When Jesus Appears In A Dead Situation

When Jesus appears in a Dead Situation

Prayer

Main verse:

John 11:17-22

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. [18] Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: [19] And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. [20] Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. [21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [22] But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Greeting:

Background:

In the beginning of this text, we see JESUS return to Bethany planning to attend to Lazarus’ grave four days after he had received the news that Lazarus was gravely ill. JESUS was in Bethabara an area north of Bethany right beyond the Jordan River. This is the same area were he was baptize by John earlier. JESUS decides to come here after being excommunicated from the synagogue in Jerusalem and minister to people in the area. Jesus stayed in Bethabara and it seems like he did not care about the news, but remember the people in Jerusalem wanted to kill him earlier. Some may say that He wanted the situation to die down before returning, but that is not in the Bible. While in Bethabara JESUS was giving a special mission to complete in Bethany and he had to abide there in order to complete it. We have many times before said that the Lord work in mysterious ways. Yet, one would question why would JESUS allow the ones that he love to suffer so much? Why did JESUS allow Lazarus to suffer and die of his illness? JESUS answer this question in

John 11:4

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

How can GOD gain the glory out of your pain and suffering? Understand the trials and tribulations in our lives; we do not know why we go through them. Our human minds are unable to gasp the concept of why the ones that truly love the LORD have to suffer. I know that many of us church folk are quick to say, “I love the LORD he heard my cry or my faith is in the LORD”. In the book of James:

James 1:2-3

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

How can we have joy and faith in GOD when we have lost our patience in the situation; and we are in our minds constantly asking, “Why me lord?”

Psalm 30:5

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Somebody, right now, is wondering how long is it until morning? We truly begin to feel that the Lord has not heard our cry and minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year our faith begin to fade. After a period time we have to admit that, the situation that we involved in is dead.

Now, what is a dead situation? Though Lazarus was literally dead, there are more events in our lives that we consider dead:

• People with a drug and alcohol habit (explain very briefly)

• Our Jobs and family (explain very briefly)

• Hurricane season (explain very briefly)

We consider these situations dead because:

1. We have giving up on the situation (explain very briefly)

2. Others have confirm that it is dead (explain very briefly)

3. JESUS has consider it dead

Biblical Proof: John 11:11-14

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (Does this need Explaining???)

Now when JESUS appeared in a dead situation in Bethany he does three significant things; he comfort both Martha and Mary, then he goes to the source of the problem, and then he pray. We first see Jesus bringing comfort to the dead situation verses:

John 11:20-32

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. [21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [22] But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. [23] Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. [24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? [27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [28] And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. [29] As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. [30] Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. [31] The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. [32] Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.