SESSION 4 OUR NEED FOR HOPE The Point Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever. The Bible Meets Life Sometimes we feel our situation is hopeless, but Jesus resurrection gives us hope for ultimate victory victory over death. While death is inevitable, this life does not have to be our final reality. We can live again in complete joy and fulfillment. Jesus shows us how. The Passage John 11:17-27 40 SESSION 4
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? John 11:17-27 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 17 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 19 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house. 20 Then Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn t have died. 21 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You. 22 23 Your brother will rise again, Jesus told her. Martha said, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 24 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 25 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die ever. Do you believe this? 26 Yes, Lord, she told Him, I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world. 27 The Setting Throughout the Gospel of John, there had been growing opposition to Jesus from the religious establishment. Apart from the overwhelmingly significant teaching that Jesus is the resurrection and the life that comes in John 11, the contextual importance of the chapter comes in the fact that the death of Lazarus, his resuscitation, and the ensuing fallout over the event led the religious authorities to definitively determine Jesus must die (v. 53). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 41
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) GET INTO THE STUDY ENGAGE: Begin the session with one or more of the Engage Options on the next page. (This is optional. If you d rather skip the Engage Options, just begin with the first discussion question.) DISCUSS: Ask students, What do you look forward to when life is hard? GUIDE: Call attention to The Point. Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever. Explain that this is the key to keep in mind throughout the session. ITEM 1 Leader Pack: Consider showing students the Unit 1 poster More than Enough poster at this time. SAY: Certain situations in life may seem hopeless, but Jesus resurrection provides hope for ultimate victory victory over death. While death is inevitable, it doesn t have to be our final reality. We can live again; we can experience an abundant life forever through a relationship with Jesus. READ: Guide a student to read the following (p.36): Have you ever seen a truly committed fan? (Like the guy who paints his face with his team s colors and cheers for hours in the freezing weather.) Millions of people wait all year for opening day, hoping that their team will be victorious this year. Inevitably, as performances slip, games are lost, or injuries occur, hope fades until the next season. We can joke about those situations, but losing hope in other areas of our lives is much more serious. Have you ever lost hope in... Your future? God s love for you? God s desire for you to make a difference? Hearing from God? DO: Read or summarize the following: Sometimes we feel our situation is hopeless, but Jesus resurrection gives us hope for ultimate victory victory over death. While death is inevitable, this life does not have to be our final reality. We can live again in complete joy and fulfillment. Jesus shows us how. 42 SESSION 4
Engage Options YY Lead with Action Lead students to write presidential speeches on how they would bring hope to their community. Give them three minutes to prepare their speeches and then lead each student to share with the group. Point out some of thoughts on hope that were found in the speeches and allow the class to brainstorm ways more hope can be brought to the communities. Say, We all have different ideas about what brings hope to our world. Some people think hope is found in promising something that will help others, but true hope is found in actions. Jesus brought hope not just through His words, but through His actions. YY Lead with Atmosphere OPTION: If students are not familiar with presidential speeches, give them three minutes to draw up a plan for bringing hope to the world. Say, We all have different ideas about what brings hope to our world. Some people think hope is found in promising something that will help others, but true hope is found in actions. Jesus brought hope not just through His words, but through His actions. Find some photos of slogans that seem to show hope. Place these photos in places where students can see them as they enter the room. Begin by asking what the students think and feel when they see these pictures and read the quotes. Say, Hope comes in various ways. Sharing hope with someone usually provides encouragement. Take a look at John 11 to see how Jesus offered hope during a time of need. YY Lead with Media Search the Internet for the music video for Hope In Front of Me by Danny Gokey. Provide the lyrics for students to read as the video plays. After the video say, No matter how tough life gets, you will be OK because there is hope in front of us, which provides light so we can see. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. OPTION: Guide students to spend a few minutes searching for a video, slogan, logo, or speech that gives them hope. Lead them to share their findings with the group and explain why it inspires them to be a better athlete, person, friend, etc. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 43
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever. When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn t have died. Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You. Your brother will rise again, Jesus told her. Martha said, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. JOHN 11:17-24 JOHN 11:17-24 DISCUSS: Ask students, How does the way we respond to tragedy reflect our expectations of God? READ: Enlist a volunteer to read John 11:17-24. GUIDE: Direct a few students to read the following (p.38): Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were friends and followers of Jesus. When Lazarus became sick, his sisters asked for Jesus to come immediately, but He delayed in coming. He arrived four days after Lazarus had died. There are two important reasons to understand the timing here: YY Jewish myths taught that a person s spirit hovered around the body for three days before departing to the afterlife. Lazarus was thought to be completely dead on the fourth day. Now, now one would question the power and authority of Christ s miracle. YY Martha believed that Jesus could keep Lazarus alive, but she did not believe that Jesus could raise him after death. Jesus simply said to Martha that her brother would rise again. Jesus clearly spoke hope to Martha, but she struggled to see Christ s power beyond her circumstances and pain. She had no expectation that Jesus would do anything more to help Lazarus. Martha believed God would one day show His power over death to the world, but she didn t realize that He was already doing that through Jesus. Martha had lost her hope in the situation, even though she hadn t lost her faith in Jesus. Martha probably believed that, at the end of time, everything would work out for the best. Perhaps she believed in some sort of life after death, based on a human understanding of right and wrong. Sadly, this belief lacks substance when tested. It brings false hope, which really is no hope at all. SAY: Jesus has something better in mind for His followers and for you. DO: Direct students to answer the following prompt: List three problems you need to trust God to handle His way. 44 SESSION 4
Commentary JOHN 11:17-24 The account of Lazarus, recorded only by John, was the crucial event preceding the death of Jesus. After receiving news of Lazarus s illness, Jesus delayed two days before proposing to go to Judea. Because of the danger awaiting in Jerusalem, His disciples were amazed He would go near there (11:5-8). We learn Jesus delayed so He could work God s glory for the sake of the disciples faith (11:15). [Verse 17] As Jesus understood, Lazarus was already dead. When they arrived in Bethany. Four days may be significant if later Jewish tradition can be traced back into the first century. Rabbis entertained the idea that the spirit of the deceased hovered near the body for three days, seeking to return. Four days dead in later rabbinic tradition was really dead, without any chance even for a highly unusual and inexplicable return to life. [Verses 18-20] Bethany is only two miles away from Jerusalem, a crucial detail, because numerous Jerusalem friends and relatives easily could come to comfort them about their brother. Also, a Jerusalem crowd to witness the miracle meant a quick return of this information to Jesus opponents in Jerusalem. Since Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. That Mary remained seated in the house is not unusual. Jewish custom was to mourn and to receive mourners in a seated position, so someone had to remain at the house as a matter of social necessity. [Verses 21-23] When Martha met Jesus, she noted, Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn t have died. Martha appears fully prepared to accept that Jesus could have healed a sick person. That Jesus could do something with a dead person, however, would have stretched anyone s belief beyond its limits. Yet, even at that moment, Martha was ready to believe that whatever Jesus asked God, God will give You. There is a double meaning in Jesus response to Martha s sadness. Jesus was referring to the miracle He was about to perform. TIP: Help students understand that just because we don t understand a situation or outcome, doesn t mean that God is unfaithful to us. [Verse 24] Martha, however, naturally thought Jesus was referring to what had become common belief among many Jews: I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. The point hardly needs making that this doctrine of the resurrection is central in the teaching of the New Testament. The reason for this is clear: resurrection was central to the teaching of Jesus. Because the doctrine is so clear in the New Testament, we may have a difficult time understanding Martha s confusion over what Jesus meant. While clear to us, we need to be reminded that we are looking at the question from the perspective of Easter already having happened. We have a huge advantage that Martha did not. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 45
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever. JOHN 11:25-26a Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die ever. JOHN 11:25-26a DISCUSS: Ask students, How does Jesus statements in these verses create hope? READ: Enlist a volunteer to read John 11:25-26a. SAY: Read and summarize the following: Jesus made His boldest and most direct claim about His power over life and death by saying that He is the resurrection and the life. 1. I am the resurrection. Jesus did not say, I can resurrect someone. He said, I am the resurrection. He overcame death by going through it Himself and coming out alive on the other side. 2. I am the life. Jesus established His power to give life not just quantity of life, but quality of life. In Him is full and meaningful life for eternity. READ: Guide a student to read the following (p.39): Jesus said the way to access resurrection and life is to believe in Him. Believing Jesus existed is not enough, we must believe in who He says He is. Confessing our sin, asking Christ to forgive us, and placing total trust in Him with a genuine heart is the way to step into full life now and forever. Jesus reinforced His power over death and His ability to give life by repeating these truths: YY He said the person who believes in Him will live, even if he dies. YY He then said something that might seem contradictory: anyone who believes in Him will never die. But physical death does not prevent us from experiencing eternal life. Life for a Christ follower continues in a glorified, resurrected physical body (1 Cor. 15:35-57). In Christ, you can have a meaningful life now and an eternal life in the future. 46 SESSION 4
Commentary JOHN 11:25-26a [Verse 25] Jesus made a stunning declaration in response to Martha s acknowledgment of the general belief in the resurrection of the dead: I am the resurrection and the life. We have to allow for how shocking this statement would have been to Martha. No one ever had spoken of resurrection in this manner. No one ever had said resurrection was a person. Resurrection traditionally was just an event to happen out in the future that God would accomplish. Resurrection tied to a person was a radical and revolutionary thought. TIP: Plan an outreach event that focuses on helping those outside the group. Make sure sharing the gospel is a part of your plan. Notice three things about Jesus statement. First, Jesus spoke in the present tense. He did not say I will be the resurrection and the life but I am the resurrection and the life. The end-time event Martha anticipated was indeed a future occurrence. But with Jesus, there was already a present reality to the resurrection and the life. Believers do not have to wait until the end time to experience the eternal life implied by resurrection and life. Second, Jesus is the resurrection. This conveys to us the truth that Jesus, even prior to His own death and resurrection, had the power over death necessary to negate death. Lazarus was dead, but death was no match for Jesus, the resurrection. Third, Jesus is the life. Though closely associated with resurrection, life is yet distinct from it. Resurrection reflects power over death, but life reflects the quality of that existence. In the upper room just a few chapters later, Jesus would again emphasize to the disciples that I am the life (John 14:6). He had already told His followers that He had come to give life and to give it with great abundance (10:10). Those who follow Him have that resurrection and life from the moment they trust Him for salvation. Jesus then put this radical truth on a radical basis: The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Resurrection to eternal life does not just happen. Such resurrection is founded on believing faith. But with that faith, even death does not end life. [Verse 26a] Jesus added a strong affirmation to His teaching. He claimed all who believe in Him will never die ever. Jesus has said this before (John 8:51). This affirmation is expressed strongly in the original Greek. The ever strategically placed at the end of the statement accurately reflects the original language, which is the emphatic double negative in Greek. The stunning reality is that if resurrection faith is more about a person than a point in time, this truth can be appropriated now. Jesus offers us the hope of a new life now. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 47
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever.... Do you believe this? Yes, Lord, she told Him, I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world. JOHN 11:26b-27 JOHN 11:26b-27 READ: Enlist a volunteer to read John 11:26b-27. DISCUSS: Ask students, How would you describe the hope of heaven to someone who has never heard about it? DO: Direct students to complete the Action Point. READ: Guide volunteers to read the following (p.40): How would you describe the hope of heaven to someone who has never heard about it? Jesus asked Martha a direct question based on what He had just revealed: Do you believe this? Martha said that she believed He was the Son of God. Soon, Jesus, along with Mary, Martha, and many others, arrived at Lazarus grave. Jesus was about to provide an incredible illustration to confirm that He is the resurrection and the life. At the tomb of Lazarus, He instructed that the stone be removed. Everyone simply watched. As Martha pointed out, Lazarus had been dead for four days (v. 39). It probably seemed impossible to her that Jesus could do anything to help in that situation. Martha s statement didn t make her earlier answer insincere. However, her words revealed that she didn t understand who Jesus truly was. She thought it was too late and beyond Jesus ability to raise Lazarus from the grave. She d seen Jesus heal people in the past, but He had never brought them back from the dead. Her words didn t express doubt of her earlier confession; they simply showed what everyone at that tomb must have been thinking: Jesus heals the sick. Lazarus is already dead. SAY: Jesus was moving beyond simply healing the sick to reviving the dead. A revived person ultimately dies again; a resurrected person never dies. When Jesus revived Lazarus, it was a miraculous object lesson to demonstrate the resurrection waiting for every person who believes in Him. Jesus brought Lazarus out of the grave with the power of His voice. He has the power to give life and to sustain it, even through death. Jesus is your source of life now and forever. DO: Direct students to complete the following question, What obstacles prevent us from trusting God in the midst of a hard situation? 48 SESSION 4
Commentary JOHN 11:26b-27 [Verse 26b] Throughout this encounter, Martha was learning that resurrection as a doctrine is one matter, while resurrection as a faith commitment is entirely another. Jesus challenged Martha to make a decision: Do you believe this? The term this is not a reference to the doctrine of resurrection. Martha had already said she believed what many Jews of her day believed that a resurrection would occur at the end of time. The this in Jesus question is a direct reference to the truly radical claim that He is the resurrection and that this truth can be appropriated now. [Verse 27] Martha s response shows she was having difficulty absorbing what she had just heard. No wonder. Jesus had just rocked her world. Martha defaulted to what she knew was a rock-solid confession that should be pertinent, and hoped this confession moved her along in the right direction of the new teaching of Jesus. She knew Jesus had made resurrection personal; that is, He had made resurrection doctrine about Himself. Thus, the most pertinent element was what she already knew in her heart and personally was ready to confess about Jesus. First, she confessed, I believe You are the Messiah. This was a good start. Messiah or Christ was the expected anointed agent of the coming kingdom of God. Resurrection, as she saw it, was about the future kingdom of God, so Martha brought her belief in Jesus as Messiah into the answer (see 1:41). Martha then confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, who comes into the world. Whatever Jesus teaches has to be the truth of the kingdom of God, which now has to include what He has said about resurrection. Such a faith also is in line with Jesus own statement to Pilate: I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice (18:37). Martha had learned the beautiful truth that we receive the hope of a new life when we believe and trust Jesus. Was Jesus right? Is He the resurrection? Absolutely. One would do well to finish the exciting story in this chapter. The climax was Jesus call to the truly dead man to come out of the grave, and he did (11:43-44). Lazarus came out of the tomb. Of course, Lazarus lived to die again. Yet, the miracle is so stunning and unbelievable that the event serves as another of John s signs to the truth of who Jesus is. If Jesus can bring a dead man out of the grave, He is the resurrection and the life, just as He said. We can trust Him for future eternal life. Faith in Jesus is the key to that future. TIP: Guide students to discuss the difference between God s perspective of situations and our own. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 49
IMPACT (10 MINUTES) APPLY IT TIP: Lead Students to pray as a group for the ministry, each other, and the impact they can have on the community. SAY: Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We are saved for eternity, and God wants to use our lives in great ways to show the world His glory. He is always using the events and circumstances in our lives to show His purpose and make us more like Him. Put that truth into practice by doing the following: YY Examine: Sometimes we forget that Jesus uses hard things in our lives to show His power. He not only wants you to learn to trust Him, but He wants to use you as an example of His love, power, and grace to bring others into new life forever. How has God been working through your circumstances to make you more like Him? YY Encourage: Jesus loved and encouraged Mary and Martha. He also challenged them to look beyond their own experiences and to trust His power. This week, look for someone who needs the same kind of challenge and encouragement. YY Crowd: Don t hide what Jesus has done in your life. Choose this week to share with your friends how Jesus has changed your life. GUIDE: Lead students to consider how they need to respond to what they have learned in this study. SAY: Which response do you need to focus on this week? WRAP UP PRAY: Guide a few students to pray for the group. Ask them to pray that the individuals in the group would trust the power and goodness of God this week. ASK: Ask each student how they plan on living for Christ this week. GUIDE: Encourage students to use the Daily Bible Reading plan this week. Help develop an accountability plan for each student. For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 50 SESSION 4
To find the One Conversation for all ages, visit www.biblestudiesforlife.com. LEADER LIVE IT OUT Before the session, challenge yourself to grow with your students through this Live It Out. Reality Check Luke 6:46-49 Notes: Every person in this world will be hit by the storms of life. Both believers and unbelievers are scarred by sin and feel its repercussions. Our faith in Jesus doesn t give us magical protection from the storms of life, but we are promised that our lives will withstand the storms because our foundation is solid. Where do you put your trust? Intelligence, athletic ability, popularity? When difficulties come, our foundation is tested. YY Ask God to show you what you are trusting in as a foundation instead of Christ and His Word. Write those things below along with how you can make Christ the center of these areas of your life. ONE CONVERSATION Scripture: John 11:17-24 Topic: Our Need for Hope Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Sometimes we feel our situation is hopeless, but Jesus resurrection gives us hope for ultimate victory victory over death. While death is inevitable, this life does not have to be our final reality. We can live again in complete joy and fulfillment. Jesus shows us how. STUDENTS THE POINT: Jesus is responsible for our lives, now and forever. What do you look forward to when life is hard? What do our responses to tragedy reveal about our expectations of God? LIVE IT OUT If you choose to do Reality Check: Discuss the following quote: What gives me the most hope If you choose to do Daily Reading: every day is God s grace; knowing that His grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God. 1 Rick Warren Talk about things you put your hope in when life gets tough. Jesus is our only hope in life. Take time to discuss your daily Scripture readings from this week. 1. Hope Quotes, Brainy Quote [online], [accessed 16 July 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rickwarren456861.html?src=t_hope BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 51