David Rayburn

John 11:1–44 NKJV

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

I. The joy of a life lived for Christ.

Bro. David loved life.

He loved His wife, son, and grandson.

Fisher was in many ways the pride of His life and loved to take him fishing, or hunting.

Although fishing had been slow the last fe years, everyone said that David could always catch fish, even when no one else could. He could catch a fish in the same hole that everyone had been fishing with no luck.

David also had a unique ability to paint, draw, and was always thrilled to share the joy he found in it.

Last year at the Fall Festival at North Etowah David set down at a table and drew an elaborate piece of art. One young lady 13-15, began to watch him and struck up a conversation. Davis spent sometime befriending this young lady and telling her about Jesus. In the end, David gave her the drawing and that girl could not have been more proud of it. She showed everyone what David had drew and gave her.

A seventh degree blackbelt, David owner and operated a karate dojo for many years. Through his dedication to the art of karate, he kept in great physical condition. Especially for someone who faced the major health problems that David endured. His family has stated that it was likely that his strength gained from karate that helped him to survive many of his heart complications.

David also served as Deacon at North Etowah. Through this ministry he remained a faithful servant of the Lord and brought wisdom and stability to the congregants he served.

II. The consequence of sin.

As already mentioned, bro. David suffered many health ailments. Ultimately, his body succumbed to the stress placed upon his body. Why? Romans 6:23 says,

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Davids death is a reminder that sin has a price to pay and that none of us will escape its grip. It is also a reminder that God takes sin serious. Although society attempts to tell us that we can live as we want. God says otherwise and death is proof that He is in control, not man.

III. The Process of grieving.

The shortest verse in the Bible John 11.35

John 11:35 NKJV

Jesus wept.

Yet, in this verse is displayed a powerful message. Jesus wept. Why did he weep? I believe the reason is three fold. First, because He saw the pain of those near him and heard their cries.

Second, because of the separation that is brought by sin.

Thirdly, because of the loss of someone that He loved. Is death temporal. Yes. However, even Jesus felt the pain of loss in this life.

Here in this passage of scripture we see that Jesus spoke of Lazarus and mourned his death. Each of us will grieve differently, and thats okay. Maybe your grieving is highly expressive or maybe it very private. Either way is okay, just grieve. Find a way to deal with the loss and don’t seek to shut out the memories of a loved one.

IV. The hope of the resurrection.

Was Lazarus’s death real? it was. Is David’s death real? Of course. However, death does not have to be our end. In scripture there are two deaths. The first is of the body. This is the death of Lazarus and David. However, there is a second death mentioned.

Revelation 20:14 NKJV

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The second death is that of eternal separation from God.

John 11:25 NKJV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

Today, as we celebrate the life of David and mourn his death. Let us not mourn as those who have no hope. Rather, let us hold fast to the hope that he lives again. Today, his body has been healed, his pain is gone, and he eternally safe in the presence of his Savior.

Today, if like David, you will place your faith in Jesus, repent, and turn from your sin, you may have the blessed hope that there is life beyond the grave.

Let us pray.