When the Dead Live Again
(John 11: 33-45)
John 11:33–45 (NASB95)
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,
34and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35Jesus wept.
36So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
37But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
38So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
39Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
42“I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
43When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
44The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
45Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.
Introduction:
Let me ask you a question. How many of you would like to see a great spiritual awakening in our country? I’m talking about the kind you read about that happened in bygone days. Well, you say, that’s high hopes, but it’s possible. Ephesians 2:1–2 describes the situation in which the Ephesian believers found themselves: dead in trespasses and walking according to the course of the world and its ruler. Then, part of this will be for the loss to be made alive, awakened. Here in our text concerning this physical resurrection of Lazarus are some of the requirements for such a spiritual awakening or revival.
1.There must be a renewed compassion.
Once in this text John says, Jesus groaned within Himself, and once He wept out loud. Someone has said that the humanity of Jesus wept over the death of His friend, but the deity of Jesus wept because He was in their midst, and they knew it not. Let me ask you a question. Do you think Jesus is concerned over the physical death of His friend Lazarus? Do you think Jesus cared about the spiritual deadness of that crowd?
Let me ask you a question since there’s nobody here but us. How much do you really care about this world that does not know Jesus Christ? About people who are dead in their trespasses and sin. We get wrapped up in other things, even good things, and forget those around us who are dead in their sins.
I’m embarrassed to tell you, I cry easily. I like the old movies like Sergeant York or Old Yellow. I
was watching Old Yellow, for the umpteenth time a while back, and when it got to the good part I set there and cried like a baby. I put my hand over my face hoping Linda would not see me and had a good cry. How many of you cry over sad movies?
How long has it been since you shed any tears for those that are spiritually disconnected from God around you? If we are to see the world come to Christ, our compassion must be renewed. The songwriter puts it this way, “My eyes are dry, my faith is old. My heart is hard, my prayers are cold. And I know how I ought to be, alive to you and dead to me. And what can be done for an old heart like mine, soften it up, cleanse me I cry. Let my heartbreak, let tears once again flow down my face for the souls of lost men.” My prayer is that we will have a renewed compassion for lost souls, compassion like we have never known before.
2. There must a renewed communication.
I am thankful that we have a pastor who believes in prayer and encourages us to pray. It is working. Many mornings I am up early spending time in prayer before my day begins. Some mornings I pray twenty or even thirty minutes. Jesus often spent the whole night in prayer, and He was the very Son of God. If He felt the need for prayer, how much more do we need to pray? This text indicates that Jesus never did anything without first communicating with His Father. I fear that this can be said of few if any of us.
Most Christians will admit that prayer is a much-neglected part of their spiritual walk. Yet every great spiritual awakening of bygone days began with prayer meetings. If we are to see those who are spiritually dead come alive, there must be communication with the heavenly Father. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16b) Most of us, including this preacher, knows very little about that kind of prayer. Can I get a witness?
3. There must be a renewed commitment.
Do you understand that Jesus didn’t need the help of that crowd? He could have spoken, and the stone would have moved. He could have called Lazarus forth without the grave cloths. He wanted them to be involved. It may surprise some of you, but God doesn’t need any of us. He chose us. What a privilege and responsibility!
Listen Church, if spiritual awakening and true revival come to our county and our world, it will be through us, The Body of Christ. Jesus demands that we be committed to the task. Remember the old phrase, “we are the only Bible some people will ever read?” Jesus wants us to remove the stones of sin and indifference from our lives. He wants those who are spiritually dead to see and hear the voice of a “Living Lord” through us. He wants to use us to help take off the grave clothes. Someone has said that those people never forgot taking those wrapping off. Everywhere they went for the rest of their lives, they told the story of seeing this dead man come to life. Every time they were in a crowd, and the conversations begin to lag, they would speak up and say, let me tell what happen to me in Bethany. I saw Jesus bring a dead man back to life. I got to help take his grave clothes off. I bet they were almost obnoxious.
I want to ask you something. Have you personally won a precious soul to the Lord? Let me tell you, if you ever have or ever do, you will never forget the experience.
I want to challenge each of you, to choose you a number one. The one person you most want to be saved or revived. Begin to pray over that person, visit them, and believe they will come to Christ.
Conclusion:
How many you would like to see great spiritual awaking in our land? How many of you would like to see our country return to God and walk in the old ways, His ways. We talk about it. We say we are praying for it. How bad do you want to see this happen? Do you want it enough bad to ask God to give you a renewed compassion for lost souls? Do you want it bad enough to humble yourself and pray, as we should? Do you want it bad enough to be committed to winning people to Jesus? Then do it right now!
If you’ve never accepted Christ, the Bible teaches that you are dead in your trespasses and sin. Just like Jesus called Lazarus from his physical deadness. Jesus is calling you to a new life in Him. Ask Him to forgive your sins and live a new life in Him. Please do it now!
