Highlights from Sunday: I AM the Resurrection and the Life

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:1-46 

 - Lazarus died for the glory of God and for our benefit (:1-16)

• 1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
• John shifts our focus to a place called Bethany, which was near Jerusalem.
• There is a small family composed of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
• Lazarus (whose full Hebrew name was Eleazar, which means “God assists) is sick.
• Mary and Martha are the sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home a while back (Lk 10:38-42).
• While Jesus was there, Martha worked hard to serve Him and Mary sat at His feet and listened to His teaching.
• Martha grew indignant because Mary wasn’t helping her and asked Jesus to scold her.
• Jesus did not scold Mary.
• He told Martha that Mary was seeking Him and that wouldn’t be taken away from her.
• Mary is also the one who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (Jn 12).
• Lazarus is so sick that the sisters send word to Jesus and they probably hoped that Jesus would come and heal Lazarus.
• 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
• This is an interesting response from Jesus.
• Jesus tells everyone what will happen:
• Lazarus’ sickness will not end in death.
• God will use Lazarus’ sickness for His own glory and for Jesus’ glory.
• Notice, that Jesus didn’t say that Lazarus wouldn’t die.
• Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness wouldn’t end in death.
• Ultimately, Lazarus’ death would be a part of the event…But it wasn’t the end of the event!
• Lazarus would serve as an illustration for Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• His death and resurrection reminds us that Jesus died and resurrected to life, and that He provides new life and resurrection from death to life for everyone who believes.
• 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
• John reiterates that Jesus loves Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
• He also states that Jesus tarried two days before going to Bethany to see them.
• Why did Jesus delay for 2 days once He found out that Lazarus was sick?
• 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
• The disciples are confused about Jesus’ decision to go back to Judea so that He may see Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
• Just a little while ago, the Jews tried to arrest, stone, and kill Jesus.
• We would all probably ask the same question…right?
• 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
• Jesus uses this opportunity to teach the disciples an important spiritual truth.
• Jesus had previously referred to Himself as the “Light of the World” and they had just attended the Feast of Dedication during which the Jews lit candles to commemorate the purification of the temple and the coming of their Messiah.
• It was common for people to travel during the day when the sun was up because they could see and safely move about.
• While Jesus was present on this earth (while the sun shined), He had a job to do.
• He was not afraid of the people who wanted to kill Him.
• Do you remember why?
• Because Jesus will give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world according to God’s timing.
• No one will take it away.
• Jesus will freely give it.
• That’s why He’s not afraid to go back to Judea.
• 11 This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
• The disciples really didn’t want to go to Bethany.
• They were afraid of the angry mob who wanted to kill Jesus (and probably them too if they got in the way).
• Thus, if Lazarus was sleeping, he was probably recovering from his illness and therefore it would be silly for them to go see him and put themselves in danger.
• But Lazarus wasn’t sleeping, he was dead.
• The Jews used “sleeping” as a less abrasive way to say “death.”
• Similar to the way we use: passed away.
• Jesus tells the disciples that He is glad that Lazarus died because He is about to do something that will be a tremendous catalyst for their faith in Jesus as Lord.
• Thomas doesn’t understand Jesus’ intentions to do a great work or Jesus’ supreme sovereignty.
• Instead, he assumes that they engaged in a death march to Bethany.
• For Thomas, the difficult circumstances overshadowed Jesus’ divine promise.
• Application:
• Jesus calls us to live with an eternal perspective.
• What is that?
• Romans 8:28
• 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
• Jesus could have healed Lazarus the moment that He heard about Lazarus’ sickness.
• Jesus could have gone there and laid hands on Lazarus and made him better.
• But He didn’t.
• He allowed Lazarus to die so that He could bring him back from the dead as a sign of His power and authority over death and identity as the Son of God and Savior for the world.
• Jesus allowed Mary and Martha to go through the painful death of their brother when He could have saved them from that pain by healing Lazarus.
• He didn’t do that because Jesus desired to use that painful circumstance as a catalyst for their faith in Him.
• That’s what Romans 8:28 means.
• You may be experiencing some very difficult circumstances right now.
• Perhaps you are asking the Lord to take those away and to heal your life and He hasn’t done that.
• It’s possible that the Lord is using those circumstances for your best possible eternal future.
• He may want to use those circumstances as a catalyst for your faith.
• Maybe you are struggling through an illness, job troubles, divorce, death of a loved one, or someone has hurt you.
• This is Jesus’ promise to you: That circumstance will not end in death!
• Unless we are raptured, you will probably die and you may die in that circumstance.
• But if you are born-again, when you die Jesus will take you to Heaven and eventually you will receive a glorified body like Him.
• So your painful circumstance will not end in death.
• Between now and then, seek the Lord, pray, and read Scripture while asking Him to show you how He’s being glorified through your pain and what He’s doing through it for your eternal future.
• Let’s see what Jesus does next
  

 - Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (:17-27)

• 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
• It’s important to recognize that Lazarus had been dead for 4 days.
• Borchert writes, “This notation was extremely important to those familiar with Jewish burial customs. The general belief was that the spirit of the deceased hovered around the body for three days in anticipation of some possible means of reentry into the body. But on the third day it was believed that the body lost its color and the spirit was locked out. Therefore the spirit was obliged to enter the chambers of Sheol (the place of the dead). The passing of the third day, therefore, signaled the conclusion of the last modicum of hope for the mourners.”
• Thus, no one could say that Lazarus wasn’t dead and this would confirm that Jesus did indeed raise him from the dead.
• It’s also important to recognize that many people came to mourn with Martha and Mary.
• They would eventually be witnesses of Jesus’ miraculous work.
• Martha went to meet Jesus when He arrived on the scene, but Mary stayed behind in the house.
• It was common for mourners to stay seated in their home while friends and relatives came to them offering support and also to mourn.
• John does not mention that Martha and Mary were married, so it is likely that Lazarus supported them.
• His death would have left them destitute and with no income.
• Their circumstance probably felt hopeless.
• 21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
• Even in the midst of this difficult circumstance, Martha expresses faith in Jesus.
• She knows that Jesus could have healed Lazarus and prevented his death.
• She does not allow this difficult circumstance to shake her faith in Jesus.
• Martha recognizes that Jesus possesses absolute power even though things don’t seem to be working out the way she hoped.
• 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
• So, Jesus tells Martha that Lazarus will be resurrected.
• Martha interprets this as resurrection at the end of time, which was something that many Jews believed.
• It’s funny that Jesus plainly told her what was about to happen, but she didn’t understand it!
• By this time, Jesus had raised the widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter, so I wonder why she didn’t consider the possibility that Jesus would do the same for Lazarus.
• Our grief has a way of blinding our eyes from seeing God’s glorious plan doesn’t it? 
• 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
• Jesus’ declaration to be the resurrection and the life has two important meanings:
• 1) Jesus possesses the power of resurrection.
• Those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior will be resurrected back to life at the end of time when Jesus returns.
• 2) Jesus possesses the power of life.
• When we receive our glorified bodies at the end of time when Jesus returns we will live forever…we will never die.
• Jesus asks Martha: Do you believe this?
• Martha confesses her belief in Jesus, she confesses that Jesus is:
• The Messiah
• The Son of God (sent from God)
• The fulfillment of Jewish expectations.
• Application:
• What do you believe about Jesus…Even in the midst of a difficult circumstance?
• Is it lip service, or a declaration from your heart?
• If it is a declaration from your heart, you will believe and act.
• Not just talk.

 - Jesus has authority over death (:28-46)

• 28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
• Even during her mourning, Martha takes charge.
• Do you remember that Martha was the one who took charge of the house when Jesus visited them?
• She was busy serving everyone, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him.
• (All of us tend to be one or the other…Right?)
• She leaves Jesus and goes to tell Mary that Jesus has arrived and that she needs to go and meet Him.
• The people who were with Mary in the house and consoling her noticed Mary’s departure and followed her out to Jesus.
• 32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33a When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping,
• Mary’s tears and words express both her grief and faith in Jesus.
• She is hopeless and broken over the loss of her brother.
• She also knows that Jesus could have healed him.
• At first, this sounds like an accusation against Jesus for His apparent inaction, but it is actually a grief-stricken statement of faith.
• She believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that He had the power to heal Lazarus.
• 33b He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
• A more proper translation of Jesus’ feelings is: Jesus was angry.
• He wasn’t saddened by Lazarus’ death…Afterall, Jesus knew that Lazarus would be resurrected back to life.
• Why was Jesus angry?
• Beasley-Murray explains this well writing, “They sorrowed, as Paul put it, “like the rest of men, who have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13), which is irreconcilable with faith in the resurrection. Despite the testimony of the Bible, despite the signs of Jesus wrought among them, which all bore witness to the life of the divine sovereignty that had come into the world through him, and despite the word that he proclaimed, with its emphasis on the promise of life now and hereafter, they mourned “like the rest of men.” It was this unbelief of the people of God in the presence of him who is the “Resurrection and the Life,” arrived among them to call their friend and brother from the grave, that made Jesus angry.”
• The faithlessness of the crowd and theological ignorance overwhelmed Jesus and He wept.
• He didn’t weep out of empathy…He wept because of their inability to recognize Him as the Resurrection and the Life in the midst of Lazarus’ death.
• Mary, Martha, and their mourning friends saw Lazarus’ death as the end and even believed that Jesus could not overcome it…
• That’s why they all said: “If He only came a little sooner, things would have been different.”
• But Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
• He overpowers death, sin, and Satan!
• 38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41a So they removed the stone.
• Jesus approaches the tomb…He’s angry and ready for action.
• Remember that Jesus approached the tomb in the midst of the people’s comments about his inaction and ability to heal Lazarus (:37). (like a bunch of arm-chair quarterbacks)
• Jesus commands them to remove the stone that was placed at the entrance of the tomb, which would have been a cave.
• Martha (the one who takes charge) warns Jesus that Lazarus has been dead for 4 days and his rotting corpse would have had an awful stench.
• Jesus corrects her and reminds her that He is the Lord and in charge.
• He essentially says: “Quiet down and witness God’s glory!”
• 41b Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
• Jesus knows the Father’s will and He knows that God desires for Him to raise Lazarus from the dead as a sign of His power, authority, and identity as the Messiah sent by God.
• Jesus performs this miraculous act to help people believe in Him.
• That’s the point of Jesus’ miracles: to lead people to faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
• 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.
• Imagine what it would have been like to see that happen!
• Jesus yells at Lazarus’ corpse and commands him to come out.
• His command was one for Lazarus to be brought back from the dead and for him to immediately rise up and walk out of the tomb.
• Once again, the people are divided by Jesus’ miracle.
• Some believed in Him (they had a heart to hear the gospel and receive Jesus’ words and miraculous power).
• Others did not believe (their hearts were hard and the miracle event inspired them to conspire with the Pharisees who wanted to kill Jesus.
• Application:
• This miraculous event leaves us with a weighty question upon our hearts:
• Do we believe that Jesus will work everything out and eventually resurrect us to eternal life?
• Because if we believe that…If we truly believe that then there is no circumstance through which we walk that Jesus cannot see us through.
• Sadness:
• Psalm 30:5
• 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
• Persecution:
• 2 Timothy 3:12
• 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
• Matthew 5:10
• 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Illness:
• Psalm 34:19
• 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
• Death: We don’t have to fear death!
• Jesus conquered death and walks with us through death!
• We will always be with Jesus:
• Romans 8:37–39
• 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Upon death, we go to be with Jesus in Heaven
• 2 Corinthians 5:6–8
• 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
• One day believers will be raptured:
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
• 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
• At the end of time, during the second coming of Christ, we will receive our glorified bodies and the effects of death will be forever obliterated.
• 1 Corinthians 15:51–58
• 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.