If You Would Have Been Here…

Resurrecting Hope: Week 2/ If You Would Have Been Here…

Text: John 11:1-7NIV

Throughout history the Church has been instilled with hope in the face of life’s trials, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter is a reminder that the Christian lives day in and day out, with power that can overcome any challenge.

In our darkest days, resurrection gives us light. In overwhelming discouragement— resurrection gives us faith.

In the midst of devastating loss, resurrection gives us joy.

In times of divisiveness, resurrection gives us something that unifies us.

In John 11, we are introduced to a family that consists of Mary, Martha, and a man named, Lazarus.

This family is heartbroken to find that the brother, Lazarus, is gravely ill.

Apparently Jesus has a history with this family. He spent time with Mary and Martha in their home, and Lazarus is described as a person— Jesus loves.

John 11:1-7NIV Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus to come quickly, because they had hopes that Jesus would heal their brother.

Matthew 8:17NASB This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “He Himself took our illnesses and carried away our diseases.”

Again, 5&6—Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, her stayed where he was two more days,

I’m I the only one, or does this seem strange to you? Jesus sees beyond our pain, usually during a stressful event or tragedy, we search for the—why?

The Lord spoke this simple word to me, “We don’t need to know the ‘why’, we need to know the ‘who.” For every believer the 'Who' is Jesus!

Once more surprisingly, when Jesus gets word of Lazarus’ state, He decides to remain where He is for two more days, rather than come to Lazarus’ aid. Why?

Why not come as soon as you receive the call for help? Jesus answers this question in the text.

Jesus’ delay will somehow give glory to God in the end. (For the child of God, what looks like a disaster, God will produce His glory)!

The apostle Paul penned, Romans 8:28AMP And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

All things working together, means—All Things!

Again, John 11:4TM When Jesus got the message, he said, “This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son.”

For the believer—delay, means praise; Delay- means, God’s up to something big.

John 11:7TM After the two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

Notice, after two extended days, Jesus states, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

Isaiah 40:29, 31AMP He gives strength to the weary, And to him who has no might He increases power.

31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

John 11:35AMP Jesus wept.

If we want to know how God responds to loss, look no further than Jesus’ tears.

Jesus entered into pain with Mary and Martha and, He wept.

Psalm 56:8ESV You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

The shortest verse in the Bible describes the heartbeat of God: Again, Jesus wept.

Testimony—The hardest part of a funeral begins when the casket is opened. I thought I had cried until I saw daddy in his casket.

Lazarus was Jesus’ good friends. It all looked like one big mistake. If Jesus would have been there, Lazarus would not have died.

Today we find that resurrected hope meets us in the midst of sorrow and grief.