Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of faith. It is a joy to be standing here before you today, united in our love for God and His Word. We gather here, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters, bound by the love of Christ, eager to draw closer to Him. Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds to the gospel of John, specifically John 11:41-44.

In these verses, we find a profound narrative that speaks directly to our human experience. We see faith in the face of death, freedom found in forgiveness, and fulfillment through following Christ. These are not abstract ideas, but realities lived out in the life of Christ and echoed in our own lives.

As we approach this text, I am reminded of the words of the great preacher Timothy Keller, who once said, "It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you." Indeed, our faith is not in our own abilities or in the circumstances around us, but in the person of Jesus Christ.

Let us read the scripture passage together: "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:41-44, KJV)

Faith in the Face of Death

In the face of death, we see a profound demonstration of faith. Here, in the midst of a situation that seems hopeless, we see Jesus standing firm, His eyes lifted to the heavens, His heart filled with unshakeable trust in His Father. He is not daunted by the reality of death. Instead, He stands in the face of it with a faith that is steadfast and unwavering.

This is not a faith that denies the reality of death. It does not ignore the pain and sorrow that comes with loss. Instead, faith sees beyond the grave. It looks to the One who holds the keys of death and Hades in His hands. It trusts in the One who has promised to wipe away every tear from our eyes, the One who will make all things new.

In the midst of the darkness of death, this faith shines like a beacon of hope. It is a faith that says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." It is a faith that says, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" This is the kind of faith we see in Jesus as He stands before the tomb of Lazarus. It is a faith that is deeply personal, deeply relational.

Jesus knows His Father. He knows His Father's heart. He knows His Father's love. And because He knows His Father, He trusts His Father.

In the face of death, we see a profound demonstration of faith. A faith that is deeply personal, deeply relational. A faith that is grounded in knowledge, grounded in experience, grounded in relationship. A faith that takes action, that speaks words of life, that calls forth life from the grave. A faith that is bold, that is courageous, that stands firm in the face of death. This is the kind of faith we are called to have. We are to say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"!

Finding Freedom in Forgiveness

As we continue to reflect on the passage from John 11, we see that in the midst of the miraculous, there is a profound message of forgiveness ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO