The School of Jesus: When life is not what we expected
Have you ever felt like life didn’t go the way you thought it would? That somehow, even when you’ve done all the right things, the outcome still surprises or even disappoints you?
Welcome to the School of Jesus—the place where unexpected lessons become spiritual formation, and where Jesus teaches us that relationship with Him is the greatest outcome of all.
We often talk about the “school of life,” where experiences shape us. Some people wear their life lessons like a badge of honour. And yet, there’s a deeper school available to us all—a school where Jesus is both the teacher and the curriculum. In John 11, we find one of His most profound lessons.
Lesson 1: When Jesus Doesn’t Show Up (Yet)
Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was dying. They expected Him to come immediately. But He didn’t. And Lazarus died. Yet, Scripture says clearly, “Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.” (John 11:5). Sometimes Jesus delays, not because He doesn’t care, but because there’s a greater purpose at work—a deeper glory to be revealed. The story reminds us not to give up on day 40. Day 41 is coming. Breakthrough, resurrection, and hope are closer than we think.
Lesson 2: When the Real Answer Is Jesus Himself
When Jesus finally arrives, Martha says, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She believes in His power but doesn’t yet see that the true gift is His presence. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not just a future hope—but a present relationship. Sometimes, we don’t need an answer; we need Jesus.
Lesson 3: When Jesus Weeps With Us
Even though Jesus knew Lazarus would live again, He still wept with the mourners. He didn’t skip over their pain. He entered into it. That’s the kind of Saviour we have—one who not only saves but sympathises. He understands loss, abandonment, and sorrow. He is with us in the grief, not just after it.
Lesson 4: When God’s Timing Brings Glory
Eventually, Jesus raises Lazarus. But the journey is slow and confusing. Why didn’t He act sooner? Why allow the heartbreak? Because Jesus was leading them—and us—to a deeper trust. He wasn’t interested in a quick fix; He was building faith.
Sometimes life feels like a story gone wrong. But perhaps, like Sam and Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, we’ve stumbled into a bigger story than we realised—one where our part, though painful, is still purposeful. Even when we don’t see it, God is shaping us, moulding us, forming us like clay in the potter’s hands (Jeremiah 18:4).
So today, enrol in the School of Jesus. Not the kind that guarantees comfort, but the kind that promises His presence.
A simple daily prayer:
“Jesus, I trust You with this. Show me something about You today.”
That’s where the lesson begins
