Prayer- A Holy Conversation

Read John 11-12. What do you see about the character of God in this text? What do you see about the nature of God? What do you learn about the love of God?

Note the primary differences between Mary and Martha. Note their similarities.

How does the text characterize the relationship between Jesus and this family?

Read John 11.25-26. How does Martha respond to this statement? How does it change her? How do you respond to this statement of Jesus? How does it change you?

Jesus makes His first Messianic profession not to one of His disciples, but to Martha. What, if anything do you make of this profession?

What does Martha do when she hears this profession?

Read John 11.32-36. What do you learn about Jesus in this interaction? Why does Jesus weep? What was the response of those observing this scene?

How do our tears communicate love to those around us?

Jesus will again weep, this time He will weep over Jerusalem. Read Luke 19.42. Why is Jesus weeping?

Jesus raises Lazaurs from the dead. He then makes this statement, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Jesus invites others to participate in the resurrection of Lazarus. Why is this significant?

Read John 12. Describe the posture of Lazarus at the party. Describe the posture of Mary. Describe the posture of Jesus.

There is a death warrant for Lazarus and yet we find him “reclining” at the table. How can Lazarus be so comfortable?

A few days later, Jesus is crucified. Write the prayers Jesus prays from the cross.

Jesus prays, “It is finished.” What is finished? What is not finished?

Read John 20. How do you see this text a fulfillment of Jesus’ earlier claim to Martha?

What does His resurrection mean to you? What has His resurrection accomplished?

Read Ephesians 2.1, 4-5, and Colossians 2.13-15. What is the implication of this text? Were you really dead? As dead as Lazarus dead?

How might God be inviting you to recline, at His table today?

Praise Him for His resurrection power that is alive in you.

Read all of Matthew 26. What speaks most personally to you in the text? How does the text invite you to view this Passion week with more clarity and intimacy as you walk through these days?

Consider the account in the Garden of Gethsemane. What happens right before this account, and what follows?

Note that Jesus brings His disciples with Him to the Garden, and invites a few disciples to come further in with HIm. Why does He invite them? How does this example encourage you to invite others to pray for you?

How does Jesus describe the condition of His soul? Notice that Jesus shares the condition of His soul with His friends.  Use three words to describe the condition of your soul. Who around you knows the current condition of your soul?

Jesus goes into the Garden on His own to pray. What is Jesus praying about?

Read Isaiah 53.4-5. How do you see this prophecy play out in the Garden, and then at the cross?

Jesus prays for “this cup to pass.” Read Jeremiah 25. In your own words, summarize the “cup.”

What does it mean to you that Jesus would take on the full extent of God’s wrath so you wouldn’t have to experience it?

Read Luke 4.1-13. In what ways was Jesus tempted? How was Jesus able to resist temptation? What parallels if any do you see in the wilderness temptation and in what Jesus was wrestling within the Garden?

Read Hebrews 5.7-8. How did Jesus learn obedience? How is suffering producing obedience in you? How is it not?

The scene ends with Jesus moving confidently toward His friend who is betraying Him. Deeper still, Jesus is moving with courage toward the cross. What does this say about the nature of Jesus? What does it say about His character? What does this say to you about the love of Jesus?

How might this story encourage you to live this Passion Week afresh and aware of His extravagant love for you?

Take a few moments to rest in His prevailing love.

Read John 17.

What speaks to you in Jesus’ prayer today? How does it encourage you to see Jesus pray for his disciples and the future church?

Read John 1:14-18 and look for connections between John’s introduction to his gospel and Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

What comes to mind when you think of God’s glory? How would you describe God’s glory?

John Piper says, “The glory of God is the manifest beauty of his holiness. It is the going-public of his holiness.” How does this help you in understanding God’s glory?

Where have you seen God’s glory in creation?

Read the following verses regarding the glory of God: Luke 2:8-14, Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 3:23, Psalm 8:1-5.

How does a right understanding of God’s glory change your prayers today?

Part of understanding God’s glory is realizing that God, not us, is the hero of the story.  How does this free you today?

Read Philippians 2:8-11 and spend some time giving glory to God for what Christ has done for you and in you.

Read Mark 1. What speaks to you most personally in this first chapter? What does this text say about the nature of God? What does it say about the character of God? What does it say about the love of God? 

In the last few weeks, how have you grown in your understanding and desire to pray? 

Reread Mark 1.29-39. What draws you to Jesus in this portion of the text? 

What drew people to Jesus in the text? Why were people coming to Him? How would you characterize those seeking Jesus? 

In reading these verses and reflecting on the text, where do you find yourself? Do you relate most to Jesus and His need to be in a solitary place? Do you relate most to the disciples, “Everyone is looking for you?” Do you relate most to the sick who are being healed of all kinds of diseases? 

Verse 35 highlights a practice of Jesus that would be His norm: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place where he prayed.” Why was this rhythm important to Jesus? Why would Jesus need to pray or want to pray? What do you think Jesus prayed on this day in His solitary place? 

Do you have a solitary place? What’s your primary purpose for entering into that space? Do you invite anyone to join you there, or to pray for the things you pray for when you are in your solitary place? 

Simon Peter and the disciples go looking for Jesus as “Everyone is looking for you?” Why was Simon Peter looking for Him? What did Simon Peter want from Him? Why was “everyone” looking for Jesus? What did they want from Him? 

How active are you in your pursuit of Jesus? How do you sense His current pursuit of you? 

The verses that follow describe Jesus not returning to Simon Peter’s house, but going “somewhere else…so I can preach there also.” What happened in the solitary place to cause Jesus to go in a different direction? 

How have you been redirected, comforted, and blessed in your solitary place? 

What message did Jesus want to “preach” in the nearby villages? 

Read Hebrews 4.14-16. What does this text tell you about Jesus? What does it tell you about His character? What does it tell you about His love? 

What does it look like for you to “approach the throne of grace with confidence”? 

How do you sense you are in a time of need? Where in your life do you desire a deeper sense of grace and mercy? How do you long for Jesus to touch you as He did those who “gathered at the door”? 

Spend a few moments resting, listening, receiving, and praising.