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12 friends have opened a study shared with them.
When one of my friends died, his wife prayed for three days that God would raise him from the dead. She reasoned that Jesus loved him and loved her, so his death could be reversed. His funeral was heavy with the burden of unanswered prayers.
Read John 11:1-16
Oh no, Lazarus is sick? They sent a messenger, so this is urgent. We should go. But why is Jesus delaying? He can teach anywhere, but if we rush, maybe he can help his friend. Wait, actually, why are we going at all? If Lazarus is dead, there's no need to risk our lives. If he's only asleep, then he'll get better by himself. Still, Jesus says it's daytime, so he wants us to walk there now. It's Judea that we're afraid of. That's where a mob nearly stoned him (and maybe us). You can still feel the weight of those stones in your chest. Now Jesus is telling us that Lazarus is dead, and he's glad he wasn't there. His friend is dead and he's glad? And we need to leave now? Sometimes Jesus doesn't explain the plan. He just says, "Let's go." Not every unanswered prayer means God looked away. But standing in the middle of it, you can't tell the difference. Both my wife and I had dream jobs in Boston, but we had a one-year-old daughter and wanted to prioritize family over our careers. Still, after we resigned, we felt the terror of the unknown: Wait, what if we don't find good jobs in Atlanta? Thomas steps forward: "Let's go too so that we may die with him." Perhaps we should call Doubting Thomas "Daring Thomas." He doesn't know why Jesus is risking his life to see a dead man, but he's willing to go. Thomas isn't daring because he's foolish. He's daring because he knows Jesus is good. Twice, Jesus says, "Let's go." Thomas echoes him and says to his friends, "Let's go with him." Jesus is doing something Thomas can't understand. But Thomas responds in faith and starts walking to Bethany. He can't see it yet, but Jesus is walking toward the most spectacular miracle of his ministry.
What stands out to you about Thomas in this passage? Does "Daring Thomas" fit better than "Doubting Thomas"?
Have you ever obeyed God in a way that scared you? What did you learn about God on the other side of that decision?
Is there an area of your life right now where you feel like Thomas, making a costly decision to follow Jesus without fully understanding where he's taking you?
Ask a friend: "What's one decision you're making right now where you can't see how it ends?" Then tell them your answer. Then ask God how you can keep walking in faith together.
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