You Should See Me Now
This morning I want to look at the story in John about Lazarus. The complete story of Lazarus is really incredible story to look at. The impact of all that took place is amazing and should serve as example of the impact that our own life should make. If you have been around church very much at all then you most likely have heard the story of Lazarus and how that Jesus raised him from the dead. Today I want to take a fresh look at this miraculous event. Now this family were not strangers to Jesus in fact Lazarus and his sisters Mary & Martha were good friends of Jesus. In fact when the sisters sent a message to Jesus about Lazarus, it said “Lord. Your dear friend is very sick”. So this is someone that has a relationship with Jesus. When He gets the message he delays in coming right away and then a couple of days later He tells the disciples they need to go because our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep and I need to wake him up… then He made it clear to them that he was in fact dead. So they head to Bethany and talk with Mary & Martha about his death… let’s pick the story up here.
34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
John 11:34-44
Now this is a rather simple story to see the main point in. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It is kind of hard to top a story like that. Lazarus was dead in the tomb for 4 days and I can assure you that his body was wreaking of stench. The sisters and friends have been in mourning and it has been a tough period. They knew that had Jesus been there that Lazarus could have been healed and yet here they are… at the tomb. The grave of their brother and friend.
Now let me tell you something about this moment. It is not just something that started on this day. This was a relationship that was birthed during this crisis. Lazarus and his sisters knew Jesus, they believed in Jesus and they cared about Jesus. They had hung out, eaten dinner together, listened to Jesus teach. They had a relationship before this situation ever developed.
I want you to understand today that right now is the time to have your relationship with Jesus. Today is the time to follow Him, to live for Him. There is a real benefit in Knowing Christ that goes beyond an eternity in Heaven. So many people live their life wanting to stay connected just enough to Jesus to make Heaven. They all hope that they will have enough time at the end to make sure things are right. They want Jesus to be a part of when they die but they do not give Him the place in their life while they live.
Now it is true that Jesus came and gave His life so that you might believe on Him and live with Him for eternity, but He also came that you might have life NOW. In John 10:10 Jesus states that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. In the NLT translation Jesus says
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:10
You see there is something to be said for following Christ… allowing Him to be the Lord of your life. Lazarus knew this before he faced this great trial and man did it pay off. Lazarus was sick and then he died. They had his funeral, they buried him in the tomb and rolled the stone if front of it. A problem does not get much more final than that. But because of his relationship with Jesus this was not the end. Jesus stood outside of the tomb and spoke life into Lazarus… Lazarus come out!
EFFECT HERE – Lazarus wrapped here comes out side door when Jesus calls him out and then in the modern version they drag a body bag out and Lazarus comes from it.
What a great day for Lazarus, his sisters and his friends and even just for those who heard the news. Do you think there was any way that Lazarus’ life was the same? Well let me tell you it wasn’t. We will talk more this in a minute.
This morning I want to make this clear to you as well. It is time for you to start following Jesus today… living for Him now just hoping to have enough of him when you die. This morning Jesus is standing before you and this dead life that you are living and He is declaring to you to come forth, to come and follow Him. He has come that you might have life to the fullest! As He said in the earlier scripture, His purpose that you would have a rich and satisfying life that only He can give. He does not want you to only go to Heaven, He wants you to have peace and joy in this life as well. He has a plan for your life.
You see when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead it was just the beginning of a changed life. It is the same with you… accepting Jesus is the beginning of real life, a life that is designed to make an impact on those around.
Lazarus was dead and there was no hope for him. No one wanted to see his dead body, in fact when Jesus roll the stone away, Martha said not to because of the odor. There is just not a lot to look at in a dead life. But once Jesus came and performed this miracle and gave life to Lazarus that all changed. Look at this scripture:
9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. John 12:9
People came from all over to see this changed life and the impact of viewing Lazarus alive who was once dead was amazing.
10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. John 12:10-11
Because of Lazarus it said that many begin to believe and follow Jesus. In verse 10 you can see how the leading priest wanted to deal with the resurrection of Lazarus… they wanted to kill him. Surely some of the priest had to think of a reason why that would not work…lol Can you imagine that conversation?
Moving on… we see that a great many people came to see Lazarus and upon seeing him they believed in Jesus and followed Him. I mean this was incredible story to tell.
As they come and look and all in the area tell of how Lazarus was dead and for four days he laid in a tomb. Then they point him out walking and talking and alive. He was a changed life living in the flesh.
His life offered positive proof that Jesus was Who He claimed to be, could do all He said He could, and that trusting in Him was not only smart but a no-brainer.
Your life once dedicated to Jesus and submitted to Him should do the same. It should point people to Christ. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are to show the goodness of God and how that He called us out of darkness and into the light.
People believed in Jesus because of Lazarus.
They took one look at this man and heard his story--perhaps from others standing nearby and believed on Jesus.
“for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus”
Wouldn't it be great to have people turn to Jesus as a result of seeing our lives? Actually that is the plan. We see this in many places in the Bible and we know that is God’s plan that we would share the good news. Yes the good news is the Word of God but it is also the good news of what had taken place in your own life.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” Mark 5:18-19
This man wanted to come with Jesus but Jesus needed him to go share the story with others. The same is true today… your life is telling a story. It is to be telling a positive story of the love of God but in some cases it is a story of hypocrisy and no faith and no change. People who claim to know Christ yet the story of their life is absent of Christ even though they claim to go to church and that they are a Christian. It is this story that hurts the church and causes people to not believe in Jesus. We all tell a story and we all have a wonderful story just waiting to be told… which story does your life tell?
The crowds looked at the life in Lazarus and wanted more of Jesus. When they look at you and me, they should see new life also, spiritual life, that has changed us forever from who we used to be into a new life that is pleasing to Jesus.
They will believe we have been raised to new life when they observe our changed behavior, when they see the new attitude and purpose of life as we follow after Jesus. People do see you just as you see their life.
When David sinned with Bathsheba, he felt sure no one knew of his misdeed but the two of them. Later, as this treachery escalated, he added manslaughter to his list of sins. When the man of God confronted him, David crumbled and admitted what he had done. The prophet Nathan assured him that God had forgiven the sin, however, there was collateral damage that had to be dealt with.
By this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, Nathan said (II Samuel 12:14). Instead of their coming to Christ because of his faithfulness, they were scoffing at the Lord due to his sin. His life was causing people to reject God.
So our lives do tell a story. The good news is that the story is still be written. Today your life’s story is being told and you are the one who decides what it says. Does your life allow people to desire know Jesus as a result of your life… they may know where you came from but it is where you are that matters the most. Are you allowing Jesus give you a rich and satisfying life? He wants to but it is up to us.
Let us live like the newborn people we are, exhibits of His grace and mercy and transforming power. Live your life as though people will decide to follow Jesus or not as a direct result of what they see in you…
