Support in Time of Need
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John 11:1-46
Introduction:
There are times in our lives when each of us needs support.
Milestones
Support in living life and when life happens
Sickness, tradgedies and death
How that happens is often framed by our immediate family structure and those whom we include in our extended family. Those are often by individual family dynamics, ethnic/cultural dynamics and comfort levels.
Family and extended family
In the Scripture portion before us we see:
A Family Supported in Their Need - 11:1-36
The Family in need:
First of all, the family -
Certain man - Lazarus of Bethany
Bethany - east side of the Mount of Olives about 3 km east of Jerusalem - House of figs or affliction
Bethany of Mary and her sister Martha
Mary and Martha - 2 sisters of Lazarus - This was the Bethany of Mary and Martha. There was a Bethany on the other side of the Jordan
With the mention of Mary and Martha, the original readers would have remembered that this family had welcomed Jesus to visit and teach in their home.
Luke recorded the events of that visit - Luke 10:38-41- In Luke’s brief account, the village was not named. What Jesus taught was not explained. What was noted was that Martha was too busy looking after looking after the guests, and asked if the Lord if He cared that Mary did not seem to care that she had been left with all of the work.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Christ’s responded explaining what was important.
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
This was an expressive of what is referenced here as her over the top extravagant sacrificial love for Jesus.
But rather than reference that, John’s note as to who Mary was is interesting. This is the Mary who later annointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with the hairs of her head - Jn 12:1-8. Later to honour and thank Jesus for what Jesus had done for Lazarus, Mary took a pound of very expensive ointment, spikenard, and with that annointed Jesus feet. Nard was an oil extracted from the root of a plant grown in India. Those who read all of John’s account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, would have remembered that pound of ointment was valued at 300 denaria, year’s wages for a laborer. Judas Iscariot made that comment, with the suggestion not that this was a wonderful expression of love, but of waste, and that it could be given to the poor. In retrospect, John explained, that Judas was not really concerned about the poor. He was a thief.
Mary’s love was extravagant.
Mary’s extravagant love was in response fo Jesus love for each member of their family. When Lazarus became ill, they sent for Jesus because:
Jesus loved them.
They BELIEVED THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. THEY BELIEVED THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS, THOUGH HE DIE, YET HE SHALL LIVE.
Jesus’s love for them was underscored and known.
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
They believed in Jesus and that whatever He asked from God, God will give.
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 from 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 on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who 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 coming into the world.”
Mary believed that if Jesus had been there to ask to God, her brother Lazarus would still bee alive.
When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 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 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.”
Like so many, too many today, Martha and Mary, believed, loved Jesus and were loved by Jesus, but incorrectly assumed that if Jesus had shown up and intervened this death and pain not need to happen.
The Word of God is clear, nothing we face separates those who love the Lord and are loved by the Lord from His care. That truth encouraged the Apostle Paul. And it should us. In Romans 8, before reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, first reminded that God gave His Son, Jesus willing died in our place that we need not fear death or what is beyond death.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
With His disciples and with us, Christ was clear. There is much more to life than we see on the surface.
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.”
After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
PLEASE BE ADVISED, BUT IN THE ACCOUNT BEFORE US, WILL SEE A TAGEDY THAT IS ARE MORE SERIOUS THAN THE IMMEDIATE END RESULT OF LAZARUS’ ILLNESS.
WE COULD HAVE NOTED IT BEFORE, BUT THE TIMING, THE PASSING OF TIME AND THE BOTTOM LINE MIUST REMEMBERED.
Day one - Jesus was on the other side of the Jordan, when the messenger arrived with the request for Jesus to come. Lazarus whom you love was ill. it would have taken a day for the messenger to travel from Bethany to reach Jordan - Jn 10:40.
Days two and three - When Jesus heard that Lazarus was dead, he stayed two more days where they were , before saying, let’s go to Judea again - Jn 11:5-6.
With the disciples expressed concern and asked a question. The Jews are seeking to stone you and you are going there again? Jesus’ response was cryptic. I realize that at times things are dark, but we must in the light and according to the light.
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 anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
Yes, the Jews seek to stone and Lazarus is dead but there is light. He will recover. I wiil awaken him
After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
What we do not understand does not stop God from being God. His desire is, was, continues to be that we will see Him in His glory, that we will believe.
That was John’s stated goal when he wrote his account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Remembering that, what Christ did for Lazarus the seventh of Jesus miracles that Jesus performed in His public minstry. The seventh was wonderful demonstration of Jesus’ support for them in their pain
Turned water into wine - Jn 2:1-11.
Healed the official’s son who was ill - Jn 4:46-54.
Restored the impotent man , who had been an invalid for 38years Jn 5:1-15.
Mulitplied the loaves and fishes - fed 5,000 with 5 small loaves and 2 fish - Jn 6:1-14.
Walked on the water - Jn 6:15-21
Cured the man born blind - Jn 9:1-11
NOW ON DAY FOUR - Jesus came from beyond Jordan and called Lazarus from the grave.
Some of you might remember that Jesus had raised two other people from the dead.
Widow’s son in Nain - Lk 7:11-16
Jairus daughter - Lk 8:40-56.
That is true and real. But Jesus raised those two immediately after they died. There were probably some who might have looked back and questioned whether they were really dead. They were.
So lest there be any question of Jesus’ power to the dead, to support those in their time of bereavement, in their time of pain ,what we read regarding Jesus’ calling Lazarus was FOUR DAYS after he died.
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
In the midst of those who had gathered with Martha and Mary, and wept with them, as comforting asd it would have been not to grieve alone, Jesus’ support helped them to see beyond death and the grave.
And lest there be any question that this was a “ONE OF” in a few days after Jesus died, His Father raised Jesus.
2. A Family Not Supported in Their Faith - Jn 11:37-46.
I dearly wish that we could close our Bibles and leave on that high, that highest, that pinnacle of Jesus and our heavenly Father’s support for us in our times of pain and even death, but the Scriptures are brutally honest and true. They record for us the whole rest of the story, not only that Jesus died and was raised by the Father, but some of those who supported Mary and Martha in their chose not to support them in their faith.
To sure Mary and Martha did not understand everything. But they knew that Jesus did and was able.
Some other chose not to believe that. They not to believe, even inspite of clear evidence.
Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
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.
What we chose not to believe sometimes emboldens others who sometimes in their compounded gnorance fulfull what God told us would happen.
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.
Before I close my Bible, I pray that each of us will remember the need to:
Support families in their pain.
Each of us needs to acknowledge our pain and need of support.
Each of us needs to support each other and their whole family. For Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Jesus was family. How sad it was that some support them in their pain but closed their hearts to God’s response to their pain, and their pain that would come in the future and Mary would die. Marttha would die and Lazarus die.
2. Support families in their faith.
By that we never that all expressed faith is true and genuine. But when it true and others worship God is spirit and truth, others will see the change our lives and believe. That was the way it was with the woman at the well. She had faith system that was not valid but when Jesus what it was worship in spirit and truth, she confessed that He was the Messiah. For her and her neighbours, their emphasis shifted from Mount Gerezim to the Messiah