John 11:1-4 (p. 748) March 30, 2014
Introduction:
Have you ever been someplace that you didn’t want to leave? Like it’s the last day of your vacation...You’re at the beach or lounging around the pool and you think...”Hey, maybe I’ll just stay a couple of more days.”
You remember Peter, James and John with Jesus on the Mountain of transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appear, Jesus shines like the sun in His divine glory, and Peter...(God bless his heart) knows he’s experiencing something so far beyond good it’s unexplainable and he says to Jesus, “let’s build some tents up here in the Mt. and just stay here!”
It doesn’t say how long Lazarus has been sick in our text. We don’t know if he’s been feeling bad for a long time and it takes a turn for the worse or if it got real bad real quick.
There are two things we know for sure about this sickness...(One) it put him in bed, “Lazarus now lay sick...and (two) this sickness was so bad it killed him...”Jesus told his disciples in verse 14 “Lazarus is dead.”
We’re dealing in a time when there are no x-rays, cat scans, or blood tests. What took Lazarus’ life. We don’t know. We do know these two things I mentioned plus those who loved him the most knew something was terribly wrong, so wrong they sent word to Dr. Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” (v.3)
Lazarus dies...and we have to believe since he loved Jesus and Jesus loved him he went to paradise, Abraham’s bossom, The same place Jesus and one of the thieves on the cross went the night of His crucifixion and death. “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
I’ve been so hurt I should have died in a burn unit at St. Joe but I’ve never been so sick that death was a real possibility. (I’ve been sea sick...where I thought I was going to die and then more sea sick where I was afraid I wasn’t). I don’t think that counts.
But Lazarus goes from a bed ridden sickness so intensely bad it takes his life to paradise. A place the Apostle Paul got to see and he describes that vision like this: Caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” (2 Corinthians 12:4).
Do you know what Paul is writing and thinking about right before he remembers paradise? His suffering, the lashes, the rods, the snake bites, the shipwrecks, the times he was hungry, naked, and thirsty.
And what gives him hope and encouragement? Paradise!! He’s seen it. He’s heard it. (There are many who believe he was there. He writes I don’t know if I had this vision while in the body or out of it. 14 years before Paul had been stoned in Lystra and left for dead...many believe he died...He saw paradise, and God brought him back.)
Lazarus has been in Paradise for 4 days when Jesus says, “Lazarus, come forth.”
When the “Resurrection and the life” calls your name, you will answer, but I wonder if Lazarus thought “No, I’m in Paradise, why would I want to go back to the Land of sickness and death?!! Why would I want 2 obituaries written?
Let me share with you today why this story is so important for the world today, for Christians and non-Christians alike.
I. DEATH IS GOD’S GREATEST VICTORY
In our story, Lazarus is dying and Mary and Martha his sisters send word to Jesus that “the one he loves is sick.”
When Jesus hears this he says, “This sickness will not end in death, no, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it.” (v. 4) and then John makes it clear, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” (v. 5)
Then the next verse records something that blows our minds...something that makes no sense to our way of thinking at all!
“So when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was 2 more days.” (v.6)
We learn in verse 18 that Jesus and the crew are only “2 miles away” when he gets this word...Even in the days of sandals, he’s only ½ hour – 45 minutes from Bethany...where Lazarus lays sick and dying.
Illustration:
[On January 28th I got word that my mentor Wayne B. Smith was having severe heart issues and was at C.B...it didn’t look good...and like he’s done for me (more times than you can count), I rushed to the hospital with Kari and Jimmy Boling. We got there as soon as we could. Why, because I love Wayne B. Smith with all my heart.]
We expect to read...when Jesus got word about Lazarus he rushed to Bethany. He left immediately to care for his friend.
Jesus chooses intentionally to delay this journey. He intentionally chooses to let Lazarus “sleep.” Die!
Why? He tells us...So Lazarus’ death will bring God and his Son glory through it.” (v.4)
Mary and Martha are caring for someone they love who is dying...and just like us they want God to intervene and stop it.
They don’t want to be without their brother. Life will be radically different. Death = Separation and it hurts. And for at least 4 days these sisters with other mourners grieve...intensely.
So when Jesus finally shows us. Listen to what happens:
JOHN 11:20-21 (p.749)
Why didn’t Mary come out. We know she loved Jesus soooo much she washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Is she upset he didn’t come, maybe...is she hurting so much she doesn’t even want to see Jesus, maybe...we don’t know. But take charge Martha, gathers it together, meets Jesus and says, “If you’d been here our brother wouldn’t have died.” Even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Death entered this world through one man, Adam, according to 1 Corinthians 15:21. He opened the door...Sin opened the door. And from that time on, death reigned and won. Ecc 7:2 says, “Death is the destiny of everyone.”
Adam, Lazarus...and you and me.
Anyone that minimizes the power of death has never experienced its reality...It casts a shadow over your heart...it hurts like nothing else...If it’s your brother, your mate, your child, or your best friend.
In the midst of Martha’s grief Jesus gives hope. “Your brother will rise again.” And Martha says, “I know he will rise again at the resurrection (in the future) at the last day.”
And Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life.” Right now...not in the future...today I Am the resurrection and real life, ultimately the one who believes never really dies...ever.
And then He asks Martha...”Do you believe this?”
And her answer is “Yes Lord I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who is to come into the world.”
God conquered death through the sacrifice of Jesus the Son. Sin’s penalty will be fully paid on the cross of Calvary. As sin entered through 1 man...So did salvation come through 1 man. And to prove his power, Jesus rose from the dead conquering our greatest fear and enemy.
That’s the victory...eternal life in Christ starts now. He is “I Am” not I was or will be. And even if this physical body perishes...our living doesn’t stop. David said, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...I will fear no evil, because you are with me.” (Ps. 23:4)
Death is just a shadow...Jesus is the reality...and he is the resurrection and the life. God’s greatest victory is our death...because through his son...we are won back through His sacrifice. I started living forever with God on January 17, 1978...not after the casket door is closed!!!
Illustration:
[So with this great truth...”Would you rather be run over by a truck or the shadow of a truck...outside of Christ it’s the whole truck...in Christ death is just the truck’s shadow.}
If this is true...
II. WHY DOES JESUS CHRIST
Right after Martha makes her affirmation of faith and belief...Jesus asks for Mary...so Martha runs to get her sister and says, “The teacher is here and he’s asking for you.”
Look with me at
JOHN 11:29-37 (p. 749)
When Jesus encounters Mary’s grief, and those who were grieving with her...”He is deeply moved in spirit. (lower case...His human spirit...that which made him like us)...”He wept.” He connects emotionally with those who are overcome by death’s shadow...so much so witnesses say “see how he loved him.”
Death always brings out the truth in some people...because even here some say...”Well, if he’d really loved him, he’d have healed him like he did the blind man.”
The difference between real grief and pretend is striking. Jesus moved in his spirit, wept...some of the mourners...stop crying and question His motives and love for Lazarus.
But Jesus isn’t just deeply moved once...a second time He’s deeply affected by what is happening and He comes to the tomb, it’s a cave with a stone rolled in front of it and He says “Take away the stone.” And Martha says “O Lord He’s been dead 4 days...there will be a horrible odor. And Jesus responds “Martha didn’t I tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
Look at what happens next:
JOHN 11:41-44 (p. 749)
[I wish there had been a follow up interview between Jesus and Lazarus...”So Lazarus...how were things back home?” O you know Lord...perfect worship, no tears, death, mourning, or pain...Lots of Love...perfect love and joy...”
“Why did I have to come back? “So I could show the ultimate glory of God through the son...His power even over death...
That’s why I said, “Lazarus come forth.” Instead of “Come forth”...some day in the future I’ll say that and every tomb and grave will open...but for today...you were example A.”
Hungry? Famished]
By the way what do you think happened to Mary and Martha’s grief...the moment their brother stepped from the tomb?
It doesn’t say Jesus laughed with joy...but I bet seeing this reunion...He could have!
“Take off those grave clothes”...Let the hugging begin!
How long did Lazarus live the 2nd time? Scripture doesn’t say...but because he once again would be in this temporary body...He would die again. A second obituary would be written...and he knew he had to live like he was dying.
So do we.
Margaret Sangster Phippen wrote that in the mid 1950’s her father, British minister W.E. Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he went to the doctor, he found that he had an incurable disease that cased progressive muscular atrophy. His muscles would gradually waste away, his voice would fail, and his throat would soon become unable to swallow.
Sangster threw himself into his work in the British home missions, figuring he could still write and he would have even more time for prayer. “Let me stay in the struggle Lord,” he pleaded. “I don’t mind if I can no longer be a general, but give me just a regiment to lead.” He wrote articles and books, and helped organize prayer cells throughout England. “I’m only in the kindergarten of suffering,” he told people who pitied him. Gradually Sangster’s legs became useless. His voice went completely. But he could still hold a pen, shakily.
On Easter morning, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his daughter. In it, he said, “It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, “He is risen!” - - But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout.”
Our living hope...the belief that makes us want to shout...”He is risen” comes because Jesus is “the Resurrection...He is the Life...And the one who believes in Him will live, even if they die...And whoever lives by believing in Jesus will never die.”
It’s still the most important question ever asked.
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
Let’s pray.
