sonny taught on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It was encouraging to be reminded that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Nothing is more important than intimacy with Him. Here are a few highlights to meditate on.

~John 11:1-6: When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed 2 days longer in his current city instead of rushing to Lazarus. Jesus knew what was in store for Lazarus and had bigger plans than just healing Him. We have to remember that the Lord's timing is not always what we envisioned. God's glory should be our highest aim and in this case, healing Lazarus' sickness immediately was not best for God's glory.

Q: How are you doing at trusting in the Father's timing for things? Are you content to say "not my will but Your's, Lord" or are your constantly trying to control things? Remember that His ways are higher than ours and we find our rest in trusting Him.

~John 11:7-15: The disciples get a little frustrated with Jesus for wanting to go near Jerusalem where people are waiting to kill Him. When confronted with that, Jesus reminds them that His time is appointed to Him by the Father and He has a certain plan that He must accomplish. No one can thwart the plans of God and Jesus knew that fully. He was confident that it was not His time to die but in obedience He must go to raise Lazarus. Eventually He would be led to die but that too was all in the Father's Sovereign plan and in His perfect timing.

Q: Do you trust God's plan for your life? It might not be a glorious plan in the world's eyes but every child of the Lord is called to bring glory to the Lord by their life. How are you doing at remembering that on a day to day basis? We do not know when we will be called home to the Lord and it is good for us to remember that each day we are called to reflect His glory to the world.

~John 11:16: Though Thomas is often called "doubting Thomas," he shows great faith and courage in this passage when he acknowledges that he is ready to die with Jesus. All great people of faith have both courageous moments and "doubtful" ones.

Q: Have you felt yourself being courageous in the faith lately or doubtful? Remember that the Lord is calling us to be strong and courageous and live for Him. Our lives are not our own and we should be willing to lay them down for Him. This might mean forsaking things such as our popularity or even getting rid of damaging relationships if the Lord calls us to do this. He has to be the things we LOVE most. How are you doing at living a life that is completely surrendered to Him?

~John 11:17: Jesus made sure that Lazarus was in the tomb for four days so that no one would be able to explain away the miracle that was about to happen.

~John 11:18-27: Jesus tells Martha (who ran out to meet Him regarding her brother) that He is the Resurrection and Life. Jesus is EVERYTHING. 

Q: Do our lives say that we believe that JESUS IS LIFE or do our lives say that we believe something else (girlfriend/football/soccer/school/money) is life?

~John 11:28-35: Jesus came to where Lazarus was and became angry that the sting of death had come upon His friend (his spirit was troubled to the point of tears). Jesus came to ultimately defeat death and Lazarus was just a small glimpse of what was to come. Jesus is LIFE!

~John 11:36-44: Jesus called for the tomb to be opened though it had been four days since Lazarus' death. He shouts to Lazarus... "Lazarus... OUTSIDE NOW!!" What an incredibly bold command. How powerful. Jesus shows the people that He is more powerful than death! Lazarus is returned to his family  completely- all to bring glory to God!

Q: Have you trusted that Jesus is LIFE!? Do realize the sting of death that we all deserve as we are born sinners? Have you trusted in the death and resurrection and LIFE of Jesus on your behalf?

Q: If you are a follower of Jesus, do you realize, like Lazarus, that both good and bad things in your life are all opportunities for the glory of God to be displayed? How do you respond to the difficult times in your life- do you ask the Lord to give you strength to bring Him glory even when your  life is difficult?

Dear students,

We love you so much and pray that you are able to meditate on the story of Lazarus and how his death and new life brought glory to Jesus- The RESURRECTION and LIFE. We pray that you will meditate on the Word of God this week and spend time with Him in prayer. Remember that He desires intimacy with His children and wants to use our lives to declare His glory. Again, we love you and are praying for you.

With hope,

Sonny and Casi