Devotionals for February 8, 2023
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READ
Read John 11 for the full witness of Christ’s miracle.
John 11:34-35, 38-44
34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
…
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
REFLECT
On Monday we saw that the world is broken by sin and in need of healing. Yesterday, we looked at how our bodies are in need of healing and the ways God will heal our physical brokenness.
What about our soul and spirit? They are in need of healing as well. Today we’ll look at how God heals our souls.
We inherited a brokenness in our soul just as much as we have inherited a broken world. The brokenness in our soul is our sin, separating us from God. Only by the miracle of Christ can our souls be healed.
Jesus was a man just as much as He is God, walking the earth and experiencing its brokenness and pain. His friend Lazarus had become ill and died. Jesus arrived at the tomb where Lazarus was buried and Jesus wept. His full humanity is on display. Jesus knew His power as God but still mourned for Lazarus. Jesus prayed, then spoke and life returned to Lazarus, bringing a temporary healing of a soul from death.
Jesus performed a greater miracle of healing souls a while later. Submitting Himself to God to become the sacrifice for all humankind. His sacrifice and resurrection became the permanent healing of our souls. By faith, we submit our will and our brokenness to the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and God’s forgiveness that heals our souls so we can be restored to eternal fellowship with God.
APPLY
Q: How does seeing Jesus embrace his humanity before giving life back to Lazarus make you feel about his love for you?
Q: Is there anything about your broken self you have yet to submit to Christ?
Q: Why would Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead by temporary healing? What made it permanent?
SING
Ain’t No Grave by Molly Skaggs
PRAY
Our Lord and Savior Jesus, we thank you for the life you gave to bring us salvation and for the redemption, restoration, and healing we have through your resurrection. Sustain us as we travel through a world in need of your healing.
READ
Read John 11 for the full witness of Christ’s miracle.
John 11:34-35, 38-44
34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
…
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
REFLECT
On Monday we saw that the world is broken by sin and in need of healing. Yesterday, we looked at how our bodies are in need of healing and the ways God will heal our physical brokenness.
What about our soul and spirit? They are in need of healing as well. Today we’ll look at how God heals our souls.
We inherited a brokenness in our soul just as much as we have inherited a broken world. The brokenness in our soul is our sin, separating us from God. Only by the miracle of Christ can our souls be healed.
Jesus was a man just as much as He is God, walking the earth and experiencing its brokenness and pain. His friend Lazarus had become ill and died. Jesus arrived at the tomb where Lazarus was buried and Jesus wept. His full humanity is on display. Jesus knew His power as God but still mourned for Lazarus. Jesus prayed, then spoke and life returned to Lazarus, bringing a temporary healing of a soul from death.
Jesus performed a greater miracle of healing souls a while later. Submitting Himself to God to become the sacrifice for all humankind. His sacrifice and resurrection became the permanent healing of our souls. By faith, we submit our will and our brokenness to the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and God’s forgiveness that heals our souls so we can be restored to eternal fellowship with God.
APPLY
Q: How does seeing Jesus embrace his humanity before giving life back to Lazarus make you feel about his love for you?
Q: Is there anything about your broken self you have yet to submit to Christ?
Q: Why would Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead by temporary healing? What made it permanent?
SING
Ain’t No Grave by Molly Skaggs
PRAY
Our Lord and Savior Jesus, we thank you for the life you gave to bring us salvation and for the redemption, restoration, and healing we have through your resurrection. Sustain us as we travel through a world in need of your healing.