The resurrection of Lazarus (4 things)

• 1^st – Jesus and Mary… vs. 28-32 (3 things)
  • 1^st – Martha returned to her house – and told Mary Jesus wanted to see her… vs. 28-30
    • Jesus did not run to Mary – He waited for Mary to run to Him…
      • God is always there for us – He desires to help us out – but we have to choose…
      • In the story of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15 – the Father did not chase after the son…
      • He waited till the Son humbled himself – and chose to come back to the Father…
      • Then the Father saw him and had compassion – and ran to embrace His son!
    • Mary immediately went to see Jesus – He was waiting where He had met Martha…
      • It did not take much to get Mary to go to Jesus – she ran the moment He called…
      • How much does it take to get us to run to God – are we like the Prodigal son…
      • Do we wait till our lives have completely fallen apart – no where left to turn…
      • Are we like Mary – hesitate in the hard times – but run when Jesus calls…
      • Best to be like Martha – run to Jesus even before He calls – cause He is THE answer!
  • 2^nd – The crowd saw Mary hastily leave – assumed she was going to cry at the tomb… vs. 31
    • They had no idea Mary was going to see Jesus – all they saw was death….
      • Those who do not know Jesus – assume death is the end – there is no hope…
      • When they go to a funeral – they weep and wail – mourning the loss…
      • It for them is a sad sober occasion – a reminder that we all die one day…
    • In contrast – a funeral for a believer should be a celebration – joy and laughing!
      • When my Dad passed away – people were confused/amazed by the funeral…
      • Because it was not a sad occasion – Dad was with Jesus – why be sad!
      • We have no need to fear dead – it has not sting / no bite for us – I Corinthians 15:55…
      • We know what will happen when we die – we see Jesus face to face!
      • We know that it is not the end – far from it – it is the beginning of eternal life!
  • 3^rd – Mary arrived – ‘Lord if you had been here – Lazarus would not have died’… vs. 32
    • The same complaint that Martha gave to Jesus – Mary now reiterates…
    • Obviously the two had been talking about it before hand…
    • They had fed on each other’s comments – causing them to doubt Jesus…
    • We need to be careful with our comments – they can quickly spread to others…
    • Bitter / spiteful comments are like a virus – quickly spread from person to person…
    • You have heard the old saying – ‘if you have nothing good to say – say nothing’…
    • Better to say those things that will bless others – give grace to those who listen…
    • Say thing that will build up others in their faith – encourage them in Jesus!
    • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
      
• 2^nd – Weeping over death… vs. 33-38 (2 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus saw Mary (and the Jews) crying… vs. 33-35
    • He was angry – the word is the picture of a horse snorting in anger – REALLY ANGRY…
      • And troubled in His Spirit – Jesus was very agitated by what He saw…
      • Not because Mary was crying – she was genuine in her grief…
      • Perhaps not even because of the Jews – though their tears were likely less genuine…
      • Jesus was troubled / angry at death – it was never part of God’s original plan…
      • Death is a direct result of sin – Garden of Eden – Genesis 3:19
      • Death should never have entered into this world – death is wrong…
      • It makes God angry that we die – that sin causes us to be separated from Him!
    • Jesus asked – ‘Where is the tomb’…
      • When He arrived – ‘Jesus wept’ – this is the shortest verse in the Bible…
      • But HUGE because it reveals God has emotion – and feels for our pain…
      • God knows when we are suffering – He counts every tear – Psalms 56:8
      • It is a good example for us when it comes to comforting others…
      • When others are hurting – going through a tough time – meet them where they are…
      • I knew a family who lost their child – two pastors came to ‘encourage them’…
      • The 1^st pastor gave them all the ‘right’ verses – but was of no comfort…
      • The 2^nd pastor just wrapped his arms around the parents – and cried with them…
      • Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
      • This is the first of only two times the Bible records Jesus crying…
        • The second time would come only a few weeks later on Palm Sunday…
        • When Jesus would weep for Jerusalem/Jews – because they rejected Him…
        • Luke 19:41– “Now as [Jesus] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.”

• We should also weep for a lost world – one that has rejected Jesus…
• Driven by our burden for lost family / loved ones – to share Jesus with them!
• 2^nd – The Jews saw Jesus weep – ‘see how much He loved Lazarus’… vs. 36-38
  • But others argued – Jesus healed the blind man – could He not have healed Lazarus…
    • They were questioning the geniuses of Jesus’ love for Lazarus…
    • If He had REALLY loved him – Jesus would have gotten there in time to heal him!
    • Rather than trust God has a better plan for us – wait upon Him…
    • Too often in life when God does ‘rush to our aid’ – we question His love…
  • They arrived at the tomb – it was a cave with a stone laid against it…
    • When Jesus heard their comments – He was DEEPLY troubled…
    • When we question the Love of God – it troubles the Lord…
    • Consider all He has done for us – all He has given too us – how could we doubt!
    • John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this… to lay down His life for His friends.”

• 3^rd – Roll the stone aside… vs. 39-44 (4 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus commanded the people to remove the stone… vs. 39
    • The people could not bring Lazarus back from the dead – but they could open the door…
    • We have a very important part to play in brining people to Jesus Christ…
    • We cannot save people from the bondage of sin / and its consequence of death…
    • But we can open the door for them to hear the voice of Jesus…
    • We can invite them to come to church – we can share the Word of God with them…
    • If we are not willing to go and tell them / open the door – who will – Romans 10:13-15
  • 2^nd – Martha argued – ‘But he is going to stink – he has been dead 4 days’… vs. 40
    • Jesus answered – ‘Did I not tell you would see God’s glory if you believe…’
    • Many times we hesitate to reach out to the lost – because they ‘stink’…
    • They reek of the sins of this world – caught up in all kinds of loose living…
    • But the church is not for social club for saints – it is a hospital for sinners…
    • We cannot be afraid to go and get our hand dirty – sinners need our help!
    • Not that we join in with them – we need to be careful not to fall back into the world…
    • But we reach out to them – showing them the Love of Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Jesus looked up to heaven – ‘Father I thank you that you have heard Me’… vs. 41-42
    • God always hears the Son – but Jesus said it for the benefit of those listening…
    • He wanted them to believe that it was the Father that sent Jesus!
    • It seems it is easy for us to talk about almost anything with people…
    • We can talk about the weather / sports / what is happening with sugar prices…
    • The one subject that seems hard to bring up – is talking about Jesus Christ…
    • But we cannot tell people about Jesus – if we do not talk about Him…
    • Why waste time on any other subjects – go right to the one that promises Eternal life!
  • 4^th – Jesus shouted – ‘Lazarus come out’… vs. 43
    • It is a good thing that Jesus was specific in calling out Lazarus…
    • If Jesus had just said ‘come out’ – everyone would have walked out of their graves!
    • Because Jesus has the power over death – He has the power to give new life!
    • One day Jesus will shout out again – and this time it will be for everyone…
    • Thessalonians 4:16 – “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout… all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves!”
    • Because Jesus / the Word alone has the power of the resurrection – He alone gives life!
    • Revelation 1:8 – “I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
  • Lazarus came out of the grave – alive again… vs. 44
    • Jesus told the people to untie him from his grave clothes…
    • Here is where our responsibility comes in again – helping remove the ‘grave clothes’…
    • When people first come to Jesus – they are often still bound up in a lot of sin…
    • We need to help new believers overcome some of the ‘binding sins’ of their past…
    • Encouraging them in their new walk with Jesus – helping them walk in the truth!
      
• 4^th – One must die for the many… vs. 45-57 (3 things)
  • 1^st – The reaction of the Religious leaders… vs. 45-48
    • Many of the people believed in Jesus after seeing the resurrection of Lazarus…
      • But some of them ran to the Pharisees and told them what happened…
        
      • We can always expect one of two responses from others when we share the Gospel…
      • Either people believe – or they run and cause trouble for those who do believe!
    • The Leaders (Sanhedrin) called a meeting to discuss what to do about Jesus….
      • They realized if they just left Jesus alone – everyone would believe in Him…
      • One of the biggest reasons people do not come to Jesus – other people…
      • Someone might be interested in coming to church / hearing the Bible…
      • But they are afraid of what other people might say…
      • Or they do begin to go to church – and all the comments begin to flow…
      • If not for the bad influence of other people – many more would believe in Jesus!
    • The Leaders feared the Romans would take away their position – their nation…
      • The idea being the people would make Jesus their King – John 6:15
      • And the Romans would blame the Leaders for not doing something to stop Jesus…
      • It was an empty fear – Jesus had already refused to be their earthly King…
      • But it served it purpose to sir up the leaders to take extreme action!
      • I once heard someone say you should not go to church there…
      • They do not know where they are going – ‘no name on the side of the jeep’…
      • People will say anything to try and keep others from coming to Jesus…
  • 2^nd – The counsel of Caiaphas… vs. 49-52
    • Caiaphas was appointed as high priest by the Roman government…
      • The High Priest should have been chosen by God (Aaronic line)…
      • But it was not longer a religious position – it had become a political position…
      • He was serving as the high priest that particular year – so he spoke up…
    • It is better that one man die – than a whole nation perish…
      • Caiaphas did not say this on his own – he prophesied that Jesus would die…
      • So He could gather together all the children of God who were scattered…
      • Not that Caiaphas was a good man – he was a self-serving coward…
      • But the very thing Caiaphas wanted to do to stop Jesus – was Jesus’ plan all along!

• People can and will say what they want – and do what they want…
• But in the end – God is in control – and He uses all things for His purpose…
• Genesis 50:20 – “God turned into good what you meant for evil.”
• 3^rd – Seeking to kill Jesus… vs. 53-57
  • From that day on the Leaders sought to kill Jesus…
    • So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews – instead stayed in Ephraim…
    • The resurrection of Lazarus is only recorded in the book of John…
    • But it is the key event leading up to the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus…
    • With Lazarus as evidence of the power of Jesus – proof He was the Messiah…
    • The leaders had very little time to act in order to stop Him!
  • It was close to the Passover so everyone was making the Pilgrimage…
    • Everyone was talking about Jesus – would He show up to the Festival…
    • But the Leaders had given strict orders to report to them if anyone saw Jesus!
    • The scene is set for the end of Jesus ministry – His Crucifixion and Resurrection!
    • The other gospels dedicate only three chapters to the last week of Jesus ministry…
    • The book of John dedicates TEN chapters to the Passion Week!