If You Had Been Here!
Scripture: John 11:1-47
Introduction:
My subject this morning as we celebrate our eleventh anniversary as a Church is “If You Had Been Here!”
I have shared with you before that one of my favorite movies is “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It is the story about a man name George Bailey who having had experienced some disappointing times in his life came to the point of considering suicide after he was told that he was worth more dead than alive. At the moment before George would jump in the water to kill himself, an angel (Clarence) was sent to help him. The angel jumped in the water knowing that George would jump in to save him which he did. As they were drying off, George told the angel that it would have been better if he had never been born. The angel took his idea and made it so in order to show him the impact of his life. Through this, George was able to see how his life had affected many of the lives of those around him. In one example he saw that his little brother had died in an accident because he (George) had not been there to save him. In another example his employer when he was a teenager had spent time in prison and lost his business because George had not been there to catch and prevent the mistake he had made dispensing medication to a child. These are just two examples of things that he had done as a child that saved the lives of two individuals. In the end, while he had thought that his life had no meaning and not worth living, he had in fact had a wonderful life because the all of the people that he had affected throughout his life. I chose to share the two examples of things that George had done as a child so that all of our youth today understand that they can have an impact today on the lives of someone else.
As we celebrate our eleventh anniversary, we are celebrating our youth – a special group of “members” that worship in this place. At the beginning of this year we decided that we would focus on our youth and I am pleased with everything that we have been able to accomplish to date. We have some great young people and we must continue to ensure that they are able, willing and most important ready to step up and lead now and in the days to come. To do that, we must all understand that our live not only carry value for us, but also for those that we come into contact with. For consideration this morning I want you to think about his question: What if you had not been here? At the end of the movie the angel Clarence had given George a book. When George opened the book, Clarence had written that no man is a failure who has friends. Keep that in mind as I share with you what God has given for this morning. Turn with me to the eleventh chapter of the book of John.
I. Martha’s Acknowledgement
John the eleventh chapter tells the story of Jesus’ friend Lazarus who had been sick and ultimately died. Jesus had become friend with Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha. It was Mary who had anointed Jesus with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair (John 12:3). When Lazarus became sick, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus. Let’s begin reading at verse three.
"So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was." (John 11:3-6)
When Lazarus sisters sent word to Jesus they reminded Jesus of His love for Lazarus. Because they knew that Jesus loved Lazarus, they knew that He would come and heal him. When the messengers reached Jesus He said that the sickness that Lazarus had would not end in death. Now understand, at no point did Jesus say that Lazarus would not die, He said that it would not “end” in death. After Jesus heard the news He remained where He was for an additional two days. After the two days Jesus told His disciples that it was time to return to Judea. When the disciples tried to dissuade Him because the Jews sought His life, Jesus taught them a short lesson. In verses nine and ten He explained that when someone walks in the light of day they do not stumble as they do when they walk at night in the darkness. He was stressing the point that those who walk with Him (in the light) will not stumble as those who walk without Him in darkness. Jesus knew the Jews were seeking His death but He had a job to do. He had a difference to make. In verses eleven through fourteen Jesus explained to His disciples that Lazarus was dead and He was going to raise Him up. Here is what it says: "This He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep." The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him." (John 11:11-15)
I want to explain verse fifteen to you so that you do not misunderstand the importance of what Jesus was telling them. In verse fifteen after He had told them that Lazarus was dead Jesus said “and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” Why did Jesus tell them this? The disciples were still walking in fear and did not fully understand the one with whom they were walking. God would use this situation to not only build the disciples’ faith, but all of those who would hear what He had done with Lazarus. The disciples had seen Jesus heal many people so this had become an everyday “simple miracle” for Him in their eyes but they had only witnessed Him raising the dead a couple of times. In the two earlier instances the dead person had not been in the grave and this is why Lazarus resurrection was different. Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days. If you consider the temperature of the region and Lazarus lying in a tomb just starting to decompose it would not seem likely that he would be resurrected. As a matter of fact, when Jesus got to the tomb and asked them the remove the stone Martha said that by this time there would be a stench. But I am getting ahead of myself. Jesus told the disciples that He was glad for their sakes that He had not been there while Lazarus was sick because they would have expected Him to heal Lazarus. They were not expecting Him to raise him from the dead after Lazarus had been dead for four days.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him. When she came to Him here is what is recorded in verse twenty-one: “Martha then said to Jesus, Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (Vs. 21) Martha recognized that Jesus would have made a difference. She knew that if He had been there the outcome of the situation would have been different. If He had been there her brother would not have died! But then she says something else that gives the impression that she was starting to believe that all things were possible with Jesus. In verse twenty-two she said “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (Vs. 22) She professed that she knew that if He asked God to raise Lazarus up, God would do it. She professed this but again, when they got to the tomb she questioned the validity of opening it because of the potential smell coming from Lazarus decomposing body.
Martha’s reaction is similar to ours when we are interacting with Jesus. You see, in her head she knew that all things were possible with Jesus, but when they got to the tomb the natural took over and she thought about what it would be like to smell her brother after he had been in a tomb for four days. In that short period of time she temporarily forgot what she had said to Jesus earlier when she confessed that she knew that God would give Jesus whatever He asked for. Well, you know the rest of the story. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and as Lazarus came floating out of the tomb (yes he floated out of the tomb - read verse forty-four where Jesus told them to “unbind” him) many were shocked and amazed at Jesus power. Jesus once again proved that He was a difference maker. Are you? Has anyone ever told you “if you would have been here….!”
II. It Cost Something To Make A Difference
Martha acknowledged that Jesus was a difference maker. When He raised Lazarus from the dead after him being in the tomb for four days you would have thought that everyone, including the Jewish leaders, would have been amazed and happy but that was not the case. In fact they wanted to kill Jesus even more. In verses forty-seven through fifty-seven you will find that the chief priests and Pharisees sought all the more to kill him. This was the beginning of their plot to get rid of Jesus once and for all. Even though they had never witnessed anyone doing the things that Jesus was doing, their hearts were so hardened at this point that many of them refused to believe that He was anyone other than someone who was threatening their authority and way of life. For this reason alone they had to ensure His death. So let’s look back through our time. There have been many people since Jesus and His disciples that have made a difference that has changed the course of the world. Consider these individuals:
Abraham Lincoln had a direct impact on slavery.
Mahatma Gandhi had a direct impact on British rule of India.
John F. Kennedy had a direct impact on racism in America.
Rev. Dr. Martin L. King had a direct impact on racism in America.
Stephen Biko had a direct impact in apartheid in South Africa.
Each one of these individuals was assassinated for what they stood for, believed in and/or to stop from accomplishing something in their foreseeable future. They changed the world around them at the cost of their lives. Imagine what our lives would be like today had they not lived. Imagined how long it would have taken for some things to exist that we enjoy today had they not lived. We have world changers in this congregation even though some of us may not be around to witness just how some of you will change the world. But world changers can be both positive and negative. For every positive world changer there have also been world changers that changed the world in a negative way. For example, Hitler and his role in the extermination of millions of Jews. My point to this is that in order to be a person who makes a difference there will be times when it might cost you something, even your life.
But I want to make this personal for each of us. There have many people who are making a difference in this world in a natural way. Every convenience that we are enjoying, from the computer to the refrigerator were developed by someone who was willing to make a difference in this world. They have left their mark on society. Who can say if we would have iPads today if Steve Jobs had not been here? In this case could we had, had you not been here I would not have the luxury of having tons of data at my finger tip. The changes that these people are making in the natural will have a temporary impact on this world. When this world ends, so will their impact. What I am talking about is our having an impact that will last for an eternity.
Do you realize that every heart that you touch with Jesus will last for an eternity? Do you realize that the things you do for Him will make a difference that will follow you into God’s presence. God is not concerned about how successful we are in developing new technology unless it will be something that will lead more people to Him. That is what God and the hosts of heaven get fired up about! Every time a soul is saved there is rejoicing in heaven. If you want to cause a party in heaven that you are not allow to attend right now go save a soul! Go tell someone about Christ. Go change a life!
Conclusion
At the beginning of this message I told you about the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” and how its main character, George Bailey came to understand that even though he had not accomplished a lot of what he wanted to do, he truly had had a wonderful life. While he had valued his life based on accomplishments, the angel Clarence demonstrated that the value had come through the mark he had left on the lives of those that he had interacted with from the time he was a boy. You see, we sometimes give the impression that you have to wait until you “grow up” to impact someone’s life, but that is not true. The impact starts as soon as you make the decision to do it. It is not about age, but desire and obedience. You have to have the desire to make a difference in the life of someone else and then be obedient to God as He directs you through the process of doing it.
So I want you to take a minute and ask yourself this question again: “What if you had not been here?” If you are a parent with kids, we know that your kids would not be here. But think beyond family. If you would not have been here, would anyone’s life outside of your family change? Have you interacted with anyone in such a way that they if you had not been here their life would be different, maybe even a lot worse than where they are now? If the answer to this question is no, then you have time to make a difference.
Young people, you have more years ahead of you than many of the adults. Learn from us. Don’t just spend your youth being a kid. Go out now and make a difference. How many of you know who Farrah Gray is? Farrah Gray saw the conditions around him as he grew up in Chicago and decided that he would become self-sufficient. He stated that many nights the only thing in their refrigerator when he opened it was the light. He looked for something to sell in order to make money. He chose rocks. He would take them, clean and paint them and then sell them door to door as book ends or door stops. I think he also sold them as pets. Imagine a cute little boy selling rocks to earn money? Many might have thought it was cute and/or funny, but he was a millionaire by the age of fourteen. Imagine what everyone could accomplish if they were this focused even when they failed? Young people, you do not have to be rich to make a difference in the life of someone else. Remember, if you show someone Jesus Christ and they accept Him, their eternity will last a lot longer than any riches you could accumulate on this earth.
I hope that each of us will learn what George Bailey learned – a life is measured by those impacted by it.
May God bless you on this our eleventh anniversary!
