Jesus is My Resurrection

Introduction

Thesis: Jesus allows believers to go through the effects of death to show us that He is our life.

Text: John 11:1-46

Each year around the month of April, American’s everywhere celebrate easter. Some celebrate it with easter eggs hidden around the yard. Others dress up as a bunny rabbit and bring baskets of candy to the kids. But most have missed completely the meaning of easter. As Christians, we know that easter is about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But key among those events is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus had not raised from the dead, there would be no reason for us to be here today. Jesus resurrection is the single most important even in the history of the world.

In order to understand the significance of this event we must understand why it happened:

The Bad news

Mankind has plunged into sin and continues to live in rebellion against God. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

That sin caused them to stand against God and earns them His judgment. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The bad news for us is that our sins will keep us from heaven. We will be judged for our sins. The penalty of that sin is death. But there is a death after physical death.

Rev 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

The Good news:

1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Jesus came to earth not to show us merely a better way to live. Jesus came to die for our sins.

1 Cor 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Gospel means good news. The good news is that because Jesus died, was buried and rose again on the third day; we can have our sins forgiven and be saved from sin. Saved from death. By placing my faith in Jesus Christ I can have my sins forgiven. If you haven’t ever had a time in your life here you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, I beg you today to come talk to one of us at the end of the service.

Most of us here today are Christians. So is the resurrection just important when we got saved. What does it mean for my life today?

Although we have complete salvation through his death, because we are reconciled to God by it, it is by his resurrection, not his death, that we are said to be born to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).

John Calvin

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

I have chosen an unusual text this easter Sunday: John 11:1-46. By the end you will see the significance; but what I want us to see today is that sometimes Jesus allows death to touch our lives so that we would find our life in Him. Many Christians say they are saved, but the lives they live are no different than the world. Others take pride in being different from the world, but Jesus is not their consuming passion. Most believers today could be described by the word apathy. Jesus is a side item to the entrees of life. Our lives are consumed with pleasure, entertainment, sports, food, money, hobbies; and every now and then Jesus gets a mention. The thrust of this story is Jesus statement in John 11: 25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

I. The reign of death vs 1-17

Death reigns supreme in our world. Not a man on this earth escapes its touch in our lives. Rom 5:14 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

Death the master over sinful human beings touches our lives in so many ways. To believers in Jesus Christ a man who has preached that if they would believe in Him they would have eternal life, they might be tempted to think they would escape the touch of death. But even these Christians do not escape its touch.

Vs 1-2 Notice this story is written about three believers: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Sometimes we slip into thinking that everything in our lives should be good because we are Christians, but death; the effect of sin touches even the believers lives. Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Believers face death either personally or relationally. It is hard to see a godly man lie in a bed dying. Death is no respecter of persons and it has no mercy. Good and bad people all suffer tragic deaths. Good people still get cancer. Good people still die of parkinson’s disease. No one escapes death. Even if we aren’t facing death, people dear to us suffer and are hurting and sometimes there is nothing we can do to make the pain go away.

Death touches our lives in less tangible ways. What about the moments where we have found out our husband is living in sin? There is a death there. Or how about when our kids reject God or are living for pleasure. There is a death there. We ache and hurt in these moments as sin stabs us with the death of relationships. Death’s reign is over all people who live on this earth.

Vs 3 reveals another truth we often forget. Even those who Jesus loves face death. Lazarus was dear to Jesus. Sometimes we can feel like God must not love me if He would allow this to happen or do this in my life. But we don’t always see the purpose behind the pain that accompanies our lives. We must not confuse the circumstances that God allows in our lives with what is in His heart.

Vs 4 In this case, the disciples were told exactly why the following events were going to happen. That the Son of God might be glorified by it.

Vs 5 John reminds us that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is a fact that he does not want us to miss.

Vs 6 Notice the word therefore. This is basically like saying because Jesus loved Lazarus, he stayed put for two more day. You would think things would work the other way around. Why would Jesus love cause Him to stay? Why not run to Lazarus’ side and heal him and make him better? It is odd to associate Christ’s love with his actions. Especially when we consider that in vs 11-14 Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead. Jesus love allowed Lazarus to die. Doesn’t make sense right?

Sometimes God allows deaths hand to touch our lives. Sometimes he allows pain and grief. Think about this scenario, which would you choose? Let’s say Jesus came to you and said, “I am going to do a great miracle and many people are going to see it and get saved, but there is one catch; you are going to have to die.” Would you do it? Now let’s assume you knew Jesus would raise you up again, would you trust him? Is Jesus unloving considering he already knew the resolution of the story.

From these verses we see that even believers are touched by death, but we also see:

for the Christian death is temporary. Jesus calls it sleep vs 11 (preach on notes in your bible here) This too shall pass. Any trial of this life is temporary in light of eternity. Even chronic disease is temporary for the Christian because in the resurrection we will receive brand new bodies free from pain, and disease.

Our deaths and suffering can bring glory to God. vs 4

Jesus is lord over death. I may awake him. vs 11 Death’s reign is only under the authority of Jesus Christ. And when he says enough, Death listens.

II. The faith of Martha vs 18-32

I am astounded by the faith of both Mary and Martha in this story. Their brother has died and yet they still hold out hope that Jesus can do something about it. John 11:21-22 “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.”

Jesus gives her a promise but I think he leaves it vague on purpose: John 11:23 “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.”

Vs 24 Martha assumes that Jesus means the obvious: that he will rise in the resurrection. You see the Jews for the most part and Jesus both believed that at the end of time there would be a final resurrection where we will be judged by God. This event will still happen, but that is not what Jesus meant.

Vs 25 is the whole point of this passage. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. ≈

John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 5:21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Mary, Martha and Lazarus knew this truth: Only in Jesus can we find life. Only in Jesus can we find meaning, purpose, fulfillment. Jesus asks her do you believe? Faith is the key.

Martha affirms her faith that Jesus is the Messiah: John 11:27 “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

III. The heart of Jesus vs 33-38

The next section is so strong because it shows us the heart of Jesus toward those who are going through death.

A. Anger at death Vs 33 the word for groaned in this verse means that Jesus was moved with indignation. It comes from a word which means to snort angrily. Jesus was angry. Why would he be so angry? What is there to be angry about? Is he angry that Mary and Martha don’t seem to have faith in Him; I don’t think so. Is He angry that they were so sad because of the death of Lazarus? No. I believe Jesus was angry at the fallout of death. Calvin call this the tyranny of death. Now just because I quoted Calvin twice in this message don’t go thinking I’ve become a Calvinist. Death was not God’s purpose for this world. Yes maybe God knew it would happen and so it is part of the plan, but God did not create this world for death to reign. The suffering and destruction of sin was not what God wanted for this world. Here are two people dear to His heart, hurting because of death.

In the spirit- Jesus anger was contained. He wasn’t raging uncontrollably because of His anger. He kept it inside, but anger never stays completely inside. How else would John have known Jesus was angry?

troubled- shaken, restless, agitated. Jesus was so angry it made him restless. He couldn’t stand it any more.

B. Anger at unbelief- Vs 38 John again mentions that Jesus groaned in himself, but the cause of this groaning is slightly different. Jesu groaned because of the mocking of the Jews: their unbelief. Jesus hates was sin and death have done to this world. He does not stand by unaffected by what he sees. But He is the cure. He is the resurrection and the life and they don’t see it.

Wouldn’t you be angry if you came to a bunch of sick people and told them you had the only medicine that could make them healthy and they ridiculed you. One man looks at you and says Why, are you a doctor? Who made you the master of me? I’ll take that medicine if I want to. You can’t tell me what to do. I don’t even think that medicine will do anything. Its just flavored water.

Not only is Jesus angry at the tyranny of death; He fumes at their unbelief.

C. Compassion for the grief of His friends

This picture would not be complete without vs 35 the shortest verse in the bible: Jesus wept. Not only was Jesus angry at death and the unbelief of the Jews, Jesus had compassion for the grief that His friends felt. He was not untouched by their grief. Here we see Jesus weeping. There are two different words for weeping in this passage. The weeping that the Jews and Mary did was out loud wailing of grief. Here Jesus weeps silents, but honest heartfelt tears for His friend.

Have you ever been in another country where people still Lament the death of loved ones? Many times these countries have professional mourners who cry very loudly and in many ways disingenuously. Jesus wept real tears for the sorrow of Mary and Martha.

IV. The resurrection of Lazarus vs 39-45

The climax to the story is the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus tells Martha to have the stone rolled away, but Martha protests that the body stinks by now. Here we see a momentary lapse of faith in Martha’s life. God wants to do great things in our lives, but sometimes our own unbelief gets in the ways. When we are in the thick of pain, suffering, and death’s shadow; we don’t often think straight. Its like a pet dog who snaps at his favorite owner because her paw is broken.

John 11:40 “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

Jesus walks up to the tomb and prays publically so the crowd can know that God heard Him and did this miracle. He calls Lazarus come forth and out of the tomb walks a body wrapped in grave clothes.

In vs 45 many of the people who saw this believed on Jesus but some didn’t. Could you imagine seeing a man raised from the dead and yet you still have such a hard heart that you can’t even believe even then. These men run to the Pharisees to stir up more trouble.

Conclusion:

Death could not conquer Jesus not because He was a good man. Death didn’t even conquer because He was a man favored by God like Enoch and Elijah. Death could not conquer Jesus Christ because He is the resurrection and the life. After the crusifiction, the devil and his demons probably danced on the tomb thinking they were victorious, but even death could not conquer Him.

Why is this so important? We all have the spot of death on our lives. We all face it and all feel its touch. For the person who does not know Jesus as their Messiah, You are doomed to face death. But Jesus has conquered death. You can have life, but that life is only in Jesus Christ. In a few moments when we have our invitation, I beg you to come see me down front and we will get someone who can show you how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

These events happened in the lives of people who already believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They had faith. Jesus didn’t just do this miracle because of the lost Jews that would see His glory, Jesus have a purpose for Martha and Mary here. John 11:40 “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Jesus had a lesson to teach Mary and Martha and I believe that message is that some times death touches the believers life to life our eyes to see that Jesus is all we need.

We often forget how central Jesus ought to be to our lives. Those moments of pain, those moments of death. Sometimes they are reminders that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He can bring beauty from ashes. He can breathe life into a situation touched by death. But the reason, He allows us to go through these times is so He can be glorified in our lives.

I can tell you this: Mary and Martha and Lazarus never doubted Jesus ability to raise someone from the dead ever again. This experience lifted their eyes to see His glory, His power over death. When the waves of life are beating you down, its a reminder of how much you need Him.

When things are perfect, when life is good; we often forget about God. Even the Christian drifts into living his life on his own. God drifts into the background. This is my plea for you: Make Jesus your life. Stop playing around with God.

2 Corinthians 5:15 KJV 1900

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

CS Lewis