Jesus Encounters: Mary and Martha
In their encounter with Jesus, Mary and Martha discovered that on the road of suffering, we need to remember Jesus’ tender love, His timing, His truth, His tears, and His triumph.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- As a group, look back at John 11:1-44. What stands out to you about the way that Jesus ministers to Mary and Martha?
- David’s main idea was, “When we suffer, Jesus ministers to us with his tender love, timing, truth, tears, and triumph.” Which of those five “T’s” have you found the most comforting when you have suffered?
- Jesus is a model of ministering both with truth and tears.
- When was a time in your life where someone supported you in suffering with truth, tears, or both?
- What can happen when we minister with all truth and no tears?
- What can happen when we minister with all tears and no truth?
- Read the story right after Jesus raises Lazarus in John 11:45-53. What are the different responses to Jesus raising Lazarus? How do those responses compare with the way that people respond to Jesus today?