John 11:39 Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Are we ever afraid to go to a place where we’ve been hurt or disappointed with Jesus? Have you sealed that event or problem up like this cave was sealed with a stone? We’re afraid to roll back the stone. It protects us from something that we think is dead and stinks. We can’t see any benefit to letting Him have access to it. We’ve buried it and don’t want to suffer more. Jesus could have spoken and moved that stone, and He could do the same with the stone we’ve placed to protect ourselves. But, He tells us to remove the stone just like He told them to remove the stone. To remove the stone is to give Jesus access to the dead thing in our lives that needs to be resurrected for the glory of God. Is Jesus telling us to remove the stone and give Him access to something that has been decaying and stinking in our lives?
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John 11:39 Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Are we ever afraid to go to a place where we’ve been hurt or disappointed with Jesus? Have you sealed that event or problem up like this cave was sealed with a stone? We’re afraid to roll back the stone. It protects us from something that we think is dead and stinks. We can’t see any benefit to letting Him have access to it. We’ve buried it and don’t want to suffer more. Jesus could have spoken and moved that stone, and He could do the same with the stone we’ve placed to protect ourselves. But, He tells us to remove the stone just like He told them to remove the stone. To remove the stone is to give Jesus access to the dead thing in our lives that needs to be resurrected for the glory of God. Is Jesus telling us to remove the stone and give Him access to something that has been decaying and stinking in our lives?
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,”
Jesus repeated His claim to be the good shepherd. He certainly didn’t want them to miss what He is. How comforting it is to know that He knows His own. He knows everything about us individually as well as collectively. And we each know Him. We know His voice. We know when He is near. We know that He loves us and will not let the wolf (sin) get us. This highlights two characteristics of both Jesus and His own. Of Jesus: He longs to know us and to be known by us. Of us: We know we are His and we know who He is (God’s Son), what He is to us (our Door and Shepherd), and what He does for us (saves us from sin). The man who had received sight was the subject in view. He no longer was blindly following the Pharisees who were also blind, hired hands, and thieves and robbers, but he knew He belonged to Jesus, knew His voice, and was following Him. We praise and thank You, Jesus, for knowing us and enabling us to know You.
Live to Love Scripture Encouragement
John 11:39 Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Are we ever afraid to go to a place where we’ve been hurt or disappointed with Jesus? Have you sealed that event or problem up like this cave was sealed with a stone? We’re afraid to roll back the stone. It protects us from something that we think is dead and stinks. We can’t see any benefit to letting Him have access to it. We’ve buried it and don’t want to suffer more. Jesus could have spoken and moved that stone, and He could do the same with the stone we’ve placed to protect ourselves. But, He tells us to remove the stone just like He told them to remove the stone. To remove the stone is to give Jesus access to the dead thing in our lives that needs to be resurrected for the glory of God. Is Jesus telling us to remove the stone and give Him access to something that has been decaying and stinking in our lives?
