The Light of Christ Journey

Encouraging people on their journey with Christ

The Father Sent Jesus

Paula K. Graves

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February 21, 2026

The Father sent Jesus, and Jesus wanted His followers to know this, as it was part of His identity. John records seven “I am” statements that Jesus made. The term “I am” was the name God gave for Himself to Moses at the burning bush. When the Jews heard Jesus use this term, they knew exactly what Jesus meant. Each time Jesus made an “I am” statement, He also discussed how the Father had sent Him.

I Am Statement and Teaching About the Father

  • I am the Bread of Life. John 6: 27For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval…29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” [1]
  • I am the Light of the World. John 8:16b The Father who sent me is with me… 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other. [2]
  • I am the Gate and the Good Shepherd. John 10: 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father… 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again… 18b For this is what my Father has commanded.” [3]
  • I am the Resurrection and the Life. John 11: 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” [4]
  • I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14: 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him![5]
  • I am the Vine. John 15: 1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener… 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.[6]

Jesus and the Father are One

As Jesus teaches Philip and the other disciples, He shows how He and the Father are one. John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in m. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. [7]

As humans, we may struggle to comprehend the concept of the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three individual persons but one being. Jesus knew His disciples, and we struggle with this. If believing this oneness is too difficult, at least believe the works Jesus has done. His death and resurrection have given us our salvation. Jesus paid the blood price for our sins and we receive the gift of life with Him as we believe. Be sure the Father sent Jesus out of love for us. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1-7] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

When We Don’t Understand Jesus

Paula K. Graves

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February 20, 2026

What happens when we don’t understand Jesus? How will He treat us? We can gain insight as we observe the disciples during Jesus’ farewell teachings. This happened after the Passover meal but before they went to Gethsemane the night before Jesus was crucified. Jesus wanted to prepare them for His death and resurrection.

Jesus had already told the disciples three times that He would die. The first time was after the feeding of the 4000. The second occurrence took place after the transfiguration, and the third as they traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. But the Jewish expectation was that the Messiah would not die but live forever, so they had not understood.

Jesus had just told the disciples that they couldn’t come where He was going. But He would come back and get them, so they would always be with Him. The disciples were thinking on an earthly level, and Jesus was speaking spiritually.

Peter

Peter didn’t understand and responded to Jesus’ teaching. John 13: 37 “But why can’t I (Peter) come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” [1] Jesus knew that Peter was not yet ready to die for him and prophesied that Peter would deny Him three times before morning. Even knowing what Peter would do, Jesus does not berate him. John 14: 1Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.[2] Jesus’ answer to Peter’s misunderstanding was to tell him to trust Him.

Thomas

Jesus had taught His disciples for three years, and as He explained His going, He told the disciples that they knew the way. Thomas didn’t understand and asked a question. John 14: 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” [3]

Thomas’ question allowed Jesus to explain. John 14: 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [4] Thus, Jesus explained that the destination was God the Father, and the way to Him was Jesus Himself. It wasn’t a physical destination but a spiritual one.

Philip

Jesus had repeatedly explained that the Father had sent Him, but the disciples still didn’t realize that Jesus was God in human form. John 14: 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father![5]

While Jesus may have been exasperated with the disciples’ lack of understanding, He doesn’t get angry; instead, He simply explains it again.

Us

We are no different than the disciples. There are times when we don’t understand Jesus and what He is doing. When we don’t know what we are doing, Jesus says to trust Him. We can ask Jesus questions, and He will answer without criticizing us. Even if we have missed the teaching, Jesus can repeat it. What a loving Savior who cares for us. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Tom Graves

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February 19, 2026

The phrase “I am the way, the truth, and the life” is a well-known statement by Jesus in the Bible. John 14:6 Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.[1]

This verse describes part of a dialogue between Jesus and His disciples, focusing on Thomas, one of the disciples, who asks Jesus how they can find their way to where He is going. For believers, this verse is part of walking the narrow path of faith, providing them with strength and encouragement, while for others, it challenges their existing beliefs.

Jesus Unique Claims

Jesus’ unique claim truly stands out and calls for a heartfelt response. He invites everyone to choose whether to accept or reject Him, emphasizing that anything less is still a form of rejection. His own words make it clear that no other plans for salvation can match His. Some might feel that having only one way is too strict, but that view overlooks how desperately we all need God’s grace.

The simple fact that there is a way at all is a beautiful reminder of His love and mercy. Our human rebellion is evident in this, but God’s love stays steadfast. We are like drowning people who receive a life-saving rope but demand multiple ropes and the option to swim to safety. Pontius Pilate had a question for Jesus. John 18:38“What is truth?” Pilate, like many others, was seeking the truth but was blinded by sin and satan. 

How Will You Respond to Jesus’s Invitation?

Jesus describes Himself as the “way” to God, showing that through Him, believers have a clear path to connect with God. This highlights that embracing Jesus’ teachings and example is the journey towards salvation and eternal life.

Jesus’ words embody the truth. In contemporary society, opinions founded on emotional responses are frequently mistaken for factual information. It has become commonplace for individuals or certain Biblical scholars to declare, “This is my truth.” (What does this really mean?) Moreover, God is increasingly subjected to mockery, and the Bible is frequently dismissed as a mere fairy tale.

Jesus is the true source of life: In Him, we discover our purpose and meaning. Life naturally includes challenging moments, carrying burdens, and facing crosses. However, even in those difficult times—particularly then—Jesus offers us a peace that surpasses all understanding when we put our trust in Him. 

No matter how far you’ve drifted from the Lord or have been misled by false religions, it is not too late to turn to Jesus and follow Him. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine. John 3:16For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.[2]

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Jesus Prepares a Place for Us

Paula K. Graves

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February 18, 2026

We can be sure that Jesus prepares a place for us. The night before the crucifixion, Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was to come. He had told them that He was going somewhere they could not go, but they didn’t understand.

What Jesus knew and His disciples did not was that He was going to the cross to pay the price for sin. Only Jesus, who had never sinned, could be our substitute and pay the price we can not. Jesus’ resurrection is a promise that, as believers, we too will be resurrected for eternity with Him.

Mansions in Heaven

John 14: 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [1]

I have often read this Scripture at funerals. It offers hope of something better beyond our earthly existence. The King James Version translated “rooms” as “mansions.” This makes us think of spacious, luxurious homes waiting for us in heaven. While I think this is true, upon closer examination, I believe there is more.

“The Greek word for “rooms” (monai) could be better translated “abodes” because it shares the same root as the Greek word for “abide” (meno). It simply means “a dwelling place.”[2] The only other time Jesus used this word was to refer to the Temple (John 2:16). The Jews considered the Temple to be the place where heaven and earth met. Jesus was going to prepare a way for believers to have a renewed relationship with God. This would allow for renewal that brings heaven and earth together. The prepared place is a person, Jesus.

Dwelling with Jesus Now

We don’t have to wait for our death or the return of Jesus to have a room in the Father’s house. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, abides in us as soon as we believe. There are many rooms in the Father’s house because there are many believers in God’s household.

In His farewell teaching, Jesus spoke about abiding with Him. John 15: 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.[3] Jesus has a purpose for each of us on earth. As we stay connected with Him, He will enable us to “bear fruit” or accomplish His will.

The faith walk here on earth can be difficult, but we have a promise of more. This hope helps us endure because we know this world is temporary. God gave John a vision of the new heaven and new earth. Revelation 21: 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Jesus prepares a place for us here on this earth and for eternity with Him. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1,3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Crossway Bibles.

[2] Barton, B. B. (1993). John (p. 287). Tyndale House.

When I Am Weak, You Are Strong

Tom Graves

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February 17, 2026

In the children’s song “Jesus Loves Me,” one of the most memorable lines is “When I am weak, you are strong.” As people, especially men, we often avoid being perceived as weak and tend to go through life without seeking help when we need it. There have been moments in my life — and you may have experienced them too — when you reach the end of yourself and surrender to God.

It is often during times of surrender that God teaches us life-changing lessons. The disciple Peter was humbled the day before Jesus’ crucifixion, and through that experience, he became a different person. Although before this happened, Peter thought of himself as a man of invincible strength.

John 13:37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” Peter asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.[1] How those words must have seemed impossible as Jesus spoke. Peter may have thought to himself, “But I am strong, Lord.” In many ways, Peter reflects many of us.

Jesus is Our Strength

After predicting Peter’s denial, Jesus addressed the disciples’ deep concerns. They were confused, and He encouraged them to trust, emphasizing the importance of anchoring that trust in Jesus. John 14:1Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] We often find ourselves uncomfortable with potential weaknesses and failures, so we tend to avoid thinking about them. Peter, for example, denied his own fragility and thought he had more faith than he truly did.

Jesus offers a solution for troubled hearts: trusting Him. Trust isn’t about pretending to be strong; it’s about honestly recognizing our weaknesses and our need for God’s help. If we ever believe, even for a moment, that we can follow Jesus on our own, we set ourselves up for failure, just like Peter. These words encourage us to look to the Lord, who is our anchor. Psalm 62:1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. [3]

Don’t Let your Hearts be Troubled

Everyone has days when they feel down, anxious, tired, or discouraged. Life often doesn’t go as planned, bringing unexpected twists, turns, highs, and lows. If your journey resembles this, you’re not alone. The Bible shows many instances where God’s people experience discouragement and even depression at times. Some want to give up, run away, or are so overwhelmed they don’t know what to do next.

The good news is that the Bible also reveals how God comforts and meets His people during these difficult times. If you’re feeling a bit discouraged, remember that God is always there to meet you through His Word and the Holy Spirit. By His grace, He can turn life’s trials into incredible opportunities to help believers grow and become more like His Jesus.

To find out how when I am weak, You are strong, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

God Has Work For Us Before Heaven

Tom Graves

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February 16, 2026

God has work for us before we go to heaven! As believers, this gives our lives a whole new meaning and purpose. Many people search for purpose and meaning in their entire lives. In God’s mercy, if we turn to Him, He will reveal a plan for our lives that we could never imagine. Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” [1]

Scripture calls us sheep because, as people, we share many of the same characteristics. A sheep needs a shepherd to find grass to graze on and water to drink. We, too, need a shepherd to guide our lives. It often takes reaching the end of ourselves before we finally look to the Lord to direct our path. Romans 8:14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” [2] God grants us free will as a gift, but to be truly guided by the Lord, we must surrender our free will to allow God to lead us along the right path in life.

God’s Plan May Not be Our Plan

Jesus’ time on earth was coming to an end because it was time for Him to give His life on the cross. As Jesus explained what was going to happen, the disciples struggled to understand how they would fit into God’s plan. John 13:36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.[3]  Peter didn’t see why Jesus needed to die; actually, he was willing to protect Jesus with his own life if it came to it.

Although Peter had good intentions of protecting Jesus and giving up his life, this was not God’s plan for him at that time. While it was time for Jesus to give up his life, the Lord had plans for Peter to do after His death and resurrection. Peter would be a crucial disciple in building the early church, and it was only at the end of Peter’s life that he fully realized how much more God had in store for him.

God Has Plans for You

By God’s grace and mercy, He desires us to help build His Kingdom on our journey of faith. Although God does not need our assistance, as a loving Father, He wants to involve His children in His work. As believers, we will one day go to heaven, but the Lord does not want us to miss out on what we can do in the here and now.

Unfortunately, the road that God calls us to travel is not the easy one, but it is the most fulfilling. Matthew 17:13You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [4] Every day we spend on this earth is another opportunity to impact others with the good news of Jesus. Take the Lord’s hand and let Him lead you to fulfill your destiny.

To learn more about how God has work for us before we go to heaven, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

A New Commandment: Love One Another

Tom Graves

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February 15, 2026

As Jesus was preparing His disciples before He gave His life on the cross, He told them, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.[1] John 13:34 Then Jesus continued to explain the profound impact of this commandment. John 13:34Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” [2]

In a world full of disagreements, division, and violence, Jesus would transform it by working through his disciples to show people how to love one another. We are most impacted by those who demonstrate love by doing it themselves. A child raised in a warm and loving Christian home is profoundly impacted throughout their life by a parent’s caring presence. This beautifully illustrates the power of love when it’s expressed in our everyday lives.

Impacting Others Through Love

As Jesus shared His new commandment to love one another, it’s natural that His disciples might not have fully understood how their lives were about to change in incredible ways. On Friday, Jesus would sacrifice Himself on the cross, and on Sunday, He would rise again, bringing hope and new life. Forty days later, Jesus would ascend into heaven, and just ten days after, the Holy Spirit would arrive, marking the beginning of the church.

 The most beautiful part of spreading the good news of Jesus is how the disciples showed their love for one another—a truly countercultural love. To love one another means putting others’ needs before our own and thinking of others first. Imagine how lives around us can be transformed when we live out the love of Jesus in our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. [3]

Jesus’ Love Transforms Us

No one in the world loves us more than our Savior, Jesus. His love is so deep that it is difficult to comprehend fully. He willingly gave His life on the cross to pay the price for our sins. This made a way for our salvation. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.[4]

As believers, love is not something we have to generate. 1 John 4:12But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. [5] Notice, it’s His love. Having a genuine concern for others naturally flows from knowing Jesus and nurturing our relationship with Him. Because of that, we can choose to respond with love, even to those we find challenging to like.

Jesus gave us a new commandment: love one another. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-said-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

Triumph Over the Grave

Paula K. Graves

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February 14, 2026

Jesus had predicted a triumph over the grave when He told the disciples that Lazarus’ illness would not result in death. The disciples must have been confused when they arrived at Lazarus’ home, as he had been in the grave for four days. But that wasn’t the end. When Jesus went to visit Lazarus’ tomb, an unexpected miracle occurred.

John 11: 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” [1]

Death is a result of sin in this world. 1 Corinthians 15: 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life… 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.[2]

But Why is There Still Death?

As Christians, we often say that Jesus defeated death on the cross, yet we live in a world where death is a reality. So what does it mean when Jesus brought triumph over the grave? Paul gives a good explanation.

1 Corinthians 15: 50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever…

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.[3]

At our earthly death, as believers, God will change our physical bodies to supernatural bodies for eternity with Him.

A Living Hope

Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in gravecloths. The crowd was so shocked that Jesus had to tell them to unwrap him. Jesus gives us a new life out of the death of sin. However, as new believers, we may enter the new life with some of the old wraps or habits still around us. We need fellow believers to come alongside us and help us unwrap our old, sinful behaviors. Who can you help unwrap?

The hope of eternal life enables us to live with hope here on earth. This promise of Jesus gives us faith and strength to fight spiritual battles here on earth. We can persevere and carry the burdens when life is challenging. Our Resurrection Hope, Jesus, encourages us to help and reassure others. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/podpanel/episode/jesus-said-i-am-the-resurrection-and-the-life

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Prayer Precedes God’s Power

Paula K. Graves

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February 13, 2026

Jesus’ prayer precedes God’s power in the raising of Lazarus. John 11: 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out.[1]

Jesus’ prayer is not a plea for a miracle, but rather a thanksgiving for the Father’s hearing of prayer. Jesus began the prayer by calling on the “Father.” This title demonstrates the special relationship between Jesus and the Godhead. It seems the decision to raise Lazarus had already been made, and Jesus now thanked the Father for hearing the previous prayer.

When Did Jesus Begin Praying?

Jesus probably began praying for Lazarus as soon as He received the message that Lazarus was ill. We might even have a clue about what He was praying. John 11: 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” [2]

Decomposition of a dead body began quickly in the heat of the Middle East. In normal circumstances, Martha would have been correct. Yet I think Jesus prayed that there would be no decay in Lazarus’s body and that He could summon him back to life. I don’t think there was any smell when the grave was open. The Father had answered Jesus’ prayer, and Jesus thanked Him for it.

Jesus was walking towards His own death. He may have also been praying for the Father’s will for His death on the cross and His own resurrection.

Prayer for Jesus’ Identity to be Made Known

Martha knew the truth of Jesus’ identity. John 11: 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”[3] But many people only thought Jesus was a human teacher. Interestingly, the only mention of Jesus praying before a miracle is in this story. Jesus Himself explained the reason for the prayer. He wanted the people to believe that the Father had sent Him.

We, too, need to know Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. We must look to Jesus because He is the Resurrection and the Life. As believers, we can be assured that we will live forever with Jesus after our life on earth ends. Jesus gives us this promise. John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.[4] Jesus is also a model of prayer for us. If he needed to pray, we do too. Prayer precedes God’s power in our lives. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/podpanel/episode/jesus-said-i-am-the-resurrection-and-the-life

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

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The Struggle with Unbelief

Tom Graves

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February 12, 2026

The struggle with unbelief is common both in Jesus’ time and today, providing insight into people’s hearts. When Jesus was brought to the temple in Jerusalem as an infant for the purification offering, an elderly man named Simeon met them. As he held the child in his arms, he spoke prophetic words about His future. Luke 2:34bHe has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. [1] Throughout Jesus’ ministry and today, the truth of our Savior reveals people’s hearts.

 As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to give his life on the cross, he came to Bethany, where his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. Being just outside of Jerusalem, their home was a common place for Jesus to rest during his ministry. Unfortunately, this visit was as sad as Lazarus had died. Mary and Martha had sent Jesus a note to come quickly, but He had waited a couple of days before traveling there. When Jesus arrives, many people are weeping and sorrowful. In this setting, people would confront the question, “Who is Jesus?”

Who is Jesus to You?

Who is Jesus to you will determine your eternal destiny! For some, Jesus is a distant thought; others may not know Him at all. Some oppose Him, and yet others place their faith in Him. This was also true as Jesus went to the home of Mary and Martha after their brother had died.

John 11:34 “Where have you put him?” Jesus asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”[2]

Our enemy, satan, always tries to plant doubt in our minds, and you can see him doing this as Jesus enters the scene. But in the midst of doubt, we must turn to God’s Word! Jesus tells us in John 14:1Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”[3]

Faith Comes by Hearing

 Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.[4] We might not have been there to witness the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but we can read about it in God’s Word. John 11:39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”[5]

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but the greatest miracle that day was when people saw the miracle and placed their faith in Jesus. After Jesus prayed, he shouted for Lazarus to come out. John 11:44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” [6]

How about you and the struggle with unbelief? Have you placed your faith in Jesus? If not, it’s never too late to confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/podpanel/episode/jesus-said-i-am-the-resurrection-and-the-life

[1-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

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