How do you see Jesus?

Introduction

John 11:45–57 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Recap

I want to take a step back and recap for a couple of minutes where we are, because its important to our passage.

In fact verses 45-57 are the fall out, if you will, of the previous story.

Miraculous

Jesus has just done a miraculous thing in bethany..

And not just miraculous, but impossible.

He had brought a man, lazarus, back from the grave he had been in for four days.

Even the jews believed this was impossible because they believed that after the third day the spirit left the area of the body.

Public

And unlike many of his previous miracles..

where no one was around, or he told the people that received not to go and tell anyone..

this miracle is very public..

Vrs 19 told us that a large group of people who are present with mary and martha

a large group of jews.

They had come to comfort the family in the passing of lasarus…

and in the midst of this, they are caught up in the miracle and see if for themselves.

On Purpose

We know, of course, from the context of the story that this is the way that Jesus wanted it

Jesus, when they call for him because lazarus is sick, tells them up front in verse 4..

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

and then his disicples in verse 15

John 11:15 ESV

and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jesus tells them all there is great purpose in this event

It was palnned if you will

Verse 6 tells us that

John 11:6 ESV

So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Jesus intentionally waited..

So lazarus died..

and when lazarus died..

the crowd gathered..

and then Jesus Shows us..

Set up

This entire situation..

was a set up..

Because everything God does is intentional and has purpose..

It was designed

So that mary, martha and lazarus would see a new demention of Jesus authority.

But also so that the crowd would be present for the entire thing

and thus so that those who saw, would believe..

so that christ would be glorified.

and God would be exalted.

New thing

I want to point out that Jesus is doing a new thing..

Not only in the miraculous raising of lazarus..

but he is changing the very ideas of what is means to follow God..

And challanging the religous attidutes of the day..

trying to bring people back to the heart of what God is doing.

and this is very controversial

Different opinions

And now in verses 45-57 we see the fallout of this miracle

And I would think.. you just saw a man raised from the dead..

How amazing is that..

Give Glory to God..

but in the passage we see two different reactions from those who were present.

One acceptive and one rejective in nature

Examine our reactions

I want us to be very open to examining our reactions to Jesus tonight.. both past, present, and furture

Our reactions to the work of christ in our life..

Because we have two options when God does something new in our midst.

We can believe and glorify Him.

Or we can choose not to believe and become religous..

Those are the two things that happen here after this amazing miracle..

Lets look at the first one

Those that saw what Jesus did and believed in him..

Verse 45 tells us the first reaction of some many in the crowd

John 11:45 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

Many of them, saw the miracle..

They had come for a funeral, and witnessed a ressurection

They saw and it moved their heart.

and they beleived in Jesus..

This is what we would probably all say we would do if God did something amazing in our midst..

If were honest its the churchy anwser too..

because its what should happen.

God does something amazing and we celebrate it

we honor him for it

and it causes faith to arise in us to see greater things through him..

BUT

But we know that was not the reaction of everyone..

because verse 46-48 tells us that there were a second set of reactions.

Those that saw what Jesus did and were angry

John 11:46–48 ESV

but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Some of the jew saw what Jesus did..

and instead of believing in him..

instead of celebrating the miracle and the life of lazarus

they were infuriated and angry...

to the point where they finally decide they are going to kill Jesus in Verse 53

John 11:53 ESV

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

and a chapter later in 12:9-11 its says this..

John 12:9–11 ESV

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The jews were so upset about the miracle.. that they wanted to kill lazarus again..

to take him out..

and look at why they were upset...

Why were they upset?

both accounts tell us..

Chapter 11 tells us Because they poeple were believing in Jesus and the jews were afraid rome would take what they had..

And chapter 12 tells us because they believed in Jesus and they were leaving the jews and joining Jesus instead..

In both situations..

The jews were angry..

Jesus was a Threat

because what Jesus was doing, threatened there way of living..

threated their religion and tradition..

and threated there control of the people..

Jesus was changing the realitiy of the kingdom of god and they didnt like it..

Us

When god does new and unexpected things in our live, how do or will we react..

when God comes in and changes everything..

when he messes things up..

when he changes tradition..

and over rules religion..

and goes against the grain of comfort how we do we react..

Do we react with belief and praise?

or do we react with contemp..

Grumbled

I feel like the Jews did what most church people do when God begins to do a new thing..

when he starts to save people that we dont think deserve his glory

when he starts to bring people into the church that dont fit our ideal picture of a christian..

When he starts to move in new ways that we have never seen before..

I think a lot of church people do the same thing…

They run back to others in religion and begin to grumble..

“Well did you see what happened on sunday? Ive never seen god do that, so that couldnt be God..”

“Well did you see the person they have doing such an such now.. do you know their past.. I cant believe that..”

“Can you believe what that pastor prayed over me… doesnt he know who I am.. Im not doing those things he said..”

HOW DO WE REACT WHEN GOD STARTS DOING NEW THINGS?

Do we accept it and celebrate it..

or do we resist it a rebell against it..

God is in the business of new things and change

I want to remind you tonght that God is in the business of new things and change..

NO, God does not change..

But he does change everything else at times.

OurSelf

If you need an example look at yourself..

at one time you and I were wreched sinners..

but now, we have been saved by grace through faith so none of us would boast..

some of us at this time years ago were on a bar stool..

some of us were int he crack house..

some of us were far from god..

THANK GOD HE CHANGED US....

Scripture

look at the scripture..

all throughout the bible we find change..

First god speaks directly to moses..

Then he speaks through the preist through the tent tabernacle....

Then he speaks through the prophets…

Then he speaks through Jesus

And now he speaks through you and I..

He is the same god..

But he has changed his meathods through the years..

he is a god that does new things as isaiah saws.

we have to be willing to see what God is doing, recognize its him, and accept it and give him glory

Not grumble and complain like the children in the wilderness of the jew in Jesus day..

Us

If we are not careful, when god does something amazing..

We will try to kill it because we dont like that it doesnt look like we want it too..

because it pulls us from what we know and understand..

because it threatens our idea of religion and relationship..

WE HAVE TO BE IN TUNE WITH AND BE CAREFUL JUDGE RIGHTLY.....

God Still Speaks through Caiaphas

I find it interesting that even though the jews rejected Jesus in this miracle..

God still uses the high preist to prophecy acuratly ..

Look at what caiaphas says in verse 49-52

John 11:49–52 ESV

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Caiaphas, even though he is enraged about this situaiton..

still utters the truth..

God still has his way..

And certainly we know that God used this situation to bring about his ultimate goal..

TO bring Jesus to the cross..

This was a turning point in the Gospel story.. as verse 54 says..

This changes everything..

This Changes Everything

John 11:54 ESV

Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

Jesus could no longer walk in the open

Because now the jews are really looking to kill him..

now we will begin to see the road leading to the cross emerge with greater definition..

And through the next few chapters we will walk that road as we see Jesus put to death and give his life for us..