Day 11 of the 21 Day Challenge

John 11

“Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the Glory of God?” 11:40

That is certainly our hope, if we believe we will see the glory of God unfold. If we believe we will see the Glory of God in the resurrection, in sight restoration, and in sinful lives reborn. If we believe, we will see the Glory of God.

I find it interesting that both tragedies, the man born blind and the death of Lazarus was an opportunity for Jesus to show the glory of the God. In 9:3, referring to the man’s blindness “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” In 11:4 “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Christ overcomes the effects of sin, the deterioration, the separation, the hurt and all the pain that goes with it, for the glory of God. Jesus uses the effects of sin; blindness and death, to reveal God’s agenda to reconcile the world back to him and redeem creation. When people “see the Glory of God” it’s a matter of sin and the effects of sin being overcome by the love and power of God. Ultimately, we will see this take form in the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus tells Martha in 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Those who believe will be saved.

For Godliness, we see a shining example in an unlikely source, Thomas. He gets a bad rapport for what he does later, for doubting in the resurrected Lord. But in this instance, his remark is quite interesting. The disciples were hesitant to go to Judea, after all, a short while ago people there were trying to kill Jesus. After clearly explaining that Lazarus was in fact dead, Thomas says “let us also go, that we may die with him.”

This is truly a remarkable sign of faith on Thomas’ part. Jesus plainly tells his disciples often that they will be despised and hated for following him. But by now, they each have discovered that “he has the words of life.” Thomas is willing to go back to Judea and face death. It’s just one statement, and we don’t hear of Thomas a whole lot in the scriptures from here on out. But we see in this one instance a willingness to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Godliness is a matter of bearing the weight of the cross and willing to follow Christ even to the most dangerous of situations. Thomas was willing, at least in this moment, to follow Christ and minister to friends.

We would be wise to follow and believe. Unfortunately, for our world many cannot believe. Hardened hearts have kept many from believing in Christ. Yet I think we need to have the same attitude as Christ when it comes to the effects of sin. The blindness of one man and the death of another were used by Jesus to reveal the glory of God. Sin is still prevalent in our world and Jesus can use it to reveal his Father’s Glory. He can take our brokenness and reveal the mighty power of God to heal, redeem and reconcile. That’s what the world needs to see in us, in the church and lived out in our lives, a redeemed and saved life from sin, that shows the glory of God.

Father, I believe in the resurrection, Jesus Christ. He is your Son and he is busy redeeming the world back to you. May the witness of my forgiven life give you all the glory and honor due you. And let my forgiveness and new life in your Son be  a shining light to the world of your magnificence and grace. In the name of Jesus, Amen.