John 11:1- Lazarus

Introduction

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

So we are introduced to three characters here in John whom we have not met yet. We have Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. We really dont know anything about these three. Lazarus is mentioned here and in the next chapter. Mary as well. Martha is mentioned here and along with mary in Mark and herself in Luke. Mary and Martha are in another story in the Bible and we will refer to it shortly.

It is safe however to assume that these three have some sort of relationship with Jesus. They believe in who He is and what He says. Lazarus was sick, with what we do not know, but very sick to where they needed to pick up the red phone and call Jesus.

There are some that say they didnt use meds or doctors but Just Jesus. I dont know that that is true. 1. resources were very limited. 2. He was sick sick as in died that day sick, so they probably had tried everything.

But ultimately in desperation, they sent for Jesus.

DAMAR HAMLIN

There are three people in this world when life slaps you with a Ric Flair woooooo.

There are those that do nothing. They sit in their pitty. They look at the bad and they say “ see there is no God” If there is he is cruel and ruthless.

There are those that have exhausted all hope and in their core they turn to God as a source of Higher Power

and there are those that even in the midst of chaos and desperation know that their Father is in control and they plead for His grace to weather the storm.

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

The purpose of Lazarus receiving life was to bring Jesus death

stayed for 2 days?

Sometimes we think Jesus has forgotten but we have to see outside our circumstances

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

Its pointless to use a flashlight in the day time

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Death is the end for those outside of Christ.

Why did Jesus do what He did. So they would believe.

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

dounting thomas

easy illustration though of the type of follower that Jesus is looking for

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Martha comes out Busy as ever.

Jesus had you just been here

Jesus had you just seen me

Jesus if you knew my pain

HE DOES

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

I AM THE RESSURECTION. Your life in me is now and so is LAZARUS

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept.36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus sat and wept with them. He knew the outcome he knew the purpose but he was weeping FOR THEM....

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

bad odor like those that have no chance

like those in this community

like KCC?

The New International Version (Chapter 11)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

grave clothes gotta come off