Prayer: Gracious God our hearts cry out to you. This season we are living in is full of struggles and trials. We know you feel our pains and hear our cries. We trust and hope in you and for great things to come. Be with us and give us peace. AMEN
Reading: John 11:32-44 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This Biblical story is one that is referenced to a lot because it has the famous verse: “Jesus wept”. When I hear that, I know that Jesus has much love for Lazarus and his sisters. Jesus feels their pain and shares in their emotion of grief. Jesus shows his human side when he cried. That next portion of the story is where we see him doing what only God can do, and that is raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus performs a miraculous deed for the sake of the people. Jesus shows compassion and shows everyone the glory of God. I imagine much rejoicing happens next, but that is not stated in the Biblical text. Of course, the raising of Lazarus from the dead does not go unnoticed. It was a sign of God’s power being done through Jesus. I believe that many people would have become believers that day. Some believed but did not like what they were seeing. They were afraid of that power and influence. God’s power is truly one to be in awe of. God brings us through hard times and raises our spirits. God’s power is something that we need to shout about from the mountaintops. --Charlene Rineer
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