Series: It Took a Miracle
FAITH IS THE KEY
John 11:1-45
INTRODUCTION (Read 11:1-15)
There has always only one way to be in Right Relationship with God and that way is faith. Long before the Law was given to the Israelite people, even before there was a peopleof God the Scripture teaches us that “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Our relationship with God is not based on works but on our belief. Therefore,
The real questions that each of us must answer in our hearts are these:
- Do I really believe that Jesus is who He says He is?
- Do I really believe that Jesus can do what He says He can do?
Jesus used the opportunity of the death of his friend Lazarus to teach the important lesson that Faith is the key.
FAITH IS THE KEY....
I. FAITH IS THE KEY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PERSON OF JESUS (11:17-27)
A. Jesus is the Christ/Messiah
“The anointed one” one that is blessed, empowered and commissioned
(Luke 4:18-19)(Isa 61:1-2)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 preach deliverance to the captives and recovery sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Jews believed that God would send a Messiah to lead His people, but they saw this Messiah as a great earthly king, a man just like them with the hand of God upon them. What they did not understand that the “anointed one” would be sent directly from heaven as the Son of God.
B. Jesus is the Son of God
To believe that Jesus was the Son of God was a bold step of faith. To be the Son of God, then He must have the divine attributes of God (all-holy, all-knowing, all-powerful). To have the divine attributes of God, then He must be God. This is heresy and blasphemy to the Jewish leaders who believed there is only one God, but had no understanding of the Triune Character of God.
Yet, it is obvious that believing that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God as Martha admitted is not enough. There is something else we must understand by faith. That...
C. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
When Jesus refers to Himself as the Resurrection and the Life He is using a two-fold expression. Jesus is proclaiming that He alone is the Giver of Life since He is life Himself as He explains again in (John 14:4) “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one can come the Father but through Me.” But He wants us to understand that before we can inherit Life, we must first overcome a critical hurdle that faces all mankind: Death.
The Word of God clearly teaches that “all have sinned”. Is there one here today that has never sinned: never told a lie, never taken something not yours, never said a harsh word to another, never disobeyed parents? Also, the Word teaches that “the wages of sin is death.” Therefore, it also teaches, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgement.” We all have an appointment with death!
Therefore, before we can receive eternal life, we must overcome the penalty of death. Only through Jesus can we overcome death. This is why He describes Himself as the Resurrection. Jesus is not only the Giver of Life but He is also the Overcomer of Death.
II. FAITH IS THE KEY FOR PLEASING THE HEART OF JESUS (11:28-37)
A. The Lack of Faith Breaks the Heart of Jesus
Jesus Wept....
Not from the Death of a Friend
Not from the Sorrow of Loved Ones
Because of the Lack of Belief
B. The Presence of Faith Brings Joy to the Heart of God
(Hebrews 11:5-6) By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see dearh, "and was not found because God had translated him;" for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
III. FAITH IS THE KEY FOR WITNESSING THE GLORY OF GOD (11:38-40)
Seeing the Glory of God speaks of seeing God in all of His Majesty, Splendor, Power and Honor. It is seeing God in such a way that it removes all doubt that God is transcendent above all creation and that He alone is the Almighty God.
The way we witness God’s glory is through His mighty works, but Jesus makes it clear that one will never see the mighty works of God that display His glory without belief.
If you have never witnessed a mighty work of God that let you know without a shadow of doubt that He is God, then friend you have a problem of faith. God wants to reveal Himself to you in all of His glory but you must first believe.
IV. FAITH IS THE KEY FOR RECEIVING THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE (11:41-45)
(Romans 10:9) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved.
CONCLUSION
The real questions that each of us must answer in our hearts are these:
- Do I really believe that Jesus is who He says He is? The Christ, the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life
- Do I really believe that Jesus can do what He says He can do? Overcome death and give eternal life
