Master Plan – John 11: 36-38a

Then the Jews said, ”See how he loved him!”
But some of them said, ”Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.

Sometimes a guy just can’t do anything right. Jesus demonstrates compassion towards Mary and the loss of her brother and while some people see, “…how he loved him!” Other people seem to complain; couldn’t he have kept this man from dying? Yet even the complaints move Jesus because they speak of faith in what he could have done.

Oddly, it is the “could’ve” part of faith that sometimes leads us astray or into bitterness. Jesus “could’ve” done anything he wanted, even as they were putting him on the cross he could have stopped everything and administered justice on the spot. (Matthew 26:53) Yet God has a Master Plan. His perspective is vastly larger than our own viewpoint. Even in the personal loss we sometimes experience in life, God has a plan and the means to turn tragedy into good. (Romans 8:28)

Let’s Discuss: Do you believe that in “all things,” even the really bad ones, God is able to “work for the good of those who love Him” as it says in Romans 8:28? How would you explain this to the person sitting next to you?

9 Replies to “Master Plan – John 11: 36-38a”

  1. Jesus gave his life; if you accept him as Saviour you get eternal life. That’s the deal. Jesus doesn’t owe us anything else.
    He doesn’t owe us wealth.
    He doesn’t owe us health.
    He doesn’t owe us a job.
    He doesn’t owe us a faithful spouse.
    He doesn’t owe us obedient children.
    He doesn’t owe us a long earthly life.
    But he has promised an eternal life with Him.

    My three minutes are up.

  2. I understand my limitations in answering “why”. More than that I trust the person, that’s the big thing for me – it come down to personal trust in someone greater than myself.

    1. Nathan,
      You bring up a great point; several in fact. Understanding that Jesus is a person, a real person, and that we can trust Him no matter what is a big deal.

  3. Romans 8: 28 is a great verse and also often misused. In the context it is to people who are suffering. Their present sufferings are not worth being compared to their future glory in their eternal inheritance. I think I would tell someone next to me that not matter what, even if something leads to death and suffering, Jesus wins in the end through what He has done on the cross for us. Those who love Jesus and place their faith in Him have an eternal destiny that is beyond compare to any evil experienced in this world. I also believe Jesus will grieve with us and empower us to face the adversities of this life. He really can make all things work together for the good. It is a perspective to keep when things are tough, because in this life we will most definitely experience trouble and hardship.

    1. Rich,
      Thank you! I love how you have expanded on the theme and helped us understand the need for the right perspective on this world; a Jesus-centric perspective.

  4. God’s view from heaven – our view from earth.

    There are moments he lets us see his view. Those moments he doesn’t let us see it. This ‘being in the dark’ requires faith on our part that he knows best.

    1. Hi DJ!
      You bring up a great point. Faith is being willing to follow Jesus even when, and maybe especially when, we can’t know where he is leading us.

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