John 11:11-17

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I am the Resurrection and the Life

So tonight my friends we come back to the Great I am saying of Jesus.
Already we have look at Jesus as He declared that He is the bread of life, the light of the world, The gate and the Good Shepherd.
Tonight we come to the topic where by Jesus says I am the resurrection and the life…this is in John chapter 11. And as some of you know, this is the story and miracle of Lazarus, a friend and follower of Jesus.
There are actually three people involved in this story primarily, Mary, Martha and Lazarus are those who love Jesus.
It is a unique story and truly one that reminds us of the blessing of those who follow the Lord Jesus.
So lets set the background here. Lets look at the first 4 verses of chapter 11
John 11:1–4 ESV
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 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.”
So this interesting, Jesus is made aware of what is going on, I would dare say, he already knew these things… remember we talk a lot about the Lord being omniscient… meaning is he all knowing.. Past, Present and Future, the Lord knows our days.
Now we do not have a definite timeline here, but it would appear that this account of Lazarus death and return to life occurs within the last two weeks before Jesus crucifixion.
And this is really the event that sets the religious leaders against Jesus...
So Bethany is a small village just about 2 miles south of Jerusalem, so very close to the city and it gave Jesus access to the city and Temple area fairly easily.
But it was the home of some very special followers of Jesus, these siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus had a very special relationship with Jesus.
It was Mary who anointed the Lord with the perfumed oil from the alabaster box. She applied it to him and wiped his feet with her hair (John 12). Now Judas was really upset at the waste of this actions.
When you think of these sisters, Mary is one who could be described as the worshipping one, and Martha as the determined worker.
But seeing their brother ill, fearing he would die sent a message to Jesus that the one who love is ill and near death.
But Jesus says something interesting here…Verse 4 Jesus says this illness isn’t unto death but for the glory of God.
We remember this happened in John 9 with the man born blind…
What do you think of that type of saying?
When we think of these type of events we see several things… it wasn’t the end of the story, It was so that God’s glory could be revealed.. and they reveal who Jesus is and what He came to do…He came to put death away and give life to all those who would follow.
Now look at verse 5 John 11:5-6
John 11:5–6 ESV
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
This is one verse that explains Jesus love for them, but for God’s glory, he remained in that place for 2 more days…
This means that Lazarus would have to walk through the experience of death and suffering.
Now understand here, we do not know why at times, we don’t have enough information at times. But we know there are times when the Lord allows us to walk through trouble, suffering and even death....and I think these things are not arbitrary , they do have meaning and it always have two outcomes… To make us better and to glorify God… I do believe that..
Even when we do not understand what and why is happening, we can remain faithful and glorify God.
Now we know that Jesus decides to make his way to Judea, the area where Bethany and Jerusalem lay, but also a place where the Jews were committed to laying their hands on Jesus. Now some of the disciples were concerned about this because His life was at stake...
But Jesus says John 11:11
John 11:11 ESV
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
So Jesus has made up his mind, he has allowed two days to pass and he makes his way to Bethany and the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Now lets begin looking at our main text.. Lets look at verses 17-20
John 11:17–20 ESV
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
So Jesus has come to the community of Bethany, and when He arrives, John tells us that Lazarus has already been buried. It was customary to bury them within the first 24 hours according to Jewish law.
They didn’t practice much in the way of preservation techniques back then, they would anoint the body with a sweet smelling oil, like the one Mary placed on Jesus.
They would use different spices and such to help make it as nice as possible, it was a devoted way of caring for the person who passed.
So by this time, it has been 4 days. Now I am sure you have heard that is really an important time.
Many of the Jews believed that the spirit or soul hung around the body up to 3 days, so by 4 days a person was really dead and there was no chance of them coming back to life.
Now the passage also tells us many had come to console the family.
Now I have seen this in many different nationalities… death is something that often goes beyond the family it did involve the community.
I can remember when a dear friend Richard Dever passed away, his wife was Thai, so many of the Asian community, Thai, Cambodian and Laos families came to visit her and they all brought a gift of money, they felt it was the communities responsibility to help bury the dead. So people brought hundreds of dollars at times.
So it is a family affair, and if you were wealthy, not necessarily in this text, families often had rented or hired mourners… I am serious. cultural customs said the more mourners were necessary to properly display grief for the person and the loss he brought upon the community.
Now people are there mourning and the family is grieving and I am sure the sisters wondered where Jesus was ..why hadn’t he come..
But on this day Jesus arrives on the scene… Verse 20 Martha heard he was close by and she went out to meet him… Mary stayed behind.
Martha has gone out and she encounters Jesus out a little way from the house...
Now lets look at verses 21-22 John 11:21-22
John 11:21–22 ESV
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
So upon seeing Jesus, she speaks her mind to him… Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
This first portion of her statement to Jesus is really a confession of sorts. But they are also condemning… Lord if you had been here....
Why weren’t you here, we sent word to you.....
These are the words of a grieving person, her heart is broken and heavy.
But verse 22 tells us of her faith....She says “…but even now....” She believes He can work and help.. so she says....
Whatever you ask from God, He will do...... She knows that Jesus does have a strong relationship with the Father… Now it is interesting that she says this, when later on she questions taking the stone away for Lazarus had been dead for 4 days and the smell would be terrible..
Terrible, death starts the process of the body decaying, The blood is the first to decay and it brings ruin to the rest of the body.
So lets look at verses 23-23 John 11:23-24
John 11:23–24 ESV
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
In response of her words, Jesus tells here Your brother will rise again.... Now Martha didn’t pick up on this that a miracle would be moments away…
Instead she answers with a Pharisaic answer, Yes, I know he will rise at the resurrection of the last day...
The Pharisees believed at the last day, God would raise all the dead and there mankind would face a judgment.
And hearing Jesus say he will rise, well without a doubt bring that type of thinking to light. She is thinking that in the future, Jesus will restore him on that day
But Jesus understands her line of thinking and reasoning and lets listen to what he says in verses 25-27 John 11:25-27
John 11:25–27 ESV
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
So here is the I am saying… I am the resurrection and the life. Wow
What is Jesus saying? Resurrection and Life are related areas..
We already know through the Scriptures that He has raised the dead and he has said that He has come that a person might have life and have it to the fullest.
Jesus clearly posses the power of the resurrection, So even if a person dies, if they believe, they will experience the power of the resurrection. Literally they will live!
But the experience goes beyond this.. Since Jesus is life, the one who lives and believes will experience the the whole goal of life, eternal life and they will in turn never die, never perish,
Jesus then puts a very fact foreward question to Martha… Do you believe this....
It is here we see her affirmation. But we will talk
about this.... John 11:27
John 11:27 ESV
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
While Lazarus was not beyond Jesus reach from the grave, Martha’s affirmation is uniquely wonderful.
All that she says, I believe, her confession is bold, I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world, the one we have waited for...
Her admission is wonderful, but she doesn’t exactly understand what Jesus has been saying to her, we know this because of her objection later to removing the stone.
She knows Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, but she doesn’t understand the whole complete idea of being the resurrection and life, not yet anyway.
Now lets look at verses 28-31 John 11:28-31
John 11:28–31 ESV
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
Now Martha went after this and told Mary privately, Jesus is here and he is asking for you … Now why privately, some wonder if Martha is trying to protect Jesus from those who do not like him. Maybe some who might be enemies of Jesus who are there mourning..
And Mary, learning Jesus is there, gets up quickly and tells no one what she is doing, for those who were in the house with her left after her, they thought perhaps she was going to the tomb to weep there.
It is safe to note, Jesus is not inside the village yet, he is at the place where Martha met him, remember people want to kill him, and Jesus is waiting for the right time to enter the village.
Now lets look at verses 32-33
John 11:32–33 ESV
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
The devotion, she fell at his feet and simply said as her sister, if you had been here, he would not have died.
There is a undying belief that Jesus could have spared him from such a state… but again this is for the glory of God.
The real point that you want to see from these two verses is the compassion of Jesus. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and others, he was moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
There are two thoughts here from different theologians, one is Jesus is sad, sad for this family, death, is like sin and enemy of the Savior. He doesn’t like it. It was never what God intended for mankind, it was the result of sin.
Now the other thing that bothered Jesus, these mourning. Jesus has revealed who he was through all His miracles, his teaching and yet.. No one really recognized the power that was in their midst.. The one who brought creation to life can give life even in death...
Now lets move on.. John 11:34-37
John 11:34–37 ESV
34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus question is important and timely at this point. Where have you laid him.
Now the Scriptures say Jesus wept… againt his two fold thought is revealed.....He wept because the people (Mary and Martha are heart broken in death… He is mourning for them.
But I think he is weeping also that they missed the truth that he had been telling them up this point, The Son of God was in their midst, He was life, he was the resurrection.
And some of them said, this one could open the eyes of a blind man, couldn’t he keep this one from dying..
Well we know the answer yes, He could have but this raising from the dead helps prove the point of who he is in front of a world
Now lets look at verses 38-40 John 11:38-40
John 11:38–40 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?”
Verse 38, the phrase that Jesus was deeply moved, He doesn’t like this…He hates death and he is saddened by the lack of understanding.
Now this place, like so many others in places were simple tombs, cut out of the rock, or even caves with flat stones rolled over the entrance ways to keep animals and others out of the tombs.
And Jesus request is for them to roll the stone away and instantly, Martha objects...
Not I want you too think, I have mentioned to you a couple of times, Jesus has been teaching them, but even these like Mary and Martha didn’t understand yet all that he was teaching them.
She objects to rolling the stone away. Her words are that by this time there is an odor, he has been there four days...
She clearly hasn’t understood all that Jesus said to here just minutes before...
But Jesus words to her are wonderful, “....Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God.”
Martha said she believed, but now she has the opportunity to witness the “glory of God...”
Jesus is in charge, they would see the glory of God, they would see what they did not expect...
John 11:41–42 ESV
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.”
They obeyed Jesus and rolled the stone away, and then Jesus prayed, lifting up is eyes, gazing toward the heavens...
Jesus speaks His prayer for the sake of others, that ultimately beleive the Father is the one who sent the Son into the world to complete His mission.
Now the last two verses 43-44 John 11:43-44
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.”
Wow, Jesus called out and spoke the name of Lazarus,
Lazarus, come out ....Man o man, the supreme power of Jesus, he was given power over death. You see when Jesus speaks, it takes place.
He called the dead and Lazarus came out, bond in the grave clothes…Hand and feet, a clothe over his head. These are the marks of death, but Jesus has overcome death, and he called Him out of the darkenss of death into the light of life.
Now Jesus speaks one last command to them, loose him and let him go..
Yes sir, the living has no place with the dead.
Could you imagine, having died, having been in the grave, now able to recount all that He experienced...
But all the community I am sure were amazed, well except for the Jews...
Let me ask you, do you know the one who can save from death and bring a person to life. Physically and Spiritually?
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