The Resurrection And The Life Series

Message

John 11:25

I Am The Resurrection and the Life

In John 11 we read about a man called Lazarus who is dying – so Martha and Mary send a message to Jesus. By this time in His ministry Jesus has given sight to the blind, healed lepers, and removed demons from the possessed. He has even raised a couple of people from the dead. Most of those people Jesus healed were strangers.

But Lazarus is not a stranger. Indeed Lazarus, Martha and Mary were great friends. Jesus had been there for weekends. He had eaten at their table. He was like family. So when the message arrives Lord the one You love is ill (vs.3), I am sure that Martha and Mary expect Jesus to come as soon as He can.

What does Jesus do? He stayed where He was two more days (vs.6). Lazarus got sicker and sicker … Jesus seems to let it all happen – almost deliberately avoiding the situation.

Indeed Jesus doesn’t move on until he knows Lazarus is dead.

Then Jesus heads to Bethany. Let’s read John 11:17-37 to see what happens.

I wonder if Martha and Mary feel …

… confused.

… disappointed.

… a little cheated.

It doesn’t make sense. They hoped Jesus would show up to heal Lazarus. He didn’t. They hoped Jesus would be there for the burial. He wasn’t.

By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany Lazarus has been buried for four-days. A whole week has passed since the message of the illness was received by Jesus.

Timing wise Jesus wouldn’t have physically made it anyway – Jesus was four days away and Lazarus passed away after two days. But that didn’t stop Jesus healing the servant of the Centurion from a distance.

Surely Jesus could have done the same of his good friend Lazarus? Even the bystanders are asking Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?

Jesus doesn’t work as expected. Finally, when Jesus does turn up, Martha expresses the disappointment, confusion and hurt can be found in the words of Martha and Mary Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died (vs.21, 32).

Does that sound familiar?

God if you had been doing your job this situation would not have happened.

If You had used Your power we would not be in this dilemma.

I was in need and You didn’t show up.

We don’t have to be standing around the grave, or witnessing sickness, to have thoughts like this. Disappointment. Confusion. Hurt. It comes in all sorts of forms.

We study hard to reach a certain goal, we feel we have really put in a lot of effort. But then we find our efforts weren’t enough – and our goal has become a mist. Why didn’t God honour the study?

We are in a relationship. Harsh words have been spoken. Mistrust is building. In the middle of it both parties believe in Jesus, yet that belief doesn’t seem to be helping. Where is Jesus when we need Him?

For years we have faithfully taught our children about Jesus. We have prayed with them and for them. Yet 1 out of 3. 2 out of 3. 3 out of 3 … don’t have a living faith relationship. Why didn’t Jesus come to the party?

Health. Expectations. Disappointment. Hopelessness. Confusion. Hurt. It isn’t what we expect. And we are not along. Even the Scriptures have examples.

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

These words are from Psalm 13:1-2.

The knowledge in our head says, “Jesus will never let us down”, the hurt in our heart says, “I feel let down.”

Martha and Mary were feeling like this.

We can feel like this.

Jesus doesn’t want us to feel like this.

Jesus didn’t delay because He wanted to increase the hurt. Jesus delayed because He is giving a comprehensive answer for the times when we are hurting, and disappointed and confused.

You see bad times don’t disprove God’s love. Difficulties in life don’t disprove that Jesus cares. The issue here is not Jesus’ lack of care. He cares intensely. The very fact that He weeps at the grave proves this intense care. Jesus weeps because He feels our hurt.

When we go through times of confusion, hurt and disappointment let us never think that we are going through it on our own. We’re not. The Son of God weeps with us. He weeps at our pain. He feels our hurt. He is the man of sorrows.