Mary: Our Needs in Time of Trial

John 11:28-37

Praise and Prayer

What is one of your greatest disappointments in life? How did you respond? What helped you get through?

In this story of the experience between Jesus and Mary, we see five of the greatest needs we have when we are suffering and going through trials in life.

John 11:28–37 NASB95

When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”

Who are the characters in this story?

What are they doing? Why?

In this passage, we see Mary is struggling with the loss of her brother, and her interaction with Jesus teaches us five of our greatest needs during times of trials.

The first thing we need when we are going through trials is; I. The Message of Christ Vs. 28. When we are going through difficult times we need the gospel. We need the promise of God that everything is going to be alright. That God is in control.

Notice in Vs. 27 Martha made this great confession, “Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

Apparently this confession has filled her with hope. We don’t know what she was expecting. I don’t think she thought her brother would be brought back to life.

But now she had hope and she believed whatever could be done would be done. She wanted to share this hope with her sister.

Look at the end of Vs. 28, “The Teacher is here.”

Notice He is the teacher not a teacher. The word “Master” or “teacher” in Vs. 28. This is the word (didaskalos). This means more than Rabbi or teacher.

This means the supreme teacher, the Master, the one with the ultimate answers in life is here.

That is important because what this means is; the message of Christ can help us through all of our troubles in life, whatever we face. The message of Christ can give us hope when we feel hopeless.

Notice the end of Vs. 28, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

Not only is the teacher here, but he calls for her and He calls for us as well. When ever we are going through something Jesus is calling for us turn to Him and find peace and hope.

Matthew 11:28–29 ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

What does Jesus promise us we will find if we come to Him when we are tired and weary?

In what ways can we seek the message of Christ when facing our own trials?

The second thing we need when we are going through trials is; II. The right response Vs. 29-30

What does Mary do when she hears that Jesus is calling for her?

Many times when we are going through something we want to run from Christ instead of running to Him. Why do you think that is?

Not only does Mary respond quickly but notice she makes her own decision to go. She doesn’t consult with those around her. She gets up and leaves everyone behind and goes to Jesus.

That’s how we all need to respond when we are going through difficult times. She doesn’t worry about her appearance. She doesn’t concern herself with greeting the people in her home. She doesn’t let the distance prevent her from going (remember Jesus had not yet entered the town). She gets up and immediately goes to Jesus.

How can we use Mary’s example in our own life when we are facing trials?

The third thing we need when we are going through trials is; III. The Ministry of others Vs. 31

“Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.”

When we are suffering we need to have people around us who love us and are willing to just be there and support us. Not necessarily offer advice but words of encouragement and fellowship.

I want you notice these people were there to comfort Mary but look what happened. They too, were brought face to face with Jesus, because they follow her to Him. They share in her experience and are given an opportunity to trust the Lord. Vs. 45

What practical steps can we take to support friends who are going through difficult times?

Those mourning with Mary in this story are a clear example for us of the way friends and family should respond to each other, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Jesus. Vs. 33. Acts 20:35.

The fourth thing we need when we are going through trials is; IV. The Confession of Faith Vs. 32

What does Mary do when she sees Jesus?

Notice she calls Him “Lord” this is the Greek word ( Kurious) which means she is acknowledging His ownership of her. This was the way they referred to the Roman Emperors.

Then she expresses the same limited faith that we seen from Martha. She says, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

This is important because it teaches us that even if our faith is weak and limited its okay. If we come to Christ our faith will grow. We don’t need a perfect understanding we need to be in His presence.

How important is it to acknowledge we are complaining and have limited faith when we are struggling?

The fifth thing we need when we are going through times of trial is; “V. The Compassion of Christ Vs. 33-36.

Look at Vs. 33, “ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,”

This word Deeply moved or groaned (KJV). Usually means angered or displeased in the bible. Some scholars suggest Jesus was angry at Satan over the pain caused by sin and death and maybe that’s true. I think the passage is clear though He was feeling sorrow for the suffering of Mary.

Jesus was touched by her sorrow and felt her pain and the need for her to be comforted and the same thing is true in our lives. Jesus sympathizes with our sorrow.

How can the compassion of Christ inspire us to sympathize with others?

Notice His question Vs. 34, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Do you think Jesus knew where the grave was? Again, we see Jesus exercising His humanity.

Notice His reaction Vs. 35, “Jesus wept.” He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Why does He weep? He was sharing in Mary’s suffering. Heb. 4:15.

The final thing we see in the passage is VI. the Misunderstanding of Man Vs. 36-37 “So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”

How do you answer the question everyone wants to know. How could Jesus love us so much and let this happen?

The nature of the world is decay and corruption, trial and trouble, suffering and pain. death and hell, and it is all because of the selfishness of sin. And sometimes the greatest healing in our life takes place when we leave this world and we are at peace and rest in the presence of God for all eternity. 1 Cor. 15:42-44.

In this story of the experience between Jesus and Mary, we see five of the greatest needs we have when we are suffering and going through trials in life.

I. The Message of Christ

II. The right response

III. The Ministry of others

IV. The Confession of Faith

V. The Compassion of Christ

(Prayer requests)