Death To The Life Giver Series

Death to the Life Giver

Remember how Mary and Martha greeted Jesus - “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Isn't that how we view things. If God was on the ball, really in charge, if He had things under control, “If God was really paying attention - then this mess wouldn’t have happened.”

But what if we have the wrong idea altogether. What if we are the ones who need to pay attention. What is God all set to do that we are totally unprepared to see! Today we see Jesus enter a battle ground, life against death. Pay close attention to the words that John uses to describe Jesus' attitude to death - and what will result.

John 11:38-57 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Jesus raises Lazarus from a tomb, unheard of - now both must die

Unpack the story

Prefigures or foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection

Chapt. 11 is written to set us up and prepare us for Chapter 20

Passage today begins with Jesus once more deeply moved em-brim-ao-mai Snort with indignation. Only 5 places in the Bible - twice in John 11 vs. 33 and 38

Mk. 14:4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.

It blows my mind that Jesus could snort with indignation

Matt. 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

MK 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

41 Filled with compassion (anger - orgistheis), Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.

Start out by Tossing out the idea of a cuddly Jesus -

Jesus' words are short and curt if not cross - listen to His words! Didn't I tell you... Lazarus! Come out! Take off his grave clothes, let him go...

Jesus snorted at what we call death - Take away the Stone!

Mary “But Lord” - by this time there is a bad odor, KJV - “ by now he stinketh!”

Women always worried about stink! First to smell it - can’t ignore it - have to bring it up.

Church people get worried about stink - don't do anything that will raise a stink. So we don't.

But Jesus did.

Mary was right - by now - Lazarus did Stinketh

The first 4 days of decomposition From Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers," by Mary Roach

Human cells use enzymes to break molecules down into things they can use. While a person is alive, their cells keep these enzymes in check, preventing them from breaking down the cell's own walls. After death, the enzymes operate unchecked and begin eating through the cell structure, allowing the liquid inside to leak out.