We realize you may not be able to discuss b. How has God used your difficult situations to all the questions. Pick the ones you like. bring about good in your life or in the lives of Small Group Questions others? “Lazarus, Come Forth” c. Have you ever thanked God for a difficult or John 11:1-57 painful time in your life because of the good that came as a result of the pain? Previous message summary: During the Feast of Dedication Jesus tells the Jews clearly one last time who Discussion Questions he is and what he has come to accomplish. He says that Read John 11:1-57 his works bear witness about who he is as the Son of 2. What kind of relationship did Jesus have with God. He says that his sheep hear his voice and they Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha? Read follow him and he protects his sheep. Jesus says that he John 11:3 & 5. gives eternal life. Jesus says that he and the Father are one. In spite of Jesus’ attempt to get them to understand a. When the sisters send word to Jesus that who he is, the Jews completely miss the point that the Lazarus is ill, what did they expect Jesus to Son of God is standing in their midst. Instead of listening do? Is this a normal expectation? to Jesus and surrendering their lives to Jesus, they b. How long did Jesus linger after learning that encircle him and pick up the stones they brought into the Lazarus was ill? Does this make sense? Why temple area to kill Jesus. did Jesus choose not to go immediately to see What we learned: The Jews didn’t know what they had in Lazarus? Read John 11:4. Jesus. They didn’t realize the Son of God was in their c. When Jesus does decide to go see Lazarus, midst and he had come so they could have abundant life. how do the disciples respond? What is their Jesus through his words and through his actions (the concern? Read John 11:7-8. miracles that he performs) clearly identifies himself as the d. When Jesus tells the disciples that Lazarus Son of God who has come into the world—to miss this has “fallen asleep” (verse 11), do the disciples point is to miss the greatest truth in the history of the understand that Lazarus has died? What is world. their response? Introduction e. Which disciple speaks up and is ready to go 1. We all experience pain and difficult times in our life. with Jesus to Jerusalem, even if it means that What is the most painful or difficult thing that you he should die? Read John 11:16. have experienced? Did you question God’s love for 3. When Jesus arrives in Bethany, how long had you during that time? Why or why not? Lazarus been dead? Why is this significant? At this a. Do good things ever come as a result of living point had people given up all hope of Jesus arriving through difficult or painful situations? Read and performing a miracle? Romans 8:28. Is there sometimes a higher a. When Martha hears that Jesus has arrived, purpose or bigger picture to the pain and what does she do? What does she say to suffering we experience? Jesus? Is she blaming Jesus for the death? b. What does Jesus tell Martha about Lazarus? a. Why did raising Lazarus create such a stir Does she fully understand what Jesus is about among the people, especially among the to do? Jewish religious leaders? c. What does Jesus tell Martha about himself in b. If you were to see a man who had been dead verses 25-26? Why is this a significant for four days walk out of a tomb, how would statement about who Jesus is? you react? Would you believe it? d. How does belief in Jesus change your Challenge: Jesus knew that he was going to raise perspective on life and death? What kind of Lazarus from the dead before he was told that Lazarus hope do you have because of your belief in was ill. In spite of knowing what was going to happen, he Jesus as the Son of God? still allowed those he loved to experience the pain and 4. Who does Jesus want to have a conversation with difficulty of death in order to achieve the higher purpose of after talking with Martha? What does this person do building faith and glorifying God. In times of pain and when they approach Jesus? difficulty, know that God is with you in the midst of the trial a. What does Mary say to Jesus? Read John and that he can use your pain and struggle to build your 11:32. Is she blaming Jesus for the death? faith and bring glory to himself. b. How does Jesus respond to Mary’s statement? Action: Give God your pain and difficult situations and Read John 11:33-36. What does this tell you ask him to use those things to build your faith and bring about the humanity and compassion of Jesus? glory to himself. Read Hebrews 4:15. c. When you go through pain and suffering in Next Steps: your life, do you gain strength and comfort G It is a comfort to know that even when I feel like God knowing that Jesus sympathizes with you? is not listening, he does indeed love and care for 5. When Jesus arrives at the tomb, what is his me, and has my best interests in mind. request? How does Martha respond? G I understand that I can take all my problems, a. When the stone is rolled away, what does struggles, and frustration to Jesus, knowing that his Jesus say to Lazarus? What is the result? shoulders are big enough to handle even my complaints. b. Did Jesus know from the beginning of this situation that he would raise Lazarus from the G I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of dead? How many times did Jesus allude to the God—and that my only real hope is in his fact that he would raise Lazarus before the resurrection. miracle took place? Read John 11:4, 11, 23, and 40. 6. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, how did the people respond? Read John 11:45, 53, 57, & 12:10.