A LOOK AT LAZARUS
John 11:19-26,38-45, 12:9-11
Someone has said that Jesus busted up every funeral that He ever attended and that was true as He attended the funeral of Lazarus. I want us to look at Lazarus this morning and specifically what we might learn in being DYNAMIC, DIFFERENT, and DANGEROUS, or LIVE, LOOSE, and LETHEL as Lazarus was.
The key verses this morning are verses 25 and 26 in chapter 11. (quote) I believe that Jesus coming to Lazarus’ funeral was a media event - the press was there - perhaps from the Jerusalem Times and the Bethany Bugle and they were ready to catch what Jesus would have to say. But when Jesus proclaimed, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life,” He was not just weezin air past His tonsils to provide a memorable line for a press conference - He was telling the truth that He was ready to demonstrate. You can almost see and hear the press as they etch their scrolls - “I am the resurrection and the life - oh that’s good - what a line.” But it was more than a line and they were not prepared for what was to happen next. Jesus came to the tomb and with the voice of authority, said, “Lazarus, come forth!” The one who had been dead was now alive.
The first thing I want us to see in Lazarus is what it means for us to be DYNAMIC or simply ALIVE! The Bible declares over and over again that the “soul that sins will die” and that “the wages (or the result) of sin is death.” Turn to Gen. 5 - (no doubt one of your favorite chapters) and please note the repeated phrase that rings like a bell -”and he died . . .and he died.” Ever wonder why Gen 5 was ever included in Scripture? Back in Gen. 3, God instituted the death penalty for sin and Gen 5 is the record that the penalty was carried out and that the wages of sin IS death.
Notice Rom. 6:23, “BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What else would you expect from the One who says, “IAM the Resurrection and the life.” You do know that the only way to be eternally alive and dynamic is to be connected to this Jesus. That is why John in his first letter writes, “He that has the Son, has life and he that does not have the Son, does not have life.” In spite of how things appear, people without Jesus Christ are the walking, talking DEAD. They are under sin’s curse and move through life as spiritual zombies rather than knowing Life. (Remember those old zombie movies?)
Are you spiritually alive and dynamic this morning? Have you ever allowed the Resurrection and the Life to call you out of your sin and death? You can and He will. (Quote) “I AM.......though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
Not only does Jesus make you dynamic that is Alive, but He also makes you DIFFERENT, that is LOOSE -He sets you free! You have got to see this. (Select three individuals from the congregation ahead of time and have them come to the front. Have two of them wrap the third from head to foot in toilet paper - mummy style. Continue) Visualize Lazarus waddeling out of the tomb, bound up in grave clothes. Jesus commands, “Loose him, let him go!” (have the mummy break out of his wrappings) Lazarus could have responded to Jesus’ command by saying, “You know Jesus, I kind of like these clothes - I’ve grown accustomed to them over the last four days - I think I’ll just send them out to the dry cleaners and they’ll be just fine.” Here’s the point - don’t miss it. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE DYNAMICALLY ALIVE BY JESUS HAVE NO BUSINESS WADDELING AROUND IN THE TRAPPINGS OF DEATH (repeat) They are to be DIFFERENT and so are we. I am talking about your way of life, your grave clothes - your lifestyle and habits before Jesus gave you life. I am talking this morning about the sins and additions that have you all tied up and that you can’t seem to shake loose - some call them besetting sins. Jesus can and will set you free - I proclaim that to you this morning from personal experience! I am also talking about your marriage and your home life, your relationships and how you do your job - how these aspects of your life are carbon copies of the “zombie life” around you rather than being different and a reflection of Resurrection life. Realize that when believers walk around in grave clothes, it is difficult for non-believers to see the dynamic difference that Christ makes. The One who says, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life,” also says “Loose Him, Let him go
Are you all bound up with the lifestyle, sins and addictions of your old way of life? The Scriptures declare, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone, everything is brand new.” (I Cor. 5: 17) Let Christ loose you and set you free! Because when “the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!”
Jesus not only gives you DYNAMIC LIFE and DIFFERENT LIFE, He also gives you a life that is DANGEROUS! That is He makes you LIVE, LOOSE and ;ETHEL! We read in chapter 12 of John that the Jewish leaders put out a contract on Lazarus - they wanted him dead. - good luck Pharisees - Jesus would only raise him from the dead again. Lazarus was a dangerous man - everybody wanted to see the man that Jesus had raised from the dead. Sure his CD - “Lazarus, Live At The Tomb” made it to the top of the charts - but the real reason people wanted to see Lazarus was that he was proof that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life - proof that Jesus is the Son Of God! The Sanhedren just couldn’t afford to have the proof walking aound Live. Lazarus was lethel to their cause.
How DANGEROUS and LETHEL are you this morning? Are you living, walking around proof that Jesus is God? Do the DYNAMIC DIFFERENCES that He has made in your life draw others to Jesus? Does your very life cause those outside of Christ conviction as they continue to reject Him as Savior? Why not? Let Christ make you dangerous this morning and give you the opportunities to tell others about your persona; encounter with the One who IS the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.
(INVITATION)
