Jesus Did What?| What do I do when Jesus doesn’t show up?
John 11:1-44 | John Sellers
- Read John 11:1–6. Mary and Martha send for Jesus, expecting Him to come right away. Instead, He delays. Have you ever felt like God delayed or didn’t show up when you needed Him most? How does it change your view to hear that Jesus’ delay was because He loved them?
- Read John 11:17–21. Martha says to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” What’s your “If You Had Been Here” moment? How do you handle disappointment or grief when your expectations of God are not met?
- Read John 11:22–27. Even in her grief, Martha says, “Even now I know…” Jesus asks Martha to trust in Him instead of being defined by her circumstances. What would it look like to define your life by who Jesus is, rather than what you’re going through?
- Read John 11:32–37 Jesus doesn’t give Mary a theology lesson—He weeps. What does Jesus’ emotional response tell us about His heart for us in our suffering? How does it change the way you approach Jesus with your pain and sorrow?
- Read John 11:38–40 Martha protests when Jesus asks for the stone to be rolled away because it stinks. She is uncomfortable with what Jesus is asking. What have you “rolled a stone over” in your life, thinking it’s too far gone—maybe a relationship, a hope, a calling? What does it look like to take a step of faith and roll that stone away? How can your group encourage one another to believe, even when it’s more comfortable to keep it buried?
- Read John 11:41–44 Jesus didn’t come simply to heal. He came to bring resurrection. What’s the difference between wanting healing and experiencing resurrection in your life? Is there an area in your life where you’ve settled for survival instead of believing for resurrection? How does trusting in resurrection power give you hope, even after deep loss?
- Reflect on the Whole Passage (John 11:1–44) Jesus uses death to reveal resurrection. The worst thing wasn’t the last thing. Where in your life are you tempted to think the story is over? How can you shift your perspective to believe that Jesus is still working—even if you can’t see it yet? What’s one area this week where you want to choose hope instead of despair?
