Title: The Resurrection and the Life
Theme: The Giver of Life can give life and freedom to you.
Text: John 11:1 - 43
Introduction
John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love (not agape but phileo (eros is the other) This is a friendship type love, God loves us not because He has to but because He wants a relationship) is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Jesus said this about the blind man in John 9:3 – 5. This was so that God may receive the glory.
Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (there was no doubt that the messenger went back and told them that Jesus said, “This sickness was not unto death”. Jesus waited two more days, so a total of four days. As we learn in verse 14 Lazarus died)
This doesn’t make sense unless you know that Jesus is up to something.
Heatbreaking story of a man who has died and two sisters who are struggling with his death. These two sisters Mary & Martha and this man who has died Lazarus were good friends with Jesus. When Jesus would come to town he would more than likely stay at their house. So this was not just your run of the mill people they were close to Jesus.
When Lazarus got sick they sent word to Jesus. Not just to let him know but they were expecting Jesus to come and heal him. They had seen him do it for many people so they expected him to do it again.
But noticed when they sent the word to Jesus he just says. Ok. We will get there. I have got some stops to make then I will get there.
I mean have you ever felt this way when you pray. Just be honest. You pray and you wait. Nothing happens. You may even think to yourself, “self, you know he must be busy helping someone else.”
Have you ever called into one of those companies? You get a voice mail that tells you to please hang on and the next representative will be with you. Your wait time is 6 minutes. You know that they must be in a different time zone or something because 30 minutes later you are still waiting.
This must have been how they felt.
But Jesus knew what he was up to. And can I tell you he knows what he is up to today. He knows why you are here. He does hear your request but there may be more to the story.
Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to get there but it is going to be a few more days. Notice he says he is going to go and “wake him up”. Wake him up, one time he is sick now he is asleep. No this is more than sleep Lazarus is dead.
Exchange between Jesus and Martha
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
This was a test of faith for Martha. She had to know that Jesus was more than just God’s servant but He was also God. He is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus declared that He is the very being and essence, the very power and energy of life. Therefore, He can...
• give and sustain life as He wills.
• resurrect and restore life as He wills.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).
"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26).
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Jesus is always the “I AM” in your life. – Christian Cheong
• Whatever the situation, He is the ‘I AM’ in the situation you are facing.
• To Martha, who has just seen death, Jesus said “I am the resurrection & the life.”
• To those who walk in darkness, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
• To those who are hungry, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
He is not the “I was” nor “I am going to be, or I will be” but the “I AM” in our lives.
27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
There is not a person in this room today who doubts that God can still perform miracles. That God can still resurrect, can still deliver, can still heal. The question comes “Can God do that for me? Do I believe that God can do that for me?”
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you." 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
This is an interesting statement, “She fell down at His feet”. We find Mary at His feet in Luke 10 during a happy time. We find her again at Jesus feet, worshiping, during a hard time.
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
34 And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."
35 Jesus wept.
Why? Maybe because of the suffering of his friend Lazarus. Jesus knows how we feel and has experienced our infirmities. Because of His love for us.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35).
Maybe because the lack of faith.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" 37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"
For everyone here death seemed to be the final draw. This was the one thing that God could not overcome. Although they had read of Elijah and Elisha and the miracles that God did through them by raising someone from the dead. Maybe they had not seen a miracle at this magnitude.
Let me ask you this morning? What is too big for your God?
The devil likes to convince us that this is the ONE thing that is going to “take us out”.
What is it? Is it covid-19, is it cancer, is it financial issues, is it death?
Test of Faith
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
“groaning in Himself” – deep supplication and prayer.
Romans_8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
If you will allow him he will remove the obstacles between you and your resurrection.
There is that stone again. That which is standing between you and your resurrection, the life God wants you to have.
Rebuke of Love
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
IOW “Jesus, do you really know what you are doing?”
Peter “We have been fishing all night, and you want me to cast to the other side. Nevertheless I may not agree or believe but I am going to do it any way” Luke 5
This is a stinking mess.
This is what Jesus does, He wants to perform a miracle but first He must expose the mess. This stinkiness. We want God to heal our finances but He must expose why we are in the mess. We want God to heal but He must expose why we are sick. We want God to restore but He must expose why we got into the mess in the first place.
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
If you don’t believe you can’t see it. Even if it is right before us we still can’t see it.
If you just have faith. You don’t need much faith all you need is faith.
Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. (42) "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."
Sometimes we see Jesus the most in the fire
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego left their fiery furnace only when commanded to do so by Nebuchadnezzar. Why? Because it was in the fire that they found Jesus (Dan_3:25). So, too, if you allow the Lord to do His work, you will perceive the presence of Jesus Christ so clearly that you will say, "Lord, keep me in the fire all of the time if that's the only way we can see You." – Jon Courson, Commentary on John 11.
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
Three things Jesus did
1) He prayed to the Father
Pointing to who has all power.
2) He spoke life to Him.
That which was dead how now come back to life. This is awesome.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (55) "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
3) He told them to let Him lose. He set Him free.
Luke 4:16-21 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (18) "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
NLT Luk 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,
(19) and that the time of the Lord's favor has come.[5]"
From Phil Anderson’s sermon “The Lazarus Experience”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
• A miracle took place but Lazarus was still quite limited. Many of us have had great experiences with the Lord but today we are limited by the things that we are all wrapped up with!
• Look at Lazarus…he was limited in four areas:
His Walk---feet
His Work---hands
His Watchfulness---face
His Witness---mouth
• What are you all wrapped up with today?
Sin
Intimidation
Others’ Opinions
Worry
Jesus and freedom
John 8:31-36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (33) They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" (34) Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (35) "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (36) "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
There was the day when Jesus let a man die. But there was another day when He said, "Lazarus, come forth!" The delay of Jesus is explained by His knowledge of His complete mastery over death. He knew He was the Resurrection and the Life. It is a remarkable story in so many ways. My present purpose is to emphasize one thing. Jesus has the power to give life, when it seems there is no hope. These miracles not only supply evidence but demonstrate truth. In this case, the power of Jesus to give life.
He can give life to dead marriages. Some couples are legally married and perhaps their union is in keeping with God's law. No divorce or separation is contemplated, but the relationship is dying or dead. They share a house, deal with children, pay the bills, file a joint tax return and perhaps come to a church building together. Every appearance is, they are married. But there is no joy of companionship; no satisfaction. Beyond that, building resentment and boredom. The answer is not divorce; don't put asunder that which God hath joined (Matt. 19:6). The answer is Christ. Both husband and wife need Christ. If they will both love and obey Christ, there is the strongest possible basis to resolve problems and nurture a loving and permanent relationship. Christ offers to dead marriages, pardon, love and law. Jesus has the power to raise a marriage from the dead.
He can lift sinners from the spiritual death of sin to life in Him. Here is the condition of accountable people prior to their obedience to the gospel: "dead in trespasses and sins." Paul wrote this: "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," Eph. 2:1-5. The alien sinner lives on earth, but is dead in sin. The only way for the dead sinner to be brought back to life is to respond to Christ; to hear Him, believe on Him and act on that faith.
He can restore life to that one who is in an addiction. They feel so dead on the inside. They put up a good front on the outside but inside they are dead.
He can
"The miracles of raising from the dead which Jesus wrought were intended not only for the assuagement of human sorrow, but for the satisfying of human aspirations. He drew the attention away from the great work to the greater Worker. In him was life; and by his incarnation and sacrifice he brought the life of God to this world of sin and death." J.R. Thomson, Pulpit Commentary
Ezekiel 37:3-14 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." (4) Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! (5) 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. (6) "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."' " (7) So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. (8) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. (9) Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."' " (10) So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. (11) Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' (12) "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (13) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. (14) "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"
Conclusion
John 11:45-53 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. (46) But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. (47) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (48) If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." (49) And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, (50) nor do you consider that it is expedient for us [67] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." (51) Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (52) and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. (53) Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
Lessons
Delays are not denials
Sometimes we see Jesus the most in the fire
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego left their fiery furnace only when commanded to do so by Nebuchadnezzar. Why? Because it was in the fire that they found Jesus (Dan_3:25). So, too, if you allow the Lord to do His work, you will perceive the presence of Jesus Christ so clearly that you will say, "Lord, keep me in the fire all of the time if that's the only way we can see You." – Jon Courson, Commentary on John 11.
God wants to loose you from your doubts. God wants to set you free.
