The Changed (v.2 but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table)
• Martha – Still serving, but now with no complaints for Jesus
• Mary – Still at His feet, but now preparing for Jesus’ burial
• Lazarus – Still with his sisters, but now alive and sitting at dinner with Jesus. He was alive and well! When the Lord Jesus changed the residence of Lazarus from that tomb back to his sister’s house, just a few days earlier, He issued a very personal call. That change was for no one else that day, but it was for Lazarus alone. (Note: The Gospel call is not a general call to all men! It is a call to individuals from a Holy God, John 6:44 says that “No man can come to me unless the Father draws him.” I know that "whosoever will" may be saved, Romans 10:13. I know that God’s "will is to have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth", 1 Timothy 2:4. However, I also know that the call of the Lord is an intensely personal call! When He comes calling for you, He will come to you as an individual. He won't ask your siblings or parents. He won't get permission from your spouse or children. When He comes for you, He comes to change you personally! He knows Your Name – Some say, if Jesus did not say “Lazarus” when He said “Come Forth,” then All Dead Men would have risen from their graves, but I submit that the call of God is so personal that only he who the call is directed will hear it (Lazarus was a common name of that day). So today we meet a changed man! He was once dead but now he is alive for all to see. And we learn from this encounter with Jesus that not only does Jesus have life giving, resurrection power, He is in fact, The Resurrection and The Life!
The Curious (v.9 Not only for Jesus’ sake, but that they might see Lazarus also)
• They came not for Jesus only! But they came to see Lazarus, whom he had raised! We were once dead in our sins, don’t be surprised when folks want to see who you have become.
• You see, they heard about a healer, but you they know you were sick!
• You see, they heard about a teacher, but you they know were not a student!
• You see, they heard about a preacher, but know you don’t go to synagogue!
• LAZARUS:
o Preached No Sermons
o Performed No Miracles
o Taught No Lessons
o Has No Recorded Words in the Text
o BUT, He was a Living Testimony!
• Lazarus would one day die again, and he would have another funeral, but because of him, everyone that encountered him would receive a Living Testimony!
ILLS: There once lived a man named James Williams whose home was across the street and a few houses down from me. Someone had abandoned a puppy and we had taken it in and each morning I walked that dog past the Williams home, James would see me, and he knew I was a preacher so often he would shout a question out of his garage as I walked by. 1st time - Hey Preacher, what does it mean when people say you must be born again? So, I told him of Nicodemus and cited John 3. 2nd time - Hey Preacher, why do you call that Jesus your God? So I asked him if he had a Bible and brought out the “Big Funeral Bible” and I turned to John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word…” 3rd time - Hey Preacher, Tell me something about Your Jesus? So, I’d take him to Romans 10:9 “If thou shall confess with thy mouth…” and John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…” One Day after that his voice came from that garage – Hey Preacher, Can I tell you something about My Jesus?! TELL ME SOMETHING BRO. JAMES!! He said I want to get baptized! Do you have to be a member of your church to get baptized? No, James… you just have to be a believer. So we filled up the pool and he invited all his friends and family to the service. I remember a plastic costume golden crown from the Children’s Christmas Play was in the changing room and when he saw it he said, the Bible says that I shall wear a crown one day, can I wear it this one while I get Baptized? It was a strange request, but I said sure, if that will make you happy. So we baptized him that Sunday and less than one month later he learned that he had terminal cancer. A few months after that he went on to Glory never having established membership in any local church and we held is funeral right here. And when it was time for remarks to be given, one after another they lined up to tell the story of how James would not stop talking about His Jesus. We learned that in less than 6 months he had told more people about His Jesus than most of us have done in a lifetime! He was A Living Testimony! He may have worn a costume crown down here but I know he received a Crown of Rightness from His Jesus!
The Converted (v.10 chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death also… because on account of him many Jews believed on Jesus)
• Before I leave you today, I must share with you a word about the CONVETED!
• Not only did they come for Lazarus’ sake they were converted because of his Living Testimony! On account of him many Jews believed on Jesus!
• The chief priests consulted to put him back to death! BACK where he was just delivered from. The Religious folks, not the gentiles wanted him back dead!
• We were once dead in our sins, don’t be surprised when some live folks want to put you back in the grave! They used to use code words in my generation that meant its ok to sin a little! They would say its not Sunday so relax a little, let your hair down, take it easy and stop being holier than thou. But remember that Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
• This wasn’t the first time religious folks banned together to do evil neither will it be their last time they take counsel! Matthew 26 teaches us that many times they plotted to kill Jesus! But Jesus said, No one takes my life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.
• Because He has power over His life we rest assured in His power over our life! Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
NOTES:
8 Times in the Bible People Wanted to Kill Jesus
Not everyone loved Jesus.
The idea that Jesus never taught anything that people didn’t like is just flat-out wrong.
Jesus continually taught the truth — and because of that, He was hated.
At least eight times in the Gospel accounts, people tried to seize Jesus and kill Him because of something He did or said.
When Jesus called out His hometown for their unbelief (Luke 4:16–30).
Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1–2 in His hometown synagogue and applied the prophecy to Himself. When people started wondering what was going on, He told them, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” He then went on to mention how God cared for foreigners, and not just the Jews.
When they heard that, they were filled with rage and drove Jesus out of town. They tried to throw Him off a cliff, but Jesus passed through the crowd and left.
When Jesus challenged the Pharisee’s traditions about the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–14; Mark 2:23–3:6; Luke 6:1–11).
The Pharisees had many traditions they followed, especially about the Sabbath Day. They added these traditions along with God’s Word and enforced their traditions on others.
However, Jesus would have none of it.
He challenged their traditions by showing that His disciples were not breaking God’s law by picking grain as they walked through a field. He provided further evidence that His challenge of their traditions was right by healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees were so in love with their traditions that they began to plot how to destroy Jesus after He healed the man.
When Jesus placed Himself above the Pharisee’s level of authority (John 5:1–18).
Once again, Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath. This man couldn’t walk, but Jesus healed him and told him to take his mat with him — he wouldn’t need it anymore.
The Pharisees confronted this man and told him, “You are breaking God’s law by carrying your mat on the Sabbath.” The man told the Pharisees that Jesus had healed him and told him to carry his mat. The Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus because of this.
Jesus told the Pharisees that their traditions were not greater than God’s authority — and He said that God was His Father, which made Him equal with God. This only made them want to kill Him more.
When Jesus called Himself by God’s name (John 8:48–59).
In another confrontation with the Jews, Jesus told them, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).
The Jews mockingly replied, “You aren’t even 50 years old yet, and have you see Abraham?” Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:57–58).
That got their attention. Jesus said that He is the I AM — a clear reference to the LORD God (Exodus 3:14). Jesus made it very clear — He is eternal and powerful. He goes by God’s own name.
The Jews picked up stones to execute Jesus by stoning Him to death, but He just passed through the middle of the mob and left.
When Jesus referred to Himself as being God (John 10:31–39).
Once again, during the middle of a discussion, the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus to death. He asked them which good work from the Father they were going to kill Him for.
They said, “Because You are a man, and you are making yourself God.” Jesus replied, “Look at the works I’m doing. Clearly, God must be behind the message.” Jesus could do no miracles if God disapproved of His teaching.
The mob ignored Jesus and tried to seize Him anyway — but once again, the Lord escaped.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:45–57).
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, which proved He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), the Pharisees met to figure out what they were going to do with Jesus.
They decided that the only course of action to preserve their power was to put Jesus to death (John 11:53). From this time on, they looked for an opportunity to seize Jesus.
When Jesus cleansed the temple the final time of corruption (Mark 11:15–18; Luke 19:45–48).
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem before His crucifixion, He went into the temple and drove out the merchants selling animals. These merchants were taking advantage of people by charging exorbitant amounts.
Not only were the leaders of the people robbing the people financially, but they were also robbing them spiritually. So, Jesus taught every day in the temple.
The leaders of the people wanted to destroy Jesus, but they could not because of the crowds of people gathered around Jesus, listening to Him.
When Jesus told the chief priests and Pharisees that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another nation (Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19).
Jesus told the rulers of the people that God’s kingdom would be opened to other people — not just the Jews.
The Jews would end up rejecting Jesus, but their rejection of the Messiah would be what sealed their fate and ground them “into powder” (Luke 20:18).
The leaders of the people wanted to seize Jesus and kill Him at that very moment, but they were afraid of the people.
If Jesus were walking around the earth today and teaching people, people would still hate Him. Some would even try to kill Him.
How do I know that? Because Jesus’ followers are treated the same way.
Jesus told His apostles,
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (John 15:18–21)
People wanted to kill Jesus because they did not know God. When people oppose Christ and His way today, it is because they do not know God.
