Where's God? Finding Him in the Small Stuff

They had walked with Jesus for three years, learning at His feet, watching His miracles, and devoting their lives to Him. They arrive at the Last Supper expecting it to be like the other Passover meals they have shared with Jesus. Then He says, "One of you is going to betray Me." What? How would you have reacted if you had been one of them? At the end of the meal, they go outside where, John tells us, "It was dark." An interesting comment, don't you think?

As Jesus sat at the Last Supper with His disciples, He knew them well, and He knew which one would betray Him. How did He know? Surprisingly, He knew them because He had watched them, and He had seen something different in Judas. Also in this episode, we will look at a prophecy about Jesus and Judas in the Old Testament, from Psalm 41.

When Jesus confided to His disciples, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life," He had just done something rather extraordinary. He had washed their feet before sitting down to the Last Supper. This was a fitting context for the astonishing statement. He was challenging them, and us, to do what He did, with a promise for us if we do.

The people who stood at the tomb of Lazarus had three different reactions when Jesus raised him from the dead. What were they? What made Jesus weep there? What feelings was He experiencing? When Lazarus walked out of that tomb, what did it prove about Jesus?

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, there were actually two "resurrections" taking place, as John describes it in his gospel. One Resurrection had a "big R" and the other had a "small r." Which one was which? Jesus also asked a question during this miracle that is one we all must answer for ourselves. And we hear Martha's mature understanding of who Jesus is now, even though she thinks He has disappointed her. A large crowd had gathered at Lazarus' tomb, which was important to Jesus' ultimate purpose.

When Jesus finally arrived at the home of Mary and Martha, their brother Lazarus was already dead and buried.  Their first words to Jesus were, "If only you had been here."  Was this a statement of anger, or blame, or faith?  What did Martha expect Jesus to do when she said to Him, "Whatever You ask of God, He will do?"  Could she have anticipated what would happen next at Lazarus' tomb after Jesus proclaimed, "I Am the resurrection and the life?"

Lazarus was ill, dying, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, had sent word to Jesus, counting on Him to drop everything and help them by healing their brother.  They waited, and waited, but no Jesus.  When He did arrive, it was too late. Lazarus was dead and buried.  How did Mary and Martha feel about Jesus at that point? Did He meet their expectations?  Does He meet ours?  Or, does Jesus have a better plan?

"Light" in the Bible often equates to salvation. In Psalm 27, David wrote, "The Lord is my light and my salvation." So when Jesus proclaimed, "I AM the Light of the World," He was saying that, through Him, we can find salvation. And when Jesus is your "Light and your salvation," then He resides, He guides, and He decides. The response of the Pharisees to what Jesus was saying was a low blow.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day knew Isaiah 42 and Isaiah 49 like the back of their hands. God had inspired the prophet to write about His Messiah as the "Light of the World." So when they heard Jesus say, "I AM the Light of the World," they understood exactly what He was claiming. He was the Messiah. It shook their world with an earthquake of resentment and anger. But it is good news for every believer!

When Jesus proclaimed, "I AM the Light of the World," it came out of the context of the Feast of Tabernacles. During that celebration, an impressive "light ceremony" took place when huge menorahs in Jerusalem were filled with oil and set on fire. Jesus had attended the Feast, and He used the symbolism of the light ceremony to apply to Himself.