Take Away The Stone
Discussion Guide
3.6.22
In Person Series John 11
Take Away The Stone
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. John 11:38-39
OPEN
One element of the story told in John 11 is a house full of people who have come to be with Martha and Mary in their moment of grief. Can you recall a time when friends came to your side when you needed them most?
NEXT
John is the only one who tells us the story about Lazarus. It is a climactic moment in the way he is presenting the gospel about Jesus. For that reason, it is also very familiar to us, which means that it is easy to overlook nuanced details because we already know where this is headed. Let’s slow and notice a few things we may have missed or take the time to consider some things afresh. This is also the kind of story that is not difficult to place yourself within. On some level we all can identify with elements of this scene.
Read John 11:1-7 slowly. Notice how many times John highlights the intimate connection that Jesus has with these three siblings. This culminates in verse 7 when John tells us again that Jesus “loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” and then curiously it gives that as a reason why he stayed two more days before going to visit. What do you make of that? How did his love for them motivate his staying rather than his going? Wouldn’t you think he would rush to them quickly because he loved them?
When Jesus does finally arrive, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Both sisters respond to Jesus almost identically. “If you had been here…” Can you relate? It seems we all can find ourselves imagining an “if only..” scenario that might change things. What are some moments in your own life when you have thought “if only…”?
Mary is in tears when she says “if only…” Read 11:33. The word that the NIV translates “deeply moved” is actually a word that describes the snorting of a horse and is almost always associated with anger or outrage. The same word comes up again in 11:38. How does it change things if that words means that Jesus was angry? It’s merely speculation but what do you think he was angry over? Was he mad at Mary and the others for grieving? Was he outraged that Lazarus was dead?
In between those two uses of the word for outrage, splitting the two, is the shortest verse in the Bible.
Jesus wept. (John 11:35) Some have made much of the way this demonstrates Jesus’ humanity. But those who were first reading this had little doubt about Jesus’ humanity. As we have noticed many times now, John has gone to great lengths to show that Jesus was (and is) God in person. Does your picture of God include the kind of God who doesn’t rush to be with a sick friend even when he deeply loves him and his family, knows that the sickness will not end in death, anticipates what is going to happen next and yet STILL weeps with those he loves at the tomb of someone he loves? How does that shape or even challenge your understanding of what God is like?
CLOSING
As we continue this journey through John and toward Easter, pray for a clearer picture of what it means for Jesus to be God in person. And thank him for being the kind of God who weeps with us.