John 11:20-32 (NKJV)
"Yes, Lord, I Believe"
September 24, 2023
Following these verses John tells us that Jesus groans in His spirit and then “Jesus wept.” John's Gospel is filled with many vivid portraits of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each one is a masterpiece of His greatness and His glory. In this chapter, the greatest of all the miracles of Jesus is on display. In the events surrounding the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, we can see the sovereign power of the Lord Jesus Christ. If all His other miracles were stricken from the Gospel record and all we were left with was this great miracle, we would have enough in our possession to conclude that Jesus is the Son of God.
This morning, I would like for us to look together at these verses and get a glimpse of Jesus as The Resurrection and The Life. I want to show you why Jesus is worthy of your faith and how your belief in the Resurrection will transform your life today. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." I want to show you why we do not have to live in misery, why life does not have to be a time of defeat, why we do not fear death and how we can enjoy an abundant and full life if we only believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Jesus, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Jesus shall never die, but simply be absent from this body but present with the Lord.
The Contrast (John 11:20 & Luke 10:38) There is a contrast between Mary and Martha’s personality. In Luke 10 we get our first look at the contrast at Martha's home, we can tell what each sister's priorities were. Martha was concerned with preparing the meal and serving her guests. Mary, however, was more concerned with being in the presence of the Lord. I have found that the more time one spends at the feet of Jesus, the easier it is to make it a priority in life. The larger He gets in our eyes; the smaller other things seem to become. Every time Mary and Martha are mentioned together, Mary is prioritizing with her heart and Martha is prioritizing with her hands. Mary is found worshiping at the feet of Jesus or mourning at the loss of her brother or anointing the feet of Jesus after her brother was raised. Martha is found serving at the table of Jesus or meeting Jesus afar off or serving at the table of her brother after he was raised. Martha opened her home to Jesus and did her best to be a good hostess. Mary opened her heart to Jesus and did her best to be a good worshiper. While Martha labored, Mary listened. The Bible says that while Mary was doing the good part, Martha was distracted with much serving. She was distracted with good Christian Service, (i.e. Setting up for Prayer Meeting, Bible Study, Morning Worship, Hour of Power and Hour of Prayer, Ministry Meeting, Choir Practice and Family Meeting). How often are we doing a good thing but missing the good part? Isaiah taught us that distraction and unrest begins with lack of focus of the mind! He declared to God (26:3) that, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Martha complained, Lord “Tell Mary to help me!” Workers spend too much time complaining to God about who is not working and not enough time sitting at the feet of Jesus hearing His Word! BUT There are also some worshipers who are so spiritually minded that they are no earthly good. James 2:15 says Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? Faith without works is dead! We need some Mary’s and some Martha’s in the church. We need some Mary’s to know that when they finish their prayer it’s time to work and some Martha’s to know that church work is not worship. 2 Corinthians 13 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Yes, faith without works is dead, but works without love gains nothing!
The Complaint (v21 & v32) In the midst of the sisters contrast in personality they had a unified complaint. Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him. v20 After talking with Jesus Martha called her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you." As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. v29 Both sisters have the same complaint, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” It is as if they said to each other, we know Jesus is coming, but He will be too late! Have you ever prayed and prayed and got your brothers and sisters in on the prayer and Jesus does not come when you want Him to? Dottie Peoples would sing that He may not come when you want Him, but he will be there right on time! He's an on time God, yes he is! On time God, yes he is! Job said, He may not come when you want him, But he'll, Be there right on time. I'll tell you, He's an on time God, yes he is! Our problem is that we know that God is on time but He is not on “our” time. We want God to act now! If You had been here? What if we had the faith of that Centurion Guard who told Jesus about his servant who was sick and in great pain? When Jesus agreed to go to his house, he said I don’t need you to come just speak a word and my servant will be healed! Isn’t it crazy how those who are the closest to Jesus don’t understand the Jesus is working on our behalf even when we can’t see Him working? If Mary and Martha would have gotten their way, then they only would have known the doctrine of Resurrection and not that Jesus IS the Resurrection! Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. I know you believe in a future Resurrection, but do you believe that I am the Resurrection? I know you believe in a Way, but do you believe that I am the Way? I know you believe in the Truth, but do you believe that I am the Truth? I know you believe in Eternal Life, but do you believe that I am the Life? There is a question that needs an answer, “Believest Thou This?”
The Question (v26 – 27) Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." I was reading an article from religionnews.com and the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois said farewell to his church after 10 years of service last month on August 27th. After a decade of pastoring, he was so turned off by the ministry that not only did he resign his position, but he left the pastorate altogether. He posted a letter online titled, “Why I Left the Church,” and it circulated through the Christian Online Community. I must admit that I did not read his letter because at the end of a relationship you will find any number of reasons why you need to go, but I did read his other posts from last year prior to his leaving. In his own words, in one of his blogs, he begins to question the bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He says that its fine not to believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus because a spiritual resurrection is good enough for proper doctrine. I agree with him that he should not be pastoring, and the more I read the more I prayed for that man’s salvation. Because Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 15:14 if there is no Resurrection then Our Preaching Is in Vain! If Jesus is dead, then all the preachers have wasted their words and time proclaiming a lie. Our Faith Is in Vain! If Jesus is still dead, then we are wasting our time serving Him and worshiping Him. Our Witness Is in Vain! Every time we open our mouths to sing, to worship, to testify, to preach, or whatever we do in His name, then we have perjured ourselves if He did not rise from the dead. No Forgiveness of sin! If Jesus is still dead, then we cannot be justified and we are still lost in sin this morning! If He is dead today, then we are still in need of a redeemer and we are all headed to Hell! No Future If Jesus is still dead, then we have no hope for the future and Our Loved Ones Who Have Gone Before us Are Gone Forever and We Have Lived Our Lives In Vain! But, thank God, Paul did not stop writing! HE SAYS BUT NOW CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD! AND Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living Just because He lives. There is a question that must be answered! Do you believe this? Martha Believed! She said, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." And just like Peter it was the Holy Ghost that gave Martha that truth! Do you believe today? Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life! He is the Christ! He is the Son of the Living God. He is the Teacher who has come and is calling for you!
