John 11:17-27| On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Do you believe this, Martha?”

Look to whom Jesus asked this question: a bereaved, heartbroken sister.

Look at where Jesus stood as he asked this question: a cemetery.

Look at when Jesus asked this question: four days too late. Lazarus, his friend, was four days dead, four days buried.

Maybe she answered with the conviction of a triumphant angel, fists pumping the air. Give her reply a dozen exclamation marks if you want, but I don’t. I hear a meek “Yes, Lord . . . I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God” (v. 27 NLT).

Martha wasn’t ready to say Jesus could raise the dead. Even so, she gave him a triple tribute: “the Messiah,” “the Son of God,” and “the one who has come into the world.” She mustered a mustard-seed confession. Her expression of belief was enough for Jesus. Yours is too.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. We would like to thank HarperCollins/Zondervan/Thomas Nelson for providing this plan.

John 6:1-15 | Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus didn’t have to use the boy’s bread. He could have turned the nearby bushes into fruit trees. He could have caused the Galilean sea to spew out an abundance of fish. Instead, he chose to use the single basket of the small boy.

What’s in your basket? All you have is a wimpy prayer? Give it. All you have is a meager skill? Use it. All you have is an apology? Offer it. It’s not for you and me to tell Jesus our gift is too small. God can take a small thing and do a big thing. God used the whimper of baby Moses to move the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter. He used David’s sling and stone to overthrow the mighty Goliath. He used three nails and a crude cross to redeem humanity. If God can turn a basket into a buffet, don’t you think he can do something with your five loaves and two fishes of faith?

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. We would like to thank HarperCollins/Zondervan/Thomas Nelson for providing this plan.

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
John 2:1-11 | On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

John’s gospel could well have been subtitled That You May Believe.

Why tell about the water-to-wine miracle? So you would believe that Jesus can restore what life has taken.

Why tell about the lame man who took up his mat or the blind man who washed the mud from his eyes? That you might believe in a Jesus who sees a new version of us and gives new vision to us.

Why walk on water, feed the thousands, and raise the dead? That you would believe God still calms the storms of life, still solves the problems of life, and still brings the dead to life.

Need grace? Jesus’ work of redemption is still finished.

Need reassurance that it’s all true? The tomb is still empty.

Need a second chance? The coal fire is still burning on the Galilean shore.

All these events stand together as one voice, cheering you on, calling on you to believe that this miracle-working God cares for you, fights for you, and will come to your aid.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. We would like to thank HarperCollins/Zondervan/Thomas Nelson for providing this plan.

Psalm 22:3 | Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.

You don’t have to be in a church service in order for God’s presence to inhabit your praises. You can be at home and turn your living room into a cathedral if you’ll start talking to God about who He is. Why? Because when you talk to God about who He is, you are praising Him.

Start saying, “Lord, You are the Ancient of Days. You met my needs in the past, You’re meeting my needs now, and You’ll meet my needs tomorrow. You’re the One who created the heavens and earth. That means that everything in my life that needs to be made new, You can do it because You’ve already done it before. You’re the Shepherd of the stars, and You’ve numbered and called them by name. You measure the mountains in a scale, and the hills You hold in a balance. You’re the God who has made the lame to leap and the blind to see. You are the King above all kings and Lord above all lords. Today I am speaking to God Almighty, and I declare that You are great and greatly to be praised!”

If you start talking to God like that, I assure you that you will have an audience with the Father.

Today’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the great and mighty King and that You inhabit my praises. I believe that in Your presence is the fullness of joy and that Your glory will fill my life with power in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. We would like to thank the author(s) for providing this plan and they retain all rights.

Psalm 100:4 | Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

My children know that whatever they need, I’ll give everything I have to supply it, but they can’t whine. I think God’s the same way in heaven. He doesn’t have a customer service department where you get to record your complaint calls. I don’t think He listens. Rather, He commands us to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise to bless His name! He says to give thanks “in all things” and not just when everything seems right and you feel thankful. You have to be thankful “always.”

Did you know that the “gates” David wrote about were where the judges sat, and that the “courts” were where the judges ruled? What the Bible is saying is that if you want God to rule on your behalf, don’t go into the heavenly places complaining about what’s wrong. Rather, lift up your hands and say, “God, thank You that You’ve brought me through storms before, and You’re going to bring me through this one. Thank You that You’re going to give me strength to overcome and victory in this battle and hope for tomorrow. Bring glory to Your great name.

Today’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the glory and the lifter of my head. I enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise and raise my voice and ask You to rule my life for You are worthy. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. We would like to thank the author(s) for providing this plan and they retain all rights.