Series: Journey to the Cross
Text: John 11:1-7, 21-47
Title: “I am the Resurrection”
I. The Glory of God (1-7)
Vv. 1-3
• We find out that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha has become sick.
o The two sisters send word to Jesus, expecting Him to come and do something about the situation.
o We know this from vv. 21, 32.
o They wanted Jesus just to take this situation away, remove this burden.
o Which is often how we pray?
• We often don’t see or understand why we must suffer through pain, or disease, or the loss of life, we just want God to take it away.
o Jesus gives us some insight into the reason in vs. 4.
• First we see that Jesus hears their request.
o He always hears, He is never too busy to listen to the cares and concerns of His followers.
o *read: No One Understands Like Jesus
• “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
o What a miraculous truth.
o Suffering doesn’t just happen for no reason, but there is a plan and a purpose behind it.
o Let me let you in on a little secret; sometimes that plan and purpose has nothing to do with us, sometimes it does but often it does not.
o What was happening here had nothing to do with Mary or Martha or even Lazarus; however God was going to be glorified through this what a blessing.
1 Peter 1:6-7 -- 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
o We are to have this attitude even we don’t get the answer we are looking for.
Vv. 5-6
• Jesus loved them, that was not the issue at all, but He still waited where He was 2 more days.
o Sometimes when we ask God the answer is yes, sometimes it’s no (like Paul’s thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness”) and sometimes the answer is to wait.
Vs. 7
II. The Promise of God (21-27)
Vv. 21-22
• While Martha was obviously disappointed in the outcome of the situation; she did not question Jesus or turn her back on Him, but still kept her faith in Him.
o In other words she was saying, “Thy will be done, not mine.”
Vv. 23-26
• Certainly Lazarus was going to rise again, even if Martha did not quite understand what Jesus was saying specifically; but not Lazarus only but all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
o That was Christ’s promise to Martha on that day and remains His promise to everyone today that trusts on His name.
o Jesus alone can make that promise because He claimed victory over death once and for all.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 -- 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• But once again Jesus makes it personal, “Do you believe this?”
Vs. 27
• Martha answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
o The words we saw last week used by Peter, yes she did believe.
o Again even in the face of difficult and uncertain times, her faith was strong.
III. The Emotion of God (33-37)
• Jesus shows 3 different emotions here: 1. He groaned in the spirit. 2. He was troubled. 3. He wept.
• “He groaned in the spirit”
o This phrase literally means “to snort like a horse” which was used to express deep anger.
• “He was troubled.”
o Meaning He was agitated.
o I believe Jesus’ emotions here goes far beyond just those who were mourning around Him.
o Jesus was angry because it was not supposed to be like this; we were created to live forever in peace with God.
o However suffering and death are a result of sin.
• “Jesus wept.”
o Literally He burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.
o Jesus was not crying over the death of Lazarus, He already said that he would not die.
o Jesus was crying because He knew where He was about to go (Calvary) and what he was going to do there (cross), Jesus knew He was the only hope they had, and yet when He looked into their hearts He saw rejection and hatred.
o I have often wondered how many in the crowd that day were also in the crowd at his trial screaming “crucify Him, crucify Him.”
• These verses are a beautiful illustration of the humanity of Christ, but what comes next is a powerful illustration of the deity of Christ.
IV. The Power of God (38-47)
Vv. 38-39
• The situation was hopeless in their eyes.
o They believed the spirit stayed with the body for 3 days and then left for good.
o So even if Jesus was considering bringing Lazarus back to life it was too late.
Vv. 40-44
• The power of God through faith.
o “if you would believe.”
o If our faith is too small, maybe then our idea of God is too small.
• The power of being thankful, know that God hears us.
o “Father I thank You that You have heard Me.”
• The power over death.
o “Lazarus come forth.”
Vv. 45-47
• This single event sealed Jesus’ fate, the die was now cast.
• What is our approach to suffering and trials, do we ask why is God doing this to me or are we thankful that God is doing this for me?
