Introduction

Welcome, beloved, to another beautiful day that the Lord has made, a day filled with promise and potential, a day to gather together in fellowship and faith, to lift our hearts and voices in praise and prayer. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has brought us together to share in His word, to seek His wisdom, and to surrender to His will. We are gathered here, not as strangers, but as a family, a community of believers bound by the love of Christ and the power of His Gospel.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the eleventh chapter of John, a passage that speaks of life and death, of faith and doubt, of human weakness and divine power. It is a passage that challenges us, that provokes us, that invites us to see the world, and our place in it, through the lens of God's eternal perspective.

The Scripture reads: "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:1-4)

This is a story of a man named Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, who fell gravely ill. It is a story of sisters, Mary and Martha, who called upon Jesus in their hour of need. But most importantly, it is a story of Jesus Himself, who in His infinite wisdom and divine power, chose not to heal Lazarus immediately, but to allow him to die, so that in his resurrection, God's glory might be revealed.

Manifestation of Jesus' Power Over Death

Jesus, upon hearing of Lazarus' illness, said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." These words were not meant to deny the reality of Lazarus' death. Rather, they were meant to reveal a greater truth. A truth that transcends the physical realm and touches the spiritual. A truth that speaks of a power that is not bound by the limitations of this world. A truth that declares the sovereignty of God over life and death.

In the story of Lazarus, we see this truth come to life. We see Jesus, not as a mere man, but as the Son of God. We see Him not as a healer, but as the resurrection and the life. We see Him not as a victim of circumstances, but as the master of all.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. The reality of his death was undeniable. The sorrow of his sisters was palpable. The hope for a miracle was all but lost. Yet, in the midst of this, Jesus stood firm. He stood firm in His faith. He stood firm in His power. He stood firm in His purpose.

Jesus, in the face of death, spoke words of life. He said, "Lazarus, come forth." And Lazarus, who was dead, came back to life. He came out of the tomb, still wrapped in his grave clothes, but alive. Alive, not by the power of man, but by the power of God. Alive, not by the laws of nature, but by the command of Jesus. Alive, not as a testament to human ability, but as a testament to divine authority.

This miracle was not just about bringing Lazarus back to life. It was about demonstrating the power of Jesus over death. It was about showing that death, in all its finality, is not final in the hands of Jesus.

Miracle Behind the Miracle: Spiritual Implications

The first spiritual implication we encounter is the recognition of God's perfect timing ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO