I Am the Resurrection
and the Life
John 11
Introduction:
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be blind. To not be able to see Sheree’s face. To be unable to read the books in my library. To not be able to drive a car. Or to see my children and grandchildren grow up. To be unable to watch a beautiful sunset. Or my favorite TV show. Or to be able to walk down the street without someone helping me. I can’t imagine living life completely in the dark. Can you?
But there’s something else out there much worse than physical blindness. I’m talking about spiritual blindness. Not knowing where your life is going. Not knowing if you’re right with God. Not knowing if you’re going to go to heaven when you die. Spiritual blindness is much more tragic than physical blindness.
In today’s Bible lesson we’re going to learn about how Jesus healed a man who was born physically AND spiritually blind. And then we’re going to see the reaction of his neighbors. The reaction of the Pharisees. The reaction of his family. And finally, the man’s own reaction. And then we’re going to see what Jesus is trying to teach US in this miracle.
Text: John
1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
4When 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.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
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17So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
I. Jesus IS the resurrection
• Not just the source of resurrection, but resurrection power itself.
• In verse 4, Jesus said , “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God,
• Jesus was not confused or lying to Mary and Martha. He just knew that this event would not end in death, but victory
• Jesus showed His ultimate and final victory over death by His own resurrection.
• He had resurrection power from the beginning of time.
• Lazarus was clinically dead. He was not just sleeping.
• They had buried him
• Jewish custom was for days 1-3 being a time of mourning for their lost
Days 4-7 were for friends
Days 8-30 were for combined mourning.
• Verse 43 of this chapter records that Jesus just called Lazarus’s name and said come forth.
• At the command of Christ, Death was defeated.
II. Jesus is the Life
26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
• In Jesus, we have eternal life, but we also have the abundant life we talked about 2 weeks ago.
• A life of Hope
• Peace
• Power over sin
• A life of victory.
• Jesus is the Life because He is God.
• He has the Power to give us life because He died for us and rose again in victory!!!
Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
III. How do I receive resurrection and life?
• Our victory over spiritual death is found in the life-giving power of Jesus.
• We MUST believe
One preacher said it this way:
1. Remove the stone of unbelief and hopelessness.
2. Believe in the majesty and power of Jesus
3. Take off the bandages of past sin and be loosed by the power of Jesus
