John – Believe in Jesus and live!
Part 6
“The resurrection and the life”
John Chapter 11
Verses 1-44
Death
To many people this word strikes fear in their hearts
A feeling of panic
For others the word brings memories of days past
Flooding back like a tidal wave
We all fear death in one sense or another
A feeling of separation
Loss
Even
The word Death often seems so final
As I was preparing for today’s message and this topic
My mind kept going back to the movie Lonesome Dove
I the scene I see in my mind
As The Lonesome dove crew was crossing the first of many rivers
Shawn was bitten by Water moccasins and died
Gus said a few words over his body
Then said
Dust to dust
Now let’s let rest of us get on to Montana
Captain Call
Says
He’s right boys
The best thing you do with death, is ride off from it
Good advice
But
We know it is not that simple- never that easy
Death has affected every person sitting here this morning
And
We know that
Death often hurts
We all have had people we know
And people we love
Die
And even though we know that
Dying is a part of living
Death always derails us for a while
Even the loss of someone we did not know that well can set us back a bit
Even the loss of a pet can stop us cold
Hobble us for a while
Many here this morning have faced the very real reality or possibility , if only for a moment
Of our own death
We know
As much as we would like to
Riding off from death
Is not usually a possibility
In today’s message we are going to take a look at the death of a man
His name is Lazarus
He like
We all will
Faced death
He like we all will unless the Lord returns first
Closed his eyes in death
I want to look this morning at his death and the reactions of those who knew him
And
Those who loved him
Please open your bibles to John 11
And let me read you a little of this story
Let me read for you verses 1-16
11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.[a] Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people[b] in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
“A man named Lazarus was sick.
He lived in town called Bethany, just about 2 miles outside of Jerusalem with his sisters, Mary and Martha.
There are two men called by the name Lazarus in scripture
One from Luke 16 in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man
And the main character of our study today from John
This Lazarus was Jesus’ friend
Jesus had spent many days with him and his sisters Mary and Martha
Quite likely Jesus had shared many meals with this family
They had provided our Savior and the ones who traveled with him a bed a meal and companionship on more than one occasion
But today in the beginning of this passage
Lazarus was sick and his sisters had sent for Jesus to come
A messenger found Jesus and gave him the news
And
Jesus reaction to the news was somewhat different than had been expected
Jesus was in another place also called Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River
When they found him
This Bethany is about a full days walk from the home town of Lazarus and his family
The request for him to come was made in such a way that it is apparent that this man was a true friend of the Messiah
Verse 3
3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
Other versions of God’s word say “the one you love”
So everyone involved thought that Jesus would stop what he was doing
And
Rush to his aid
But
He did not
In verse 4-6
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.
Two days!!!
Two days!!!!!
Two days can seem like an eternity
Two days -----they must have thought
Jesus, this is your friend
The one you love
Jesus you can help him
Come on – let’s go
What are you waiting for?
But Jesus knew
He knew first off that his friend had indeed already died
You may ask
Preacher
How do you know he had already died?
It took 1 day to get to Jesus
He stayed where he was for 2 more days
Then if it took a day to get there, that means it took a day to get back
And the bible says that when Jesus got there
Lazarus had been dead for 4 days
This also was not an accident
Jesus had told the disciples that
His sickness will not end in death
But now Lazarus was dead
We understand what he meant, because we have God’s written word
But they did not understand- they though he meant he would get well
What Jesus is saying Lazarus will not stay dead
And
God will get the glory from this whole deal
And the people will see Jesus for who he is
So after 2 days he went back
Back to Judea where the Pharisees had just recently tried to stone him
Back to where he was hated
Where people wanted him dead
I can just hear his disciple s as they plead with him
Jesus don’t go back
They already tried to kill you
Jesus what are you thinking?
But to paraphrase verses 9-10
He said
We gotta go guys
We have to go wake up my friend
They innocently tell Jesus
If he is asleep – he will get better
They are saying
You don’t need to go, Jesus
People like you here
They want to kill you there
So he stops beating around the bush
He is already dead, guys
But
For you sakes and that of those who will see what happens next
I am glad I was not there
Verse 17-36
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles[d] down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him,[f] and he was deeply troubled. 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?”
Jesus got word that his friend was sick and he stayed put for 2 days then went
To many this reaction seemed uncaring
But
We know it was in God’s plan
It took 1 day for the messenger to get to Jesus
He stayed put for 2 days
Add a day to get back there
And now it is 4 days
You see Jesus already knew that Lazarus had died
He also knew that even though many people believed in resurrection
No one thought it was possible to raise a person after four days
It was common belief in that day that the spirit of a person who had died hung around for 3 days
Then left
Jesus healing Lazarus would have indeed been a miracle
But raising him after 4 days would been a bigger one
And more
Evidence of his deity- more proof of his true identity and ppurpose
As they got into the edge of town
Martha had heard that Jesus was coming and went to meet him
Many people had come to comfort the sisters
Showing that their brother was a loved man
She met him and said
If you had been here, my brother would not have died
I can hear the hurt in her voice
Maybe the disappointment
Even anger
You see she believed in Jesus
But her faith was a bit lacking
Because she thought it was too late
She thought Jesus had waited too long
That he had missed his chance
But
Still she was trying to believe
She says
Jesus, I know god will give you what you ask for
He says
Your brother will rise again
He meant now—today- in just a minuet
She thought he meant at the last day as scripture has taught
Then he says what is probably the strongest of the I AM statements
Verse 25
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
Yes, I believe
I have always believed
And she went and got her sister Mary
Mary had the same comment
Once again with disappointment
Maybe even a bit of anger
Jesus
If you had been here my brother would not have died
Then Jesus saw Mary and the mourners crying
And asked
Where have you buried him?
Take me there
I want to see
They took him there and he wept
Verse 35 is the shortest verse in the bible
“Jesus wept”
And many though out the years have tried to figure out why he cried
Did he cry out of compassion?
Did he cry to show his humanity-?
Did he cry for the loss of his friend?
Did he cry because even though they had heard his teaching and seen his miracles?
They still did not fully believe
I do not know
The bible does not explain to us why Jesus wept
Just that he did
I think maybe all of the reasons I just listed apply
But
It don’t matter—why he cried
The fact is he wept
But that he did
In his tears
He shows us for whatever reason he wept that he cares for us
He is a God who feels our pain
And hurts when we hurt
And truly desires for us to find joy and peace though him
Jesus got to the tomb and told them roll the stone away
Martha still is unsure
She says she believes but still she doubts , if just a little
She says she thinks God will give Jesus what he asks for
But
She still doubts
She says Jesus –
I can hear her words in my mind
A shaking voice
Maybe just a whisper
Jesus-- he has been dead 4 days
He is going to stink
Jesus simply reassures her
I see him hugging her
Holding her hand
He reassures the crowd and us in the process
Verse 40
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”
Believe
Believe and you will see
Just believe
Belief is the key to seeing
Then he prayed to God the Father
He did this for the sake of those there
So that they could believe that his power came from God
So that they could believe he was I AM
That he and the father are one
3 persons in one being
God the Father
God the son
God the Holy Spirit
3 in one
Then he said in a loud voice
I think he yelled
Lazarus
Come out
And with no magic
No incantations
No tricks
No smoke
No fanfare
Lazarus came hopping out wrapped in the grave clothes
Lazarus with a word from Jesus was resurrected
He was alive
Once he was dead
And now, he was alive
His pale gray face regained its color
Blood that was still was now flowing again
A once dead Heart beating again
Alive
You see Jesus did not just ride off from death
He restored life to Lazarus
Jarius’ daughter
The widow’s son
All were raised to life
We also know that this resurrection was temporary
They died again
But we know that they all had the chance to be raised again to glory
All had the chance to believe in Jesus and live!
I do not know and cannot say that each did
I know from my studies that I will see Lazarus again
In the book of John ----Jesus has offered many things to many people
To Nicodemus – he offered eternal life
To the Samaritan woman – living water
To the officials son and the paralyzed man- a restored life
To the hungry multitude – the bread of life
To the believers in Jerusalem – rivers of living waters
To the blind beggar- the light of life
To his sheep he offered abundant life
You see
Jesus meets our spiritual needs
Our need is for HOPE and he gives it
We need protection and he provides it
We most of all need mercy and he died to give that to us
How will you respond to Jesus?
Will you like Martha and Mary say you believe but continue to doubt? Needing more proof- another sign. Just one more hint?
Will you like the scoffers question his power- the source of his power
Will you question his love?
His mercy?
Will you like the Pharisees deny Jesus?
And
Refuse to listen
Refuse to hear
Refuse to see
Or like Lazarus- will you come
Come out
Jesus calls us to come to him
He call us from the tomb of our old dead life
And
When we come
He can and will give us new eternal life
He frees us from the grave clothes of this live
The fear of death
He frees us from everything that binds us and keeps us from an understanding of him
In calling us to come
He gives us the living water of himself and his sacrifice
In calling our name
He heals us- restore us
He will show us the light
Open our once blind eyes
And
Let us truly see
As the bread of life and the rivers of water he will
Quench the hunger and thirst of our deepest needs
He will feed us spiritualy
As verse 25 and 26 says
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.
Death will always be a reality in this world
But as His sheep
We no longer need to fear death
We do not have to ride off from it
But we can embrace it
Because in death as believes we will live with Jesus
I find great comfort in this
Jesus is calling
Get up
Get life
How will you respond?
Will you get up?
Take off the grave clothes
And embrace
New life
Will you just lay there and stink
I pray you get up
Close from the heart
Pray
