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Anchor Verses:

John 11:38–44 ESV

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Introduction:

To better understand today’s scripture let’s briefly examine the context in which this miracle took place.

In John chapter ten while Jesus was in Jerusalem at Solomon’s colonnade a group of Jews asked Him if He was the Messiah. Upon Jesus declaring the He is the Son of God the men then attempted to stone Him. Therefore Jesus and His followers had traveled back across the Jordan River to the same countryside location where John the Baptist had his ministry and many people believed on Jesus there.

Trust God’s Timing

It is at this point that the news arrives that Martha and Mary have sent for Jesus because their brother Lazarus who was also the friend of Jesus had become very ill. Instead of Jesus speaking a healing right in that moment or traveling to them right away Jesus instead stayed where He was for two more days before telling the Disciples they needed to head back.

The Disciples were concerned because at this point the Jews in this part of Judea were seeking to stone Him for stating He is the Son of God. Jesus tells them that Lazarus has died and they agree to return with Jesus to Judea.

Upon arriving at Bethany it was told that Lazarus had already been in the grave for four days. This is a significant point to make because at that time the Jews believed that the soul of a dead person would hover over the body for three days hoping to reenter it but on the fourth day it moved on. Said simply Jesus intentionally delayed His arrival so there would be no doubt from anyone that Lazarus was completely dead.

At times in our lives we wonder why certain seasons seem to last for a long time but we must trust that the Lord is working everything out right on His time for His greater plans and purposes.

For example when Jesus arrives Martha went out to meet Him but Mary stayed behind until Jesus called for her. Also, Martha tells Jesus that if He would have been there her brother would not have died. Both of these actions stem from pain and are essentially a cry out to the Lord didn’t you hear my prayers.

Jesus tries to comfort Martha by telling her that your brother will rise again. Martha thinks that He means in the resurrection like we might say to someone who has lost a loved one.

However Jesus brings clarity in

John 11:25 NLT

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Martha confirms her faith in Jesus as the Messiah and then calls for her sister Mary and upon Mary hearing that Jesus wanted to see her she then came right away.

Mary runs to Jesus falls at His feet and like Martha declares that if He had only been there then her brother would still be alive.

Again this comment comes from a place of pain and heartache. I have met many people over the years who feel the pain of thinking the Lord could have done something to help in a situation but didn’t. Other people have gone so far as to blame God or stop following Jesus. But none of these responses are appropriate because our faith must grow to a point that while we don’t understand everything that happens or doesn’t happen we trust the Lord that He has a bigger plan and purpose in mind.

Jesus Shows Genuine Emotion

John eleven verse thirty-three says that Jesus saw Mary weeping and was also deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled and He asks where have they put Lazarus.

They brought Jesus to the grave of Lazarus and verse 35 states that then Jesus wept.

What a tremendously power verse that demonstrates clearly the emotional sensitivity of God! We know that God is all powerful and all sovereign but at times we can forget that we are made in the image of God and we get our emotions from Him. He is Love and shows us how to love. He is compassion and shows us how to be compassionate and He does care and does feel emotions as we do.

While the Bible doesn’t say specifically we can only imagine the emotion Jesus must of felt as He had compassion for his friends that were grieving. And also had some level of anger or disappointment that many still didn’t realize that He was the Son of God and could do all things even raise Lazarus from the dead. In addition, He may have been grieving for Lazarus because he was in paradise and now had to be brought back to a world which has many tribulations and then die again at a later day simply because of the unbelief of the people.

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

It is at this point that we pick up with today’s scriptures. And we can see that Jesus still deeply moved comes to the tomb which was a cave with a stone laid against it.

Martha tries to caution Jesus that the body may have an odor. This could indicate that Lazarus was not only dead but already decaying. A body that has not been embalmed begins to noticeably decay and smell after three days, especially when exposed to warmer climates.

John 11:40 ESV

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

So when they took away the stone Jesus lifted His head and prayed. This was not necessary for the miracle to happen however Jesus wants the witnesses to realize that God the Father is the source of power for this miracle.

John 11:43–44 ESV

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

The power of God on full display as with just a word death and the grave must submit and obey the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Hear your pastor this morning it doesn’t matter what the devil has tried to take from you or what he has made you feel like is dead and gone because Jesus Christ is bigger, better, stronger and greater than anyone or anything! And with the sound of His voice dead things can come to life and old things are made new! Let’s give Him praise in the house this morning!

Why Was it So Important for Lazarus to Be Raised from the Dead

So you may be wondering why was it so important for Lazarus specifically to be raised from the dead.

Was it because Jesus loved Lazarus more than anyone else who died. No because while they were close friends and had brotherly love for one another John the Baptist was family. In fact they were cousins and Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest man that ever lived in Matthew 11:11.

Matthew 11:11 ESV

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

So if Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus because they were close and Jesus was going to heal him anyways than why purposefully delay His return and make his followers Martha and Mary grieve the loss of their brother.

It was so that the Jews who were in attendance and part of the mourning party would believe on Jesus as the Messiah. These same people lived in Judea and Jerusalem and would go ahead of Jesus sharing the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead which prepared the way for the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday just five days prior to His crucifixion.

The other outcome of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is while some people celebrated the miracle others told the Pharisees who then contact the High Priest and the Council which began the plot to kill Jesus.

Lazarus’s Testimony Led Others to Christ

In addition to the plot to kill Jesus the High Priest also made plans to kill Lazarus.

John 12:9–11 ESV

9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Verse 11 tells us the reason which is that because of the testimony of Lazarus and how Jesus literally saved Him from death and brought him back to life again that many people were saved and started following Jesus.

Yes Lazarus had to get sick and die. Yes Martha and Mary had to grieve their brother. Yes Jesus had to deal with the emotions of seeing His friends and followers heart broken and listening to the ridicule of others saying that he couldn’t save His friend. Yes Jesus had to return to Judea where they wanted to stone Him. But it was all worth it because by the eyewitness testimony of Lazarus and those in attendance many people were saved by making Jesus the Lord of their lives.

Your Testimony Can Lead Others to Christ

Some of you hearing this message today may also be dealing with significant situations. You or someone you know are under attack from the devil and it seems as though he is lurking around every corner just waiting and plotting on how to make you or them mess up.

Perhaps there may be some areas of your life that like Lazarus he has convinced you are dead and gone. The evil one will even try to introduce thoughts into your mind like if God was really there then this situation would not have happened.

But the Lord sent me here today to tell you to trust Jesus and keep holding on because help is on the way.

You haven’t been dealing with the struggles in your life because the Lord doesn’t hear you or doesn’t care rather it’s quite the opposite. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you and even if you don’t feel Him at the moment He is still there loving you and giving you the hope and strength to keep pressing forward.

It may seem like the season of testing has been going on for a very long time and you are starting to wonder will things ever really change.

But I have some good gospel news for you this morning which is that your testing brings forth a testimony.

And like Lazarus who had to endure sickness even to death there is no situation too powerful for Jesus to bring back to life! And once your feet are back on solid ground not only will you personally be blessed with an increase in your faith and quality of life but you will be able to witness to others that Jesus cares and will rebuild and restore our lives so that by Him working through us and our testimonies as many people as can be saved would be saved!

Closing

In closing today, I want to ask you if there is something in your life that seems to be dying or dead like a goal, a relationship, a calling or just simple peace and joy. Are you or someone close to you in a season of testing in your life that at times doesn’t seem to make sense or be getting any better. Has the devil been speaking in your mind with thoughts like it’s too late for me or things will never get better. Don’t listen to those negative thoughts and lies and instead pray that the same God that raised Lazarus from the dead will work a miracle in your life so that you may testify of the Goodness of God and that the Lord may use your testimony to draw others close to Himself. What the devil calls dead Jesus can bring back to life with just a word!

Prayer/Altar Call

With everyone’s eyes closed for a moment if you are hear today and you or someone close to you is in a testing season with no one looking around raise your hand. If you are here today and you have given up on something because you are convinced that it is too late for things to change and that dream, or calling, or relationship or goal is seemingly dead that raise your hand.

As we sing this song the altars will remain open and I want to personally invite you down for prayer that the Lord will strengthen you so that in His time and in His way your testing will be a testimony that leads other people to a relationship with Christ.