Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 11:7-16

1. We should notice how mysterious are the ways in which Christ sometimes leads His people.
2. We should notice how tenderly Christ speaks of the death of believers.
3. We should notice how much of natural temperament clings to a believer even after conversion.

"If Christians were allowed to choose their own course through life they would never learn hundreds of lessons about Christ and His grace which they are now taught in God’s ways."

"The grave itself is a conquered enemy. It must render back its tenants safe and sound, the very moment that Christ calls for them at the last day."

"We must not expect all God’s children to be exactly one and the same. Each tree in a forest has its own peculiarities of shape and growth and yet all at a distance look one mass of leaf and growth."

Questions:

1. In this passage, Jesus leads his disciples back into Judea, and back into danger, and they are confused by this decision, yet they never looked back wondering why. Ryle points out that this has great comfort for us, as we often do not know why God is leading us a certain way but can trust it is for our good. Is there any situation you can look back on which didn't make sense at the time but you can see the wisdom in? Are there any situations currently like this? Are you exercising faith and patience in it?
2. Jesus refers to Lazarus' death as him falling asleep. Ryle draws much comfort and courage for us in these words as the grave is a conquered enemy who must give up its tenants safe and sound when Christ calls! Do we have this confidence before our Lord that we can lie down and sleep for He makes us dwell in safety?
3. We see the temperament of Thomas here as similar to needing to see Jesus to believe after his resurrection. Ryle points out that becoming a Christian doesn't eliminate the various temperaments we have, and that we should be careful in making judgments about such things. An example would be seeing a brother or sister who is very cheerful and thinking of those who are not like this as either not being saved or even being less mature or something. Do we know anything of this? What temperaments do we have that might have us think we are lesser or greater than others?