Jesus And Lazarus

Title: The Resurrection and the Life

Theme: The Giver of Life can give life and freedom to you.

Text: John 11:1 - 43

Introduction

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love (not agape but phileo (eros is the other) This is a friendship type love, God loves us not because He has to but because He wants a relationship) is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Jesus said this about the blind man in John 9:3 – 5. This was so that God may receive the glory.

Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (there was no doubt that the messenger went back and told them that Jesus said, “This sickness was not unto death”. Jesus waited two more days, so a total of four days. As we learn in verse 14 Lazarus died)

This doesn’t make sense unless you know that Jesus is up to something.

Heatbreaking story of a man who has died and two sisters who are struggling with his death. These two sisters Mary & Martha and this man who has died Lazarus were good friends with Jesus. When Jesus would come to town he would more than likely stay at their house. So this was not just your run of the mill people they were close to Jesus.

When Lazarus got sick they sent word to Jesus. Not just to let him know but they were expecting Jesus to come and heal him. They had seen him do it for many people so they expected him to do it again.

But noticed when they sent the word to Jesus he just says. Ok. We will get there. I have got some stops to make then I will get there.

I mean have you ever felt this way when you pray. Just be honest. You pray and you wait. Nothing happens. You may even think to yourself, “self, you know he must be busy helping someone else.”

Have you ever called into one of those companies? You get a voice mail that tells you to please hang on and the next representative will be with you. Your wait time is 6 minutes. You know that they must be in a different time zone or something because 30 minutes later you are still waiting.

This must have been how they felt.

But Jesus knew what he was up to. And can I tell you he knows what he is up to today. He knows why you are here. He does hear your request but there may be more to the story.

Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to get there but it is going to be a few more days. Notice he says he is going to go and “wake him up”. Wake him up, one time he is sick now he is asleep. No this is more than sleep Lazarus is dead.

Exchange between Jesus and Martha

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."