John 11:1-57 " When it seems like God just don't care "

John 11:1–6 (CSB)

1 Now a man was sick—Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick.

3 So the sisters sent a message to him: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.

6 So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was.

“ When it seems like God just don’t care “

For some of you who might feel like

That’s a disrespectful statement

Or a statement that YOU PERSONALLY might not make known

But for SO MANY christians it’s a REAL STATEMENT

It’s not a true statement according to this text

Or even the 66 books of the bible

1 Peter 5:7 LEB

casting all your cares on him, because ⌊he cares⌋ for you.

But it is a statement that is thought out

Among so many christians

And is wondered so many times

“ Do God really care “

Note: When you look back at what you’ve been going through [ It Looks Like / Feels Like / Seems Like / Appears As if / ---- God don’t really care

Quote:  As Christians, we need to know that God will continue to care for us, and that His continuing care is based not on our faithfulness but on His.

by Mark Dever

Note: Now there’s ONLY TWO types of people that feels this statement

1st The unfaithful — those that think God should be doing more for them while they are giving God less of them

2nd The faithful —those who are faithful to the kingdom but not seeing any present kingdom rewards

No matter how much you read your bible

Pray / Love God / Love People / Come to church

Impact ministry / Put God first

That statement becomes even more real to reality

Because you just don’t understand how a loving God

Can just let things unfold in your life

That God is SITTING BACK and ALLOWING them to UNFOLD

God is STANDING — STARING — NOT SUPPORTING

As Christians we should be helping people

But it’s so unfortunately instead of helping we’re hurting people

By the FAKE / FICKLE / FONY

Lives we display to people that things is ALWAYS GREAT

Quote: If you’re too proud (or too afraid) to admit you are hurting … don’t be surprised if nobody seems to care.

Robert H. Schuller

SOMETIMES you have to undress yourself in front of people

And say as much as I love God

I cry / I go thru / I get depress / I get aggravated / I get frustrated / I get down

I get upset / I get weary / I want to give / I want to lay down and die

But none of these things that I go thru changes who God Is

And stops Him from being God

1st We say things like “ I’m blessed & Highly Favored “

2nd Christians is the only people in the world that celebrates Halloween year round because they wear a Mask to cover up

Note: The problem with that is, when you say that in front of the homeless man sitting outside of Walmart and he over hears you say that , his question now becomes “ Why is he not bless and highly favored “

But it’s amazing that these men of God in the bible MOSES / DAVID / JEREMIAH / PAUL / JESUS never said that they was “ blessed and highly favored “ because A LOT OF TIMES you feel DISFAVORED

Moses

Numbers 11:15 (CSB) 15 If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now if I have found favor with you, and don’t let me see my misery anymore.”

David

Psalm 13 (KJV 1900)

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; And those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 20:7–9 (KJV 1900)

7 O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, Every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; Because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, And a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, Nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Paul

Romans 7:18–21 (ESV) 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

Jesus

Matthew 26:39 (ESV) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

The first thing that we need to see about this particular text

In John 11 is that this text has nothing to do with Jesus being DELAYED

John 11:6 (ESV) 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Define: Delay — (1) make someone or something late or slow (2) the act of postponing, hindering or causing something to occur more slowly than normal

Jesus is exempt from DELAY or STRUGGLE

there’s nothing that can hide or hold Jesus up

Example: Genesis 32 [ Jacob ]

Not only will we see that this text is not about DELAY

But it is about the Sovereignty & Will of God

Note: Understand this above all, that God has a WILL and a WILL ONLY ,His will is not broken down into categories it’s just “ HIS WILL “

Sovereignty : God’s sovereignty is what he can do-any and all things. He has the absolute power to control all things.

Example: Satan & Job —- Satan was the immediate cause, but God was the ultimate cause because God was in total control still

God’s Will: His Will — on the other hand is what he does do! And this is manifested in two ways. His directive will which is His direct involvement in the affairs of men to bring to pass His desires. The other is His permissive will which is Him allowing things to happen that ultimately ( not directly ) brings about His desires as Romans 8:28 informs us.

Note: When you look at Mary & Martha, can they really say that their brother wouldn’t have died if Jesus would have been there. [ Because it’s about God’s Will ]

Note: Just like you and I , Mary and Martha had to understand the Sovereignty of God because in Mathew Chapter 8 a soldier told Jesus just speak the word.

Note: Always REMEMBER that God is responsible for the things that ONLY He can do and we are responsible for the things that only we can do.

But here’s the problem for the things that we are responsible to do. We refuse to be obedient to what God has told us to do in every situation and when we have things that we can't change everything is piling up and now we want to give up but if we are constantly and continually changing what we can do it won't be such a strain.

The Sovereignty of God by Pastor Shawn P Watson in his book named “ Can God Be Known “

According to Romans 4:17 God is said to be able to call things

Which be not as though they were

The setting is in relation to God imputing righteousness to Abraham

Because of his faith

The storyline is found in Genesis 19 when God restates to Abraham

The promise of an heir through Sarah.

When this covenant promise is restated, Abraham, and Sarah

are past childbearing age.

But Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Although Abraham and Sarah had not been able to produce any heir

after trying for years, God, in his sovereignty,

had already determined the time and circumstances,

under which the seed of Abraham would come.

God can decree in advance what will happen

because He works all things according to His sovereign will and plan.

The reason we trust God is because he is sovereign

having the ability to do as he wills.

When interpret correctly, we see that Romans 4:17 does not suggest

that man has the power to call things that be not

as though they were.

But it is in direct relation to the sovereignty of God.

It is also important to consider the context in which this verse is used

by many who believe they have the power to call things that be not

as though they were.

In most instances, it is related to material things such as,

money, cost, houses, etc.

There are those who go as far as to decree and declare

what God is going to do simply because they spoke it.

In Hebrews 1:1 the word states that God has,

in these last days, spoken onto us by his son.

All that God purpose is for us as his followers is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

According to Ephesians 1:3 we are blessed with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. God has left nothing undone as it relates to those who are His.

Note: If this was the keys that we could speak things into existence we would not need a sovereign God and we ourselves would be sovereign .

For Job, his circumstances became so dire

that he wished he had never been born.

He sought opportunity to have a meeting with God

to discover the meaning behind all the things

that had befallen him.

He wanted to plead his case in that he believed he was suffering without just calls.

As you read Job's story, you see glimpses of Jobs confident trust of God

even in the most difficult of circumstances.

The real turning point comes when God confronts Job,

and tells him to stand up like a man and defend his position.

Listen to Job’s confession, following this encounter.

Job 42:5–6 (ESV) 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

In other words, what I have experience has given me the opportunity to see you,

God,

as you really are.

What did Job learn? God is sovereign,

and no one can alter or change what He wills.

Although we may not understand it in the moment of being battered

by the circumstances, He is working all things together for our good.

God's sovereignty is not just about what is happening in the universe at-large

but what he is personally purposed for our lives.

What he chooses to do, and how he chooses to do it is up to him.

Our part is to trust him, knowing that he loves us and purposes

the best for each of us.

Note: We know that God is the Sovereign God BUT we act like He’s the genie God

Note: The difference between a genie and the Sovereign God is that a genie does what we want him or her to do but the sovereign God does what He and only He wants to do .

John’s Gospel the Theme

The theme of John’s gospel is to present, without question, the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, He’s divine, the whole emphasis of John’s gospel is for us not to have any doubt , that Jesus knows what He is doing.

Chapter 11

Outline of Chapters 11, 12

Theme: Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God During his Public Ministry Manifesting Himself as the Messiah by Two Mighty Deeds Anointed by Mary, Sought by the Greeks, but Repulsed by the Jews

ch. 11

He Raises Lazarus of Bethany. The Sanhedrin Plans His Death.

ch. 12

He Is Anointed by Mary, Makes His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Is Sought by the Greeks, but Repulsed by the Jews.

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Vol. 2, pp. 133–135). Baker Book House.

Preliminary Remarks on the Raising of Lazarus

I. Its Significance

This is threefold:

A. It is a sign pointing to Jesus as the Son of God; specifically, as the resurrection and the life (11:25). Just as the miraculous multiplication of the bread-cakes was an illustration of Jesus as the bread of life, and the cure of the man born blind (as well as the pardon granted to the adulterous woman) made him manifest as the light of the world, so this miracle points to him as the resurrection and the life.

B. In connection with A. (above) it revealed Jesus to be the Messiah who was to die for his people, the fulfilment of prophecy (See on 11:51, 52; 12:14, 15).

We should never lose the thread of the entire story. In his early ministry Jesus revealed himself to ever-widening circles, but was rejected (chapters 1–6). At the feast of Tabernacles and at the feast of Dedication he made his earnest appeal to sinners, inviting them again and again, not only by direct appeal but also indirectly by showing the rewards of discipleship. He also performed a great miracle. But he was bitterly resisted (chapters 7–10). And now, by means of two deeds which in greatness excelled all the others (the raising of Lazarus and the triumphal entry into Jerusalem) he more than ever before manifests himself as being, indeed, the Messiah.

C. It directly led to the formal decision to put Jesus to death, and to the execution of that plot. See 11:47–55; and cf. Vol. I, pp. 12.

II. The Parts of the Story

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Vol. 2, pp. 133–136). Baker Book House.

There are four divisions, as follows:

A. The report of Lazarus’ illness; his death (11:1–16).

B. The arrival of Jesus (and his disciples) in Bethany near Jerusalem (11:17–37).

C. The miracle itself (11:38–44).

D. Its results (11:45–57).

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Vol. 2, p. 136). Baker Book House.

When it seems like God just don’t care

1st Remember you & I are His Treasure [ V. 3 ]

John 11:3 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

Note: You have to know this above any and everything else that God loves you

Jesus loves you and I even when we don’t feel His love

Note: NEVER / EVER doubt God’s love for you as a believer [ Mom back in the day don’t doubt her love ]

Note: This settles God’s love for you and I. John 3:16

John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We feel that God don’t love us

Because we have the wrong perspective

Of God’s love toward us

Example: If you ask a wife or girlfriend how you know your husband or boyfriend loves you watch what they say.

Sometimes God’s love toward us is giving

Sometimes God’s love toward us is taking

Sometimes God’s love toward us is a very present help

Sometimes God’s love toward us is His absence

Define: Love — [ phileo ] — to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards

When it seems like God just don’t care

1st Remember you & I are His Treasure [ V. 3 ]

2nd Remember it’s about His Timing [ V. 6 ]

John 11:6 (CSB)

6 So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was.

Jesus stayed two more days because it’s all about timing

And Jesus knew what He was going to do

Note:

SOMETIMES when our family members are having some crisis in their life

YOU got to sometimes stay where you’re at and be about you fathers business

Note: Here you are always running to your family rescue but those same family members ain’t running to the church or God.

Note:

You have to learn how to sit STILL at times

Because what can we do for them when we get there

But sit in the waiting room

Watch people go in & out the house letting all the cold air out

Family around that don’t come around

Eating up all the food that people bringing & they brought nothing

So since you can do nothing you mightest well come to Church / Bible study / Choir practice / ministry class / being about your Father business

Note:

Jesus stayed two more days

Remember God don’t move when you tell Him to move

Matter of fact God has already moved

He’s just preparing you for when He moves

Preparing you for the manifestation

Note:

Jesus stayed two more days

The timing is getting you to see & understand who he is

Note:

Jesus stayed two more days

The timing is to also show you and I of His absolute control over the situation

Note:

Remember, you’re not the ONLY ONE involved in your situation [ Lazarus ]

Note:

God wants to impact a multitude of people through your darkness