Jesus' Exhibition Resurrection

We’re going to be looking at John 11 this morning at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the tomb. The reason I chose this passage is pretty simple. We’re on this Road to the Resurrection and next week is Palm Sunday, so I just looked to see what happened before it! But here’s why I really settled into this

John 11:53 CSB

So from that day on they plotted to kill him.

This is the event that did it. It pushed the Jewish leaders over the edge. The straw the broke the camels back. Parents, you’re familiar with that concept I’m sure!

As I started reading and studying this story I found that there is so much more here than I ever realized, so many themes and messages and purposes. This story has layers, like a parfait! Everybody likes parfait! So we’ll all love this story!

God revealed his love and glory to us in Jesus so that we would believe in Him and be saved.

read John 11 and pray

The first question you may have about this story is “why did Jesus let Lazarus die?” That’s what some people asked in verse 37. It’s because He can’t resurrect Lazarus if he doesn’t die first! So then, why does He want to resurrect him? That’s where we learn in this story.

I had a hard time with how to teach this chapter because there is so much going on in it, and not because it’s a whole chapter. There are multiple themes on display throughout the whole thing. It made it too difficult for me to split it up into neat little sections like I like to do! So here’s what we’re going to do; I think Jesus performed this miracle for four reasons, three He stated and one we see in the text. And then there’s a bonus reason at the end! So I’m going to tell you the main points of the chapter right here at the beginning and you’ve got them on your handout with space to take notes if you’d like. As we go you just put your note in the appropriate section! I’m not leaving you on autopilot this morning!

Jesus resurrected Lazarus to show his glory.

Verse 4

Jesus resurrected Lazarus to show his love for his people.

Verse 5

Jesus resurrected Lazarus to cause people to believe.

Verse 15

John 20:31 CSB

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Jesus resurrected Lazarus to prepare his people for what was coming.

The witnesses to this miracle were witnesses to the next resurrection too.

This miracle was about something bigger than removing their grief. This miracle was about the power of Jesus over death. They were intimate witnesses to death’s demise. It was high noon, and they were lining the streets to watch the duel between Jesus and death. That never would have happened if Jesus had submitted to the sisters’ plan [to heal Lazarus before he died].

Walking through the story

verses 5-6

Romans 8:28 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

verse 8-10

John 1:9 CSB

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Our kids get a little nervous in bad weather. Really they freak out. What we always tell them is that it’s our job to take care of them and they can trust us to do that. So until they see us freaking out, there’s no need for them to freak out.

God is taking care of you, whatever your situation is, no matter how out of control it seems, it’s under his control and you don’t need to freak out.

verse 16

Everybody needs a Thomas in their life. A ride or die. Someone who’ll say, “You’re going to get yourself killed doing that. I’m coming with you.”

verse 25-27

Romans 10:9 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

verse 35

Theres a… marital skill I had to learn. I think generally speaking men are solution oriented. If there’s a problem we are either going to ignore it or fix it. Ladies I think are a little more inclined to just talk about it. I don’t want to say whine because that would get me in trouble, so that’s not what I’m saying.

I had to learn this after Kristen and I got married. I thought I was supposed to be offering solutions when Kristen told me about problems… I thought I was killing it. Just knocking it out of the park. But Kristen would get mad at me! Finally she explained it to me and I realized that she didn’t want solutions, she just wanted me to sit there and be miserable with her! To enter into and be in it with her! That’s what Jesus is doing here.

1 Peter 5:7 CSB

casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

verse 44

We’ve actually got a picture of Lazarus here…

verses 50-52

1 Peter 3:18 CSB

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Bonus point: This story demonstrates in a moment what God is doing for humanity in salvation.

I promised you a bonus purpose for this miracle! This is a picture of what God is doing in the story of salvation. What Jesus does here with his friends and Lazarus is what God is doing with all of his people in saving us through his Son Jesus.

We are suffering in death and brokenness and He sees us.

Rather than just pulling us out of it, He enters into the death and brokenness and experiences it with his people.

He does it to show his glory and because of the great love He has for us.

He has a plan for salvation and we need to trust it, believe it, and follow Him.

He revealed Himself to us in Jesus so that we would believe.

Jesus shows his power over death.

Jesus shows his glory and love by saving his people.