What Jesus Did! 'Crying Out to Jesus!' — John 11:3-4

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

[When Lazarus, their brother, was sick, Mary and Martha] sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend is very sick."

But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

— John 11:3-4 NLT

Key Thought

Sometimes we have no answers, and all we can do is cry out to Jesus and ask for his help! We don't know what he knows. We can't see to the end of the matter. Everything looks lost from our viewpoint. So in our desperation, we cry out for help. But why does it take desperation to cause us to cry out to him and ask for his help? Why don't we start each day by crying out to him for help, asking him to enter into our world, our homes, our lives, and our hearts? The reminder that Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks wasn't written to the lost, but to the saved who had begun to take their walk with Jesus for granted. [1] So let's not wait till desperation sets in to cry out and to invite him in!

[1] Revelation 3:15, 19-20.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for being ever near. Thank you for coming all the way here to earth. Thank you for making Jesus available. And now, dear Savior, I cry out and ask you into my heart. I know you are always here and always near, but I want you to know you are welcome here. I open myself willingly to you. Your wisdom, strength, care, healing, guidance, love, inspiration, tenderness, strength, and power are always welcome and needed in my life. Please come alive in me. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of John 11:3-4 NLT — "Lord, your dear friend is very sick." —— "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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