“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.”
John 11:25
Message #7
Introduction: Today we are going to continue in our journey in the book of John. I know I have said this before but this is my favorite book in the Bible. It has some much truth within its pages. In this chapter are the shortest verse in both of our Bibles. It has only two words. “Jesus wept.” This verse is one that many people have memorized so they can say they have memorized some of the Bible. If you do not look closely, you will miss the riches and treasure those two words have in them. We will be looking at this verse as well as several others in this message. I want you to leave your Bibles open so we look at this together.
Job asks this question. Job 14:14
“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”
Death is not a popular subject. At the nursing home, we are see it regularly. In the past eighteen years, I have seen over two thousand people come to the nursing home. Not every one has died but I have been at the bedside of many people who was dying or died while I was working. One of our young people asked me one time what was the hardest part of working at the nursing home. I do not know what he thought my answer would be but this is what I told him. Residents come to the nursing home. They stay a while. You start caring for them. They get used to you. Then they get into your heart. They get sick and die. I have some rooms throughout the building in which I think of people who were in them and was my friend. But they died. Many times I have heard the voice of family members asking when these people will die and I reminded them that I am a nurse and not the Lord. He sets that appointment.
It was said that when a Greek philosopher drank the poison Hemlock, and lay down to die, he was asked by his friends, is there life after death? He replied, I sure hope so!
I have knocked on many doors and asked them life’s greatest question; if you died today, do you know if you will go to heaven? And I have heard many say- I Sure Hope So! You better know so. Death is an enemy we all face. Death is Not the end of the Line. Death is but a doorway that we pass through to eternal life. Death has been described as a departure from this life into the next. For the saved, it is heaven. For the lost, it is hell.
Let's take a walk into Bethany. Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived in Bethany. The Lord Jesus loves to come where you live and help you in your Bethany.
I. THERE WAS A DEADLY ILLNESS.
Vs. 1-2
“ Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.” “(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)”
We are not told what the disease was but it was deadly nevertheless. If we needed to know, it would have been in this passage. Many diseases in Bible were deadly because they did not have the medicines or doctors we have today. But these folks knew the Great Physician.
II. THERE WAS A DELIVERED MESSAGE.
Vs. 3
“Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.”
These sisters knew exactly to call. They delivered a messaged unto Jesus. Maybe this was the inspiration of the song “Tell it to Jesus”. He is the one we need to tell all of our problems first. Some one said one time that you call the doctor and but get hold of Doctor Jesus first.
What message did the include? We once again do not need to know. All we know is that Jesus was ask to come.
III. THE DELAY OF CHRIST Vs. 4-6
“When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” “ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.”
In Bible Institute, we had an evangelist who was from West Virginia. He preached from this passage. He made a statement that I remember so well. I wrote it down and remembered almost forty years later. “The Lord is never in a hurry but He is never late.” This chapter proves the statement is true. Jesus said that Lazarus' sickness was not unto death but for the glory of God. Yes, Lazarus would die but he would live again. His resurrection would show the glory of God and His greatness of the Lord Jesus.
Here is a great part of this section of scripture. In verse five it says that Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. I loved it up. This word “loved” is the type of love that only God gives. It is “agape” love. No one loves us like the Lord Jesus. This is love that gives. It is the love that is seen over and over again in the book of John. I looked it up and the word “agape” love is found twenty-seven times.
When Jesus delayed for two days, it seems that He did not love Lazarus as people thought. But Jesus was not in a hurry. Events need to be in His time. We think that He needs to act now. People want to be healed now. They want the financial problem solved now. But Jesus does all things in His time except one thing. He saves anyone who really comes to Him for salvation. John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
IV. THE DEPARTURE OF THE LORD JESUS
Vs. 7
“Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.”
Jesus basically told them that it was time to go. So they did but they wanted to remind the Jews had wanted to stone Him the last time He was in Judaea. But Jesus' time for His death was not there yet. He went on anyway. So as they were on the way, Jesus makes a shocking statement. Vs. 11-15
“ These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” “Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.” “Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.” “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”
So they go to Bethany. They knew that Lazarus was died. They knew because Jesus told them. No one had asked Jesus how He knew that Lazarus was died. How did He know? Jesus knows all. He knows how many hairs are on our heads. He knows how many sparrows fall in a given day. He knew that Lazarus was dead and it was time for Him to get there. He will not be late. He is going to be right on time.
V. THE DEFEAT AND DESPAIR OF THE SISTERS
Vs.20-34
“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.” “21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” “22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” “23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.” “24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” “25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” “26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” “28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” “29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.” “30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.” “31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.” “32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” “33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,” “34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.”
These two sisters loved Jesus. Their defeat and despair was not baseless. They sent for Jesus and He did not come until it was too late. So they questioned God on why He had not come. He did not say to them that this was wrong to question Him. He did not rebuke them. He knew what He was going to do. He always knew what He was going to do. Turn back to chapter six in the book of John.
John 6:5-7
“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.” “Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”
He knew what He was going to do with four thousand hungry men as well as women and children. He knew what He was going to do here also. When the doubts and despair and defeats come and Jesus has not shown up yet, stay where you are and wait upon the Lord. He is never in a hurry and He is never late.
These sisters had been weeping. That is no ordinary crying. This type of crying is called weeping because it was with great emotion. She had been crying for four days. This will wear you out if you only cried for an hour. She is feeling such defeat and despair. Her Lord had not come.
Is it natural to have defeat and despair when you think that the Lord has let you down? Yes, it is. The problem comes when you turn your back on Him or stay in that despair.
VI. THE DEVOTION OF OUR LORD
Vs. 35
“Jesus wept.”
Jesus was not weeping because He was helpless to help. He was weeping because He felt their pain so deeply. He felt her pain.
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
He feels our pain because He was 100% man as well as 100% God. His human part felt pain just like we feel pain. He hungered. He thirst. When He fell down, it hurt just like we do when we fall down.
Conclusion: I am sorry we can not finish the chapter today. But I want to spend more time next week in the rest of the chapter especially the verse that He declares that He is the resurrection and life.
Have you trusted Jesus to help you? He will come to your Bethany.
