Questions
11a. Describe the sickest you’ve ever been.
11b. On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you will live eternally?
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What's happening in John 11?
vv 1-16 The death of Lazarus
vv 17-27 I am the resurrection and the life
vv 28-37 Jesus weeps
vv 38-44 Jesus raises Lazarus
vv 45-57 The plot to kill Jesus
6 comments:
11a, The sickest I have ever been is not in my conscious memory. I was a preemie born at 6 months - 66 years ago when no technology even was available to let my mother know she was carrying twins. I was bleeding internally and eventually precipitated the premature birth. My brother was first born and content to stay snuggled in the womb! The doctors said there was no way I would live - gave me three complete blood transfusion in the delivery room and one more later. We were put in incubators for 2 months. I am not quite a "Lazarus woman" but in those doctors' eyes a real miracle took place. In time I came to realize a miracle definitely took place.
11b. Make that a HUGE "10".
11a. When we had the world’s worst virus we passed around our family last year.
11b. 10!
11a.
Great story, Lynn! Wow--I imagine your mother never had a bigger surprise than that one. Yes, quite a miracle that you and your brother both made it.
My answer is the same as Jeff's. He and Jenna got this horrible virus in March '08, and within 24 hours, I got it, too. The absolute worst I’ve ever felt. It was fast and furious. It’s the only time in my life that I voluntarily tried to make myself throw up so I could feel better. :-) Once I got better, I did feel like I was Lazarus coming back to life.
But good came out of it—while I still dread vomiting as a horrible, horrible thing, I’m less scared of it now. But still, if you have a virus, I WILL avoid you. :-)
11b.
10 for me, too!
Lynn, since you grew up in the Catholic tradition, I’m curious if it was normal to feel so confident about salvation. In my section of Christian tradition, giving a “10” answer would have been akin to boasting that you think you’re holier-than-thou. It took me several years to realize how crazy that is.
Our salvation is not about how holy WE are, but how holy CHRIST is—and he’s a perfect 10! I’m saved by HIS righteousness, not my own. It’s very liberating to live under grace instead of law, and it also opens up my heart to love Christ more.
I heard a great story today about good advice versus good news...I’ll try to remember to tell it later...
Lisa, I did grow up in the Catholic tradition and during those years I would not have been so fast to say "10" on knowing of my salvation. During my generation's church years, so much emphasis was put onto the negative of a "punishing God" who required confession every week to be cleansed of sins and it had to be confessing to a priest. There was not a lot of joy in the teachings but I always felt very close to Jesus.
I stepped away from the Catholic church in the early 80s because I had so many Christian friends who loved the Bible and were encouraged in their churches to have personal study and I wanted that - and over these years I have come so far in understanding our righteousness through Christ and not through our works - or avoiding sin. For sure I believe and understand the importance of confession and repentance but "grace" as I understand it now was not something I heard growing up.
Interesting that for now I have returned to worship at a Catholic church but I am not content there in terms of the teaching or lack of teaching as I got so used to firm Biblical teaching and study not a ten minute sermon! The church I attend has Bible studies - for women! Now some are being offered for men and women. I've had some interesting discussions when it comes to "salvation". There are some others there who have been involved outside the Catholic church with Bible studies so I am no a lone ranger but I find it sad to discuss a number of times the salvation issue with one woman who really is not assured if she will be in heaven or not and that is all because of her upbringing, not what we are told in Scripture. I am at a point with her where I just tease her and tell her she we are going to meet up - in heaven! She believes all the right things but has not connected them in her heart where i know that Jesus has connected them. She is an elderly lady [ more elderly than me! ] so she is so set in the ways of her generation.
As I am getting stronger I am hoping to go somewhere else where I can get some teaching; perhaps stay tuned in to the Bible studies as I think God has me there for a reason. I need to get fed somewhere so I am giving out from plenty and not depletion.
I'll look forward to your story when it comes to you! You know you can find me hanging around a number of spots so when the remembrance hits you...let me know!
L.
Lynn,
I appreciate your openness, and I pray that you’ll be able to find a good fit with people you can both minister to and be ministered by.
The elderly lady you mentioned sounds like my grandmother. She was a godly woman who loved the Lord, but never felt “safe” and was afraid to die for fear she hadn’t been good enough to make it to heaven. Very sad. I’d liked to have seen her face when she DID show up there after all! :-)
I finally transcribed Doug Wilson's "Good advice vs Good news" story, as retold by John Piper.
It's here.
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