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Theme: 'I believe in God the Father..'
Text: John 11:17-44
Topic: The Father Almighty
Introduction:
What comes to your mind when you see or hear the word, ‘Almighty’?
We could substitute several other adjectives, as does the dictionary:
Omnipotent, irresistible, invincible.
The Bible talks of God as ‘Almighty’. In what ways does the claim that this force or strength is personal, make a difference to your response?
Brainstorm:
What incidents in the Bible speak to you most about how God is Almighty? Why?
Here is a VERY difficult question to consider:
Are there any incidents in the Bible that would suggest that there are certain situations or events where God’s ‘Almightiness’ has seemed limited or unable to change an outcome?
Consider these words of J.I. Packer:
‘Does omnipotence mean that God can literally do anything? No, that is not the meaning. There are many things that God cannot do. He cannot do what is self-contradictory or nonsensical, like squaring the circle. Nor (and this is vital) can he act out of character. God has a perfect moral character and it is not in him to deny it. He cannot be capricious, unloving, random, unjust or inconsistent.’
I guess one of the areas where we are most challenged on issues of the Almighty working of God, is in the complex area of miracles and answers to prayer - that is what I want us to consider. All of us will have had experiences of praying for a ‘miracle’.
Have you had the experience of seeing such prayers answered? Could it be that there have been times when such prayers have been answered, but we have failed to recognise it as a miracle?
Have you had the experience of seeing such prayers apparently unanswered? How have you fitted that experience into a belief in the Father Almighty?
(Read John 11:17-22)
You will know the background to this story:
Jesus’ very close friendship with Mary, Martha and their brother, Lazarus.
Why did Jesus delay when his friend was so sick?
Jesus and Mary and Martha, talking at very different levels all through the unfolding story: Jesus of Lazarus’ physical death, but of his coming back to life,
The disciples that he was merely sleeping, Mary and Martha, that he could only possibly come back to life, in the realm of eternity.
How does all this confusion and misunderstanding demonstrate how we really struggle to make any sense of the Almighty power of God at work in any situation, and especially in response to our prayers?
Can you identify with Martha’s response to Jesus when he arrived, what is the tone of her words? (v21-22).
Can you detect a mix of faith/unbelief ?
(Read John 11:23-27)
There is a sense of ambiguity about Jesus‘ words: you can see why Martha thought he was speaking about a spiritual resurrection on the last day, and not about a physical rising from death in the here and now.
Was Jesus being deliberately ambiguous? Could it be that Jesus was trying to convey the dilemma we all face, when we are living in this world of time and death, but also have the promise of eternity and life, that has broken in to this dimension, through Jesus Christ?
That dilemma is this: we all do ultimately physically die on this earth (if we die before Christ’s return), but for those who trust in the Lord, we are already eternally alive in a spiritual sense. Nothing can separate us from His presence.
Notice, Jesus asks (v26), ’Do you believe this?’, and not ‘Do you understand this?’ Why is this significant? (cf Hebrews 11:3)
Jesus asks her to believe him, trust his words, not her own understanding. How is this relevant when we are in such a crisis?
(Read John 11:28-37)
What further evidence is there here of implicit criticism or hurt directed towards Jesus in the face of the tragedy that had happened?
Why do you think Jesus wept? The Greek word signifies a powerful expression:
’It signifies a loud, inarticulate noise, and it’s proper use appears to be for the snorting of horses. When used of men it usually denotes anger. Here it clearly points to some deep emotion.’ (Leon Morris, Commentary on the Gospel of John)
(Read John 11:38-44)
If the previous scene gave the impression that Jesus was not Almighty when confronted with death, in what ways do these verses demonstrate that Jesus had Almighty power over the ‘last enemy’ (1 Corinthians 15:26)?
Just as the tomb on Easter day was found to be empty, not so as to let Christ out, but to let us see the vacant tomb and the undisturbed graveclothes, so here the testimony to the Almighty power of the resurrection life in Christ is unmistakeable.
How do you explain the reaction to this happening in v45-47 & v53?
How has this study on the Almighty power of God in Jesus, cast any light on those situations and people for which you have and are praying for a miracle?
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