The On-Time God
Notes
Transcript
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
In the next four weeks we are going to be looking at the last week of Jesus before his crucifixion. In this week he would raise the dead, be worshiped as king and messiah and become our Savior.
Title: The On-Time God!
Time: you’ve heard me say it many times over the years but it is our most precious commodity.
Sayings on time:
Time waits for no one
Time is money
Time flies when your having fun
No time like the present
A stitch in time saves nine - don’t procrastinate fixing your problems!
Lost time is never found
Time and tide waits for no man
Make hay while the sun shines
I scoured the world wide web with different variations of the question; “what are things that once lost, can never be regained?”.
One way or the other, all the answers boiled down to time!
Once time was is lost, it can never be regained.
For this reason I have often said that one is never so rude as when one is late!
I. HATE. LATE.
Late say that my time is invaluable.
Most of the time, late is simply selfishness on display!
Yet in our text today, Jesus was LATE!
Jesus was vary close to three siblings; Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Verse 5, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.”
I can’t find another proclamation like this with the possible exception of John, in all the scriptures!
And when Jesus hears of Lazarus’ sickness, rather than rushing to him he waits for two whole days!
John 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Keyword: therefore - points back to the prior statement.
He loved them, therefore he made them wait!
Example: sometimes a parent will withhold something from a child when they have what they need - not out of cruelty but because the parent knows there is a greater lesson to be learned.
Sometimes God mades us wait so that he can address our needs!
Waiting is hard!
But some things can only be learned when God is silent!
Things seem to fall apart when God is silent!
From these moments in life that you learn to trust God!
From theses moments in life that you learn the true depth of God’s love!
From these moments in life that you learn that God had a plan all along!
It is easy when reading this story to only focus on Mary, Martha and Lazarus…
BUT there are other characters in the story to pay attention to as well.
To go back to Bethany in Judea was a death sentence… and indeed this would mark Jesus’ last week on earth.
The disciples were fearful to go…
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
Everywhere you look in the story, there is fear and doubt!
Jesus is teaching the disciples, Mary, Martha and Lazarus; TRUST ME!
In those moments when all seems lost: Jesus has answers for EVERYONE!
Martha: the hardworking, busy one.
Confronts Jesus face to face. — If you had been here…
But follows it up with and interesting comment:
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
We are pretty hard on Martha but look at her faith!
They would launch into this deep theological discussion of scripture…
And in this moment of great pain, Jesus would reveal to her and make one of His great “I am” statements.
In John he would say:
I Am the Bread of Life
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Door
I Am the Good Shepherd
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
I Am the Way, Truth and Life
I Am the True Vine
All these statements proclaim that he was the Messiah.
Crown all these in John 8 by saying before Abraham was, I Am -
Proclaiming that he was God in flesh
HE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT MARTHA NEEDED!
Mary: the emotional
Mary was simply overwhelmed with emotion…
No theology, no discussion, nothing but pain and grief.
35 Jesus wept.
Is he overcome with her…
Lazarus: well… he’s dead.
If Martha needed theological discussion and Mary needed to cry, Lazarus needed LIFE!
First Command: Take away the stone!
Practical Martha, Lord it’s been four days… he stinks!
There is no hope!
Even when there was no hope, there was obedience!
Second Command: Lazarus come forth!
When we obey and do what we can do, take a step of faith, God does what only he can do!
Life comes to our situation!
Conclusion:
It would be this great act of love that would be the catalyst for Pharisees planning to kill Jesus.
The very next verses the Pharisees begin to conspire to kill him.
Look at the significance of this story…
Jesus’ great love for Lazarus would cost him his life.
Jesus willingly goes back to Judea, knowing that he would die.
The story here in John 11 becomes an allegory for the purpose of Jesus on this earth!
As Jesus laid down his life for Lazarus, he would lay down his life for all of humanity!
