Thoughts on John 11 and 12.

I am writing this blog on the Monday of Holy week; this is the day when Jesus went to the home of His friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, for dinner.  As we read the account in John’s Gospel, we discover that at least some of Jesus’ disciples were also invited to the meal.

Martha was serving, and we can imagine that she was largely responsible for the planning and cooking of the meal.  I feel that this is a very different Martha from the one we read about in Luke 10, when she was ‘worried and upset about many things.’  What had elicited such a change? 

In John 11, Martha had discovered who Jesus really is; she had opened her aching, yearning heart to Him in distress and doubt, and had been met with love, life and restoration.  She now recognised Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, sent into the world, and this made all the difference.

At the point at which clarity came to Martha, nothing material had essentially changed, but she had moved from duty to devotion, from friendship to family, and now she could serve with joy, generosity and gratitude.

These two encounters pivot around the raising from the dead of Martha’s brother, Lazarus.  Lazarus, we assume, was the one who took care of his two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was dead.  What where they to do?  Alongside their grief they must have had some anxiety as to how they would manage.  Each sister took that worry and distress to Jesus, and He wept with them.

Jesus knew that He had power over death, He knew that He would resurrect Lazarus, yet still He mourned with the sisters.  Jesus has won the victory over all our battles, yet still He walks alongside us as we face trials.  He doesn’t give platitudes, He shares our pains and grief.

And so, we come to this scene at the family home, Martha happily serving the meal she has lovingly prepared, Mary devotedly pouring out her precious perfume to anoint Jesus, and Lazarus – he who had been dead  only days earlier – sitting at the table and sharing the meal with Jesus.

That scene is like a snapshot of the change that Jesus makes in lives.

⁹ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 

S many people came to the house, not because they had been invited to the meal, not because they were friends of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, not, at this stage, primarily because they wanted to see Jesus, although their curiosity was piqued about Him, but because they wanted to see Lazarus who had been raised from the dead.

Now, having my own children, I find myself being celebrated on this day and this, too, feels odd. Mothering just is what I am, what I do; my purpose and calling in life now. Why does it feel odd, then, to be celebrated for this?

As I understood what my brother was saying via captions in real-time for the first time, I could imagine the excitement of that day in 1876, as Bell and his assistant witnessed a miracle of successful voice communication across copper wires. The technology has changed since then, but the concept remains the same.

Being sick over Christmas and New Year’s may have driven my

2026 Word for the Year—Sabbath! more. So, I’ll share with you

what the Lord reminded me of and revealed to me:

Angie Fuoco is a board member of IVSS-Churchear and this blog is part of her January 2026 Newsletter

If something is theatrical, it can be said to be over the top.

A bit extreme. 

Unrealistic.

Maybe, as you look at your life, finding time to pause seems unrealistic.

Make it a theatrical pause, then.

Deep thoughts from a programme I never thought I’d watch!

I sense God’s longing that I let myself become a truly genuine person, living who I am without fear.

This Christmas, may our words run out.

As we sing carols, and follow familiar Bible readings, may a

renewed sense of wonder cause the words in our hearts to run

out.

“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.”

As the world becomes more and more complex and uncertain, it is vital for Christians to hold on to the authority and sovereignty of Christ, who is Omnipotent, despite all appearances to the contrary.

When people have been married 25 years, they celebrate their Silver Anniversary.

They’ve been together for 25 years (maybe more, but definitely 25!).

I am not about to announce that I’ve had a secret husband for 25 years, but I am marking a Silver Anniversary of sorts.

The anniversary of what was one of the hardest days of my life.

If we are waiting in life right now, let’s be encouraged that we are waiting in

the right place.

We’ve checked in.

We’re in God’s Presence as we wait.

He knows exactly where we are.

Individually.

Whenever I prioritise tasks over people, phones over connection, I act the opposite way to God our Father: whenever I turn to Him, His full attention is there!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to ‘take hold’ of eternal life.  To take hold of something takes thought, action and effort.  Perhaps, part of our ‘taking hold’ can be making connections, bringing the love and joy that we know in Jesus, into the lives of others, through a smile or a greeting, and, just maybe, helping them feel some contentment.

Here’s the truth: our waiting and seeking is powerful, substantial, and precious to the Lord. He doesn’t hurry us through our seasons of waiting and seeking so He can be good to us. He is good in the midst of our waiting and seeking. Why? Because He is always present and His character is to be good. As He walks with us through our times of waiting and seeking He is good to us. What a beautiful, valuable gift. Nothing else in this world compares to that.

The Lord said to me, ‘do you realise how much joy I feel when you discover and start to use the unique traits and gifts I’ve woven into your life?  Just as Arlo’s true bark perfectly fit his size and character, so your traits and gifts perfectly fit you.  Don’t hide them or apologise for them but dare to let them out of hiding and dare to know the excitement of living them on a daily basis.’

Being profoundly deaf from birth and unable to appreciate the rhythm and cadences of music, even with a powerful digital hearing aid, I had rarely experienced watching the BBC Proms on television until the evening of 20th July.

New mercies each day.

Let’s look out for them.

Where will you see God’s faithfulness today?

The Amazing Invitation to feast at God’s table and share good things with Him and others who have accepted the invitation, requires a response: what will be on your RSVP?

And with that I suddenly understand that my trousers already have everything within them to make them a lovely, smart piece of clothing. My ironing, using the best heat and great care simply restores what they’ve been made to be. How could I call them stupid when they are beautiful and have just given me such an amazing revelation.

I had spent time frantically working out how things could work, and they worked just

fine without me.

What about us with God?

Maybe we treat Him a bit like that microphone sometimes?

We rely on Him.

But then something persuades us that we can’t rely on Him in a particular situation.

So we make backup plans.

Just in case.

And we worry, and fret, and try to sort things for ourselves.