Play-by-Play: John (2/3)Sample

Do You Believe?

Theme verses: “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’” John 11:39-40

We Are Marshall is a film that shows the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash killing 75 people: 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, along with five coaches, two athletic trainers, and the athletic director.

Matthew McConaughey stars as head coach Jack Lengyel who rebuilds the program whose player needed to believe in the impossible. Here is a quote from the movie when McConaughey tries to get his players to look past their pain and see a better future:

“Today, I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They’re bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced and on paper, they’re just better. And they know it too. But I want to tell you something that they don’t know. They don’t know your heart. I do. I’ve seen it.”

Perspective makes all the difference. While the Marshall team needed to believe in the impossible and how they could defeat their opponents, Jesus defeats the greatest enemy of all by raising Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11. The raising of Lazarus was His greatest miracle so far and the one that was the climactic miracle of the Lord’s early ministry. He emphasizes faith in John 11. There is some form of the word believe in at least eight accounts.

Perspective also brought a turning point in the lives of three groups of people Jesus sought to encourage: the Disciples (11:1-16), the sisters (11:17-40), and the Jews (11:41-57). If Jesus Christ could do nothing about death, then whatever else He did amounts to nothing. As believers, we know joy because death has been defeated!

A Kingdom Coach and Athlete believe “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

H.E.A.R.

As you read today’s chapter, journal using the H.E.A.R method:

H (Highlight) - What stands out to you? If something stands out to you, it’s likely God pulling you toward a certain portion of scripture.

E (Explain) - Describe in context the text. Ask questions like: Why was this written? To whom was it originally written? How does this fit with the verses before and after? Why did the Holy Spirit include this passage in the book?

A (Apply) - How do you take this verse beyond the page? Ask questions like: How can this help me? What does this mean today? What would the application of this verse look like in my life? What is God saying to me?

R (Respond) - This is where you will write a measurable response to the truth God revealed. Maybe it will be a call to action, something you will change in the coming week. Maybe it will be a prayer asking God to help you work this truth into your life. Whichever, make sure it is measurable so you can hold yourself accountable in your growth as a disciple.