Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, “Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, “Where did you put him?”
“Master, come and see,” they said.
Now Jesus wept.
The Jews said, “Look how deeply he loved him.”
John 11: 32 – 36
(The Message)
“You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26
(The Message)
Prayer Points
Thank God for blessings in our lives and for strength to cope with loss.
Ask God to show you someone who is suffering and needs your prayers today. Consider praying for this person on a longer term basis.
Pray for the disabled, ill and bereaved: for comfort, healing and that Jesus would touch their lives – perhaps through a Christian neighbour or friend.
Ask God to encourage those who care for others in our communities.
DAY 13 : LOSS
To lose something very dear to us causes great pain. We may lose jobs, health, relationships, hopes, dreams and loved ones.
In John 11 Jesus receives news from two friends of the imminent death of their brother and his friend Lazarus. Despite the emergency, Jesus waits for two days before traveling to visit his dying friend and by the time he arrives Lazarus is long dead. It was hard for his sisters, Mary and Martha, not to ask Jesus why he had not come sooner. The same reproach often rises from our hearts – why Lord? ...If only it could have been different.
Our losses may not always be met with the same powerful miracle as experienced by Lazarus (see John 11:43-44), but we can always take two powerful truths from this account as we pray in the face of loss. First: there is a time for mourning our losses and hurts; Jesus mourns with us during those times. The pain and imperfection of this world hurts and angers him too. Second: ultimately we do not lose. Jesus promises us that even though we may lose our life, we will live – now and in eternity.
God draws close to those who are grieving. Just as we hurt so our cities are hurting places. We can pray that God will be close to us and those around us as we mourn our loss. ‘Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4), Jesus said. Jesus’ heart was for those who suffered physically, mentally and emotionally. He demonstrated love and care and healed those who came to him. We too can ask for love and care. And we can ask, right now, in the face of hopeless loss, for his resurrection hope and power.
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Pray
* Pray for your ‘big issue’
* Pray for your ‘three friends’
* Pray for a new wave of revival.