THE HEART OF JESUS
JOHN 11:1-44
#john11
INTRODUCTION
We will be in John 11 this morning.
There are some questions in this life we live for which we have absolutely no good answers. For example:
Why does an all-powerful God allow disasters on the innocent?
Why do babies die?
Why is there so much brokenness in the world?
Why do wicked people seem to prosper more than good people?
Let’s be a little more real far too quick this morning and make these questions more personal for us who are here in this room… There are some questions in this life we live that have absolutely no good answers and we are the ones asking the questions because these questions are coming up in our lives! For example:
Why did the all-powerful God allow that disaster in my family?
Why did my baby die?
Why is there so much brokenness in me?
Why do the wicked people around me prosper more than me?
There are not always good answers to the questions we ask. By a “good answer,” I mean an answer that dots every ‘i’ and crosses every ‘t’ to make God unquestioningly good or us unapproachably blessed or an answer that logically makes sense in all cases. The issue that is the intersection of [God] and [goodness] and [evil] and [life in general] has a fancy-churchy-theological name to it: The Theodicy Problem.
The Theodicy (just-God) Problem is the philosophical and theological attempt to justify the co-existence of evil and suffering in a world created by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God. The theodicy often centers on the question: If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent, why does evil exist? Theodicy seeks to reconcile the existence of a good God with the reality of suffering and injustice in the world.
This is a pretty heavy subject… if not the heaviest subject possible when thinking about God and our lives. This pretty heavy subject comes up:
* when we ourselves personally suffer, we are not sure why, and see no good ending
* when we see others we love mistreated and God doesn’t seem to take care of it
* when life seems abnormally unfair on a regular basis and God allows it
* when we are hurt repeatedly, we pray with no results, or there is no appearance of justice
* when we feel God hasn’t acted like He should and blessed us in the way we expect
* when life feels out-of-control and we trust in God Who is supposed to be in control
TRANSITION
I have been pondering some of these questions of late because I am your pastor and some of you are suffering, praying, and pondering some of these questions. I do not have a definitive all-inclusive answer this morning about these questions, but I do have Jesus to share with you. May the Lord in His Spirit lead our hearts in Truth as we look to His Word, about His Word, and understand His Word.
We will be in John 11 this morning.
NARRATIVE PART 1
JOHN 11:1-4 (ESV)
“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”
There are many facts we know about Jesus’ life and many facts we do not know. Specifically, in this passage, we do not know how Jesus met Lazarus, Mary, and Martha who were siblings from a town called Bethany. We don’t know how they met or their shared history, but they seemed to have spent significant time with Jesus outside of what is recorded for us in the Gospels. I would go so far as to say, and this is my well-informed opinion based on verse 3 and verse 5, that if Jesus of Nazareth had a best friend, Lazarus of Bethany was probably it.
Lazarus is sick.
Martha and Mary get word to Jesus that Lazarus was very ill.
Let’s continue to read, but we aren’t going to get very far.
NARRATIVE PART 2
JOHN 11:6 (ESV)
“So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
Just so we are clear, there was no miscommunication or lost message. Jesus knows that Lazarus is ill. Looking over the next 10 verses in the chapter, we see (especially in verses 11, 14) that Jesus knew Lazarus would be dead by the time He would arrive in Bethany. The disciples were concerned about heading back south because there was physical danger for Jesus there, which is the main point of verses 7-16, but they would follow Jesus and were ready to see what would happen.
Just so we are clear, there is no mention in verse 6 or any verse in this chapter as to what the urgent-time-consuming activity was that kept Jesus from walking to Bethany and being with dear people that He loved. He could have left and arrived and healed Lazarus, but He does not. He does not.
* Why did Jesus wait?
* Why didn’t Jesus say a command right then to heal Lazarus from a distance?
He does not. I don’t know why not. He has the power. He has the will. He has the ability. He knows. He knows Martha and Mary will be crushed. He knows. He doesn’t do anything. Let’s continue to read.
NARRATIVE PART 3
JOHN 11:17-21 (ESV)
“Now when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Jesus arrives in Bethany and Lazarus had been dead for four days. Four days! If Jesus was honest, three days was enough for Him to be dead. That feels like a joke, but also imagine Lazarus saying to Jesus later… “I made it 1 day longer than You.” I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
Four days is long enough for the reality to sink in that Lazarus is gone.
Four days is long enough for grief to shatter hearts.
Please notice what Martha says to Jesus. Martha clearly knows Jesus’ capabilities. Martha knows that if Jesus had been there that Lazarus would be alive. Her heart would not be in 1000 pieces. Her sister would not be grieving. Her entire life would not be upended if Jesus just had only come when called. He could have healed from a distance. He could have done anything… something! They would have known He got the message and acted when Lazarus recovered.
We have to see the blame that comes from Martha to Jesus in verse 21. Jesus could have prevented the sickness from taking Lazarus in death. We see some next level discipleship here because Martha already knows and believes that Jesus has the power of resurrection and knows that she will see her brother again in the Age to come. This is all before the cross. Wow, she has faith!
Let’s keep reading.
NARRATIVE PART 4
JOHN 11:22-27 (ESV)
“But even now I know that whatever You ask from 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 on the Last Day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who is coming into the world.”
In verse 27, we see clearly that Martha knows Jesus is the Son of God and believes Him to be her Savior… even before Jesus dies on the cross. Like I said, this is next level discipleship right here. This follower of Jesus believes in Him and is also completely and understandably… disappointed… in Him. I imagine the mind and heart of Martha: “Jesus… I am one of Your best friends. If anybody gets a miracle, it’s me.”
Let’s keep reading, because the number people who are miffed at the Messiah are about to double.
NARRATIVE PART 5
JOHN 11:28-37 (ESV)
“When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus hears complaint in surround sound. Verse 28 shares with us that it is not just Martha who is blaming Jesus, but Mary as well. She lays the same exact blame at Jesus that Martha volleyed. Mary says: “Jesus, You should have come and You should have healed Lazarus. You didn’t come and now Lazarus is dead and our life is trash. Thanks for having the ability to heal, but choosing not to.”
Keep in mind none of this is calm. Martha is crying. Mary is wailing. These women are destroyed emotionally. People from out of town are their grieving. Their trust in Jesus has been rent asunder by unmet expectations, doubt, fear, grief, anger, and other emotions we can only guess.
POINT OF THE PASSAGE
Here is the point of the passage which I would like to share with you this morning. You see, Martha and Mary are face to face with the theodicy problem because of the death of Lazarus. This issue has come into their life and nested, produced rotten eggs, and stinks.
Why did the all-powerful Messiah allow this disaster into our family?
Why did my brother die when he was the Rabbi’s best friend?
Why is there so much brokenness and grief in our lives now?
Why do the wicked people around us get a miracle, but we don’t?
Here is the point of the passage which I would like to show you this morning. You see, Martha and Mary are face to face with theodicy because of the death of Lazarus, but they are also face-to-face with Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ makes all the difference.
I noticed several truths in John 11.
JESUS DOES NOT EXPLAIN HIMSELF
Jesus never explains Himself to Martha and Mary. Jesus never explains why He didn’t come right away. Jesus doesn’t explain why He didn’t just say the word or have the thought and Lazarus ended up healed. Jesus does not explain why He allowed them to be broken, wrecked, and destroyed. They blame Him. They both blame Him and Jesus does not answer. He does not defend Himself. He does not answer.
It would be nice in the middle of this situation where pain and anguish are winning the day for Jesus to come in and offer a good solid explanation answering what, when, why, and how… but He does not.
JESUS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THEIR PAIN
Jesus does not take away their pain and grief. He arrives and Jesus does not wave His Almighty hand and heal the ladies’ hearts from grief. He doesn’t take away their tears. He does not do anything to fix the broken hearts. He listens. He asks questions. He sees all of the brokenness, but doesn’t fix any of it.
It would be nice in the middle of this situation where pain and anguish are winning the day for Jesus to come in and do a mighty work and a miraculous sign to fix the grief that is overtaking the hearts and minds of Martha and Mary… but He does not.
Do you know what he does do?
He.
Cries.
With.
Them.
Please do not miss the theological truth that the God of the Universe knows that life is so messed up that He hurts when we hurt. Even the bystanders can see that Jesus is in legitimate pain that reflects the sisters.
Please do not miss the relationship truth that Jesus willingly walks into the mess of Martha and Mary and is moved by their grief. Even the bystanders can see the love of Jesus for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Jesus does not just wave His hand as though the pain of Martha and Mary is an illusion. It is real and it has wrecked them and Jesus gets in it with them.
Please do not miss the emotional truth that Jesus was not disconnected, without compassion, or aloof when it came to the blame, questions, and the tragedy of the entire situation. He saw keenly. He heard everything. He felt deeply. I find that to be valuable. We do not serve a Savior Who is unaccustomed to our tragedy and our questions, but is connected to us in it.
Please do not miss the mysterious practical truth that Jesus didn’t do what they wanted! Jesus did the will of the Father which many times is a mystery. God does what is consistent with His character and Jesus lives that out. In this instance, we are told earlier in the passage (verses 4, 15) that in this particular instance whatever would occur would be so that people would see God the Father more clearly and would see Jesus, the Son of God, more clearly. That is the reason in this case. It is not always the case.
I can imagine that Martha and Mary would have appreciated such truth being played out in someone else’s life, but we don’t always get the luxury of choosing such things.
Life is unfair, but Jesus will sit with us in the unfairness.
Life is unfair, but Jesus is the ultimate judge Who will make all things right in the end.
Life is disaster, but Jesus will come close to our broken hearts with compassion.
Life is full of disaster, but Jesus has insured justice with His own blood.
Let’s finish reading the passage from John 11.
NARRATIVE PART 6
JOHN 11:38-44 (ESV)
“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Please believe that God sees the tragedy and evil and reprehensible ways life impacts us. He is not aloof or disconnected or without compassion or without a plan. I do not have answers as to why God allows evil in this world or why some disasters are allowed to happen and others are prevented. I don’t have those answers. No one does. That’s why the whole issue has its own nickname: “The Theodicy Problem.” No one has good answers.
Please also believe that Jesus is the answer to the questions we have been asking this morning. Jesus is the plan, the insurance, the justice, the way maker, the chain breaker, the one who will make it right. We are meant to see Jesus collapsing with Martha and Mary in mutual grief and full-throttle compassion. That is the God we serve. I do not have all the answers as to why evil exists in the world, why God allows disasters to happen, but I know He bends down and gets with us in the midst of the mess.
CLOSING LITURGY [invite the congregation to prayerfully think on the following words]
Gracious God in Heaven, You are the source of all life, yet we face suffering and injustice. In this sacred space, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom as we explore the mysteries of existence. Please help us to find hope in despair, and light in darkness. Help us to express our sorrow and our struggle without fear.
When the world is filled with chaos, Lord, hear our cries for justice.
When our hearts ache from loss, Lord, hold us in our grief.
When we question Your presence in suffering, Lord, grant us the courage to seek and to trust.
We lament the injustices we see around us. We cry out for those who suffer, for the innocent who bear the weight of evil. Help us to be Your hands and feet in a world in need. Please teach us to bring comfort and compassion to those who grieve like You did.
Amen.
INVITATION
