#JESUS2019 - Daily DevotionalsSample

Jesus is angry! This didn´t happen often in the Bible, but here twice. What makes him so angry? Did he mess with Lazarus' fate or with death in general? Is he annoyed by the situation, by the onlookers, the women ...?

Anger part 1; Verse 33:

Jesus sees what death does to people. He sees the sadness and pain in their eyes and we experience a moment of divine wrath in him. Jesus is not ready to give death the last word. He is determined to act.

Anger part 2; Verse 37 + 38:

If God really is the creator of all things, why does not he stop the hunger and suffering of this earth? Why does not he prevent catastrophes and fatalities?

This situation seems to me like a mirror. How often do I put my problems in dark caves and lock them up so that Jesus cannot come through to them. But instead of recognizing and repenting, I begin to doubt God's power.

Ashamed, I realize how great God's grace is. Our fate is not indifferent to him. He suffers with us and is touched by our fate. Even though when we are in his way he is ready to go into our darkest caves and speaks new life into us.

ACTION STEP:

Where have you already put things in caves and checked them off? Are there any stones that you can roll away so that Jesus can speak to your problems?

Mike Schmidt - ICF Reutlingen