John 11:1–27

Review…

• John 10:22-42 – The Feast of Dedication / Hanukkah…
  • Jesus went to the Temple in the winter for the Feast of Dedication…
    • It was now only about four months before He would go to the cross…
    • Jesus walked in Solomon’s Colonnade – no longer welcome inside the Temple…
    • The religious leaders cornered Him – ‘tell us plainly if you are the Messiah!’
  • Jesus had told them through His works – they did not believe – they were not His sheep…
    • But you want to be – because Jesus’ sheep receive eternal life – they will never die…
    • Jesus’ sheep are secure – no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand!
  • Jesus told the leaders – ‘The Father and I are one!’
    • Immediately they took up stones to kill Him – because He claimed to be God…
    • Jesus left and went out to where John had baptized – and many believed in Him!

The death of Lazarus… (3 things)

• 1^st – Lazarus was sick… vs. 1-3
  • About 4 months had passed since the Feast of Hanukkah…
  • The Religious leaders had tried to kill Jesus – and driven Him from Jerusalem…
  • It is now only weeks before the Passover – only weeks till the crucifixion…
  • Jesus was still by the Jordan River – ministering to all who came to hear Him!
  • In the town of Bethany lived – Martha / Mary / and Lazarus…
  • We have already seen Martha – she was always too busy – Luke 10:38-42…
    • Martha was busy doing many things – Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to Him…
    • Martha – feeling like she was doing ‘all the work’ – demanded Jesus tell Mary to help
    • Jesus answered – Martha you are worried and troubled about many things…
    • But your sister Mary has chosen the good part – and it will not be taken away…
    • We often rush around – so busy we have no time to spare / to sit at Jesus feet…
    • But God is not looking for us to be busy – He is looking to spend time with us…
    • So take the time – make the time to sit at Jesus feet – in His Word / prayer!
  • Not only did Mary sit – she also anointed the feet of Jesus – John 12:3-8…
    • Just before Jesus death – Mary poured an Alabaster box of spikenard at Jesus feet…
    • Jesus said whenever the Gospel is told – the story of Mary would be as well!
    • Matthew 6:19 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… “
    • Most people pour their lives / their savings – into things that do not last…
    • How much better to invest our time / talents in the Lord – with eternal rewards!
  • And Lazarus (God helps) who was their brother…
    • He was sick (imperfect) and his health was quickly failing…
    • The family had a VERY good relationship with Jesus – so they knew He would help!
    • Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus – ‘the one you love (phileo) is VERY sick’…
    • We needed to process some paperwork at city hall – knew one of the ladies – easy!
    • If you want something done – it is good to know people in the right places…
    • People assume because they ‘know Jesus’ – they can get what they want…
    • But to often in life when we do ask God for things – it is for the wrong reasons…
    • James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not get it because your whole motive is wrong —you want only what will give you pleasure.”
    • We ask God to win the Lotto – because we want to be rich and have lots of stuff…
    • What we do not realize is if we did win – the money would become our god…
    • If the Lord says no when we ask Him for something – it is always for our good!
• 2^nd – Jesus waited… vs. 3-16 (3 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus was by the Jordan River when he received the message… vs. 3-6
    • He told the messenger – ‘Lazarus sickness would not end in death’…
    • Instead it would be an opportunity for God to be glorified…
    • An interesting statement by Jesus – considering Lazarus did die…
    • But Jesus already knew Lazarus would not ‘stay dead’ – a resurrection was coming!
    • It is very hard for us to look beyond our circumstances – like HUGE wall…
    • We cannot see beyond them – we do not know what will happen next…
    • The only thing we can do is look up and trust that God has a GREAT plan…
    • II Corinthians 4:18 – “Do not look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”
    • It is by keeping our eyes on the Lord we see beyond the moment…
    • It is by looking to the Lord we have the faith to trust He has a perfect plan!
    • Jesus Loved (agape) Martha / Mary / and Lazarus…
    • But He did nothing – instead He waited around for two more days…
    • I am sure Martha and Mary wondered whether or not Jesus got their message…
    • Sometimes when we pray – it feels like God is not there – there is no answer…
    • And we wonder if He is even listening – did He get the ‘message’ that we sent…
    • God is always listening – in fact He records our every prayer – Psalm 56:8...
    • But that does not mean He will always answer us right away…
    • God’s timing is not our timing – and we often have to wait for His plan to unfold!
  • 2^nd – After two days Jesus told His disciples – ‘Let us go to Judea (Bethany)’… vs. 7-10
    • The disciples argued – the Leaders had tried to stone Jesus a few months earlier…
    • Now was not the best time to go back – the Leaders might very well try again!
    • Jesus answered – ‘There are only 12 hours of light in one day’…
    • That is why people work during day – so they can see what they are doing…
    • If you try to work at night – chances are you will stumble – because you cannot see…
    • In other words there is a time to work / and there is a time to wait…
    • Jesus was not afraid to face the Leaders – because it was time to get to work!
    • God has given us work to do – and there is only so much time left…
    • We could stay hidden in the church – afraid to go out and be around the sinners…
    • But there is a world full of people who do not know Jesus – a world going to hell…
    • Seize the moment – use every day – to tell people about Jesus Christ!
    • Ephesians 5:16 – “Make the most of every opportunity for doing good…”
  • 3^rd – Jesus told the Disciples – ‘Lazarus is asleep’… vs. 11-15
    • The Disciples argued again – do not wake Lazarus – he is getting better…
    • But Jesus was not talking about sleep – He meant Lazarus was dead!
    • The Bible often uses the word ‘sleep’ to describe death for believers…
    • Jesus told them plainly – Lazarus is dead…
    • Jesus was glad He was not there to heal Lazarus – so the Disciples would believe…
    • If Jesus had been there – He would no doubt have healed Lazarus – a miracle…
    • But to raise Lazarus from the dead – that would be an AMAZING MIRACLE!
    • God will let our circumstances go from bad – to worse for one reason…
    • If He saves us from a ‘bad circumstance’ – we might not think much of it…
    • But if He saves us from something ‘REALLY BAD’ – we will know it was all Jesus!
    • Thomas said – ‘Lets go and die with Him…’
    • Obviously Thomas had his doubts if Jesus would be able to resurrect Lazarus…
    • The same ‘Doubting Thomas’ who didn’t believe Jesus was resurrected – John 20:25
    • He felt the more likely outcome was – like Lazarus – they would also end up dead…
    • But you have to give Thomas credit – he was still willing to go along with Jesus!
    • How far are we willing to follow Jesus – will we follow Him anywhere…
    • When I was young – I was on a mission trip to Kazakhstan – on the border of China…
    • 2 – 20’ high barbed wire fences with about 50’ of ‘no man’s land’ in between…
    • We decided to ‘follow Jesus’ to China – what we did not know was it was mined!
    • No matter how ‘dangerous’ / or ‘crazy’ following Jesus might seem…
    • There is no safer place to be than as close to the Lord as you can possibly get!
• 3^rd – The Resurrection and the Life… vs. 17-27 (3 things)
  • 1^st – When Jesus arrived at Bethany – Lazarus already had been buried for 4 days… vs. 17
    • The Jewish custom is to bury the dead the same day they die…
    • So Lazarus had must have died even before Jesus received the message to come…
    • So even if Jesus had rushed to make it to Bethany – He would have been too late…
    • Instead Jesus showed up at the perfect time – after Lazarus had been dead 4 days…
    • There is a Jewish tradition that for 3 days after death – a man still might be alive…
    • They would check for the first 3 days to ‘make sure’ the person was really dead…
    • But after the third day – there was no chance – the body would begin to decompose
    • I am sure right up till the third day – there was still hope Lazarus might live…
    • But by the time Jesus finally showed up – all hope was lost – Lazarus was gone!
    • Times are often the most difficult – just before God does the most amazing work…
    • I fear too often we give up – wear out – just before God does something incredible…
    • It is good to remember – it is always the darkest – just before the dawn!
  • 2^nd – Run to Jesus… vs. 18-24
    • Many of the Jews came from Jerusalem to comfort Martha and Mary…
    • Bethany was a village on the east side of Mt. of Olives – only 2 miles from Jerusalem
    • When Jesus arrived – Martha went to meet him / but Mary was sitting in the house…
    • There are two possible responses to tragedy – run to Jesus / or sit and mourn…
    • If we choose to mourn – nothing changes – and we get no answers…
    • But if we run to Jesus – we get the answers – and often so much more!
    • Martha – ‘Lord if you had been here my brother would have lived’… vs. 21-24
    • Martha added – ‘even now God would give Jesus anything He asked’…
    • Martha was disappointed in Jesus – He had not done what she expected…
    • We get into trouble / disappointed when we assume we know what God should do…
    • Inevitably are assumption are wrong – God does not follow us / we follow God…
    • And He wants to do so much more in our lives than we could ever imagine!
    • Jesus – ‘Your brother will rise again…’
    • Martha assumed Jesus was talking about the Resurrection in the last day…
      • When everyone is raised from the dead to stand before the judgment of God…
      • Those who have faith in Christ will stand before the ‘judgment seat’…
      • II Corinthians 5:10 – The Bema seat – not speaking of the judgment of sin…
      • But the rewarding seat – where awards were given to athletes at the Olympics…
      • Like those who completed in the Olympic games – trained hard to win a medal…
      • In the same way we as believers need to train – work hard to please the Lord…
      • Living for Jesus is a daily choice – it takes work and commitment on our part…
      • We choose to take the time to get into God’s Word – set-aside time to pray…
      • So we can one day stand before Jesus in heaven and hear the words…
      • ‘Well done good and faithful servant – enter into the Joy of your Lord…’
    • Those who reject the message of the Gospel will stand before the White throne…
      • Revelation 20:11-12 – “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it… And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…”
      • There will be two sets of books opened – ‘The books’ and the Book of Life…
      • If your name is not found written in the Book of Life – the Books are opened…
      • You are then judged according to your works – written in The Books…
      • Not to see if you will go to heaven or hell – but to show you why you go to hell…
  • 3^rd – Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life… vs. 25-27
    • There are seven ‘I am’ statements given by Jesus in the book of John…
    • The ‘I am’ – is one of the titles given by God to Moses (burning bush) – Exodus 3
    • These 7 statements reveal the character of God through Jesus Christ…
    • The 5^th ‘I am’ – Jesus is THE resurrection – He is the one who gives THE life!
    • Anyone who believes in Jesus – even though they die – they will live again…
    • We are all one day going to die – these bodies wear out – (older people say Amen)
    • But we know death is not the end – in fact it is just the beginning of eternal life…
    • The moment our physical bodies die – we are immediately with Jesus…
    • II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord…”
    • Jesus asked Martha if she believed…
    • Martha answered – ‘Yes – I have always believed you are the Messiah…’
    • She believed Jesus was the ‘Son of God’ who had come into the world from God…
    • Even though she doubted the timing of Jesus arrival – Martha did not doubt Jesus!
    • We are not going to always understand what God does in our lives…
    • But God does not ask us to understand – He asks us to believe…
    • Believe that when we are resurrected – and everyone will be to stand before God…
    • We believe that He is the one who gives us life – our hope in the Resurrection!
    • That because of Jesus – we will have eternal life forever with Him in Heaven!