The Home of God

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:

Martha and Mary have sent for Jesus because their brother Lazarus who was also the friend of Jesus had become very ill.

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

Sermon on John 11:32-44: "The Home of God"

Introduction: Let’s imagine, just for a moment, that we’re with Jesus and his disciples as they journey toward Jerusalem. Jesus is on the run—hunted, watched, on a collision course with those who opposed Him, just waiting for the moment to seize and kill Him. Not long ago, He’d been surrounded by a crowd ready to stone Him for proclaiming His identity as the Son of God. Now, Jesus is on His journey to the cross, His purpose growing closer with every step, yet He stops when He receives an urgent plea from two close friends, Martha and Mary.

Their brother, Lazarus, is gravely ill, and they call upon Jesus, their friend and healer, for help. The disciples are unsure. Some think they should rush to Lazarus immediately. After all, Jesus had healed so many people before—surely, He would do the same for a friend. But others remind Jesus of the dangers awaiting Him if He returns to the area. Can you feel the confusion and urgency of that moment?

But Jesus didn’t act immediately. He stayed where He was for two more days, and in the silence of His delay, Lazarus died. When Jesus finally arrives, it’s not to heal a sick friend but to face death itself, embodied in the grieving, in Mary’s tears, in the crowd’s mourning, and in Lazarus’ tomb.

Trusting in God's Timing: In our lives, we also face moments of urgent need, where we want God to move immediately, to save us from suffering, illness, grief, and uncertainty. We pray, we trust, we believe—and sometimes, like Martha and Mary, we find ourselves waiting and wondering why God doesn’t respond. Why didn’t He act? Have you ever felt that way, like God didn’t show up in time?

But here’s where the heart of this story begins to touch our own lives. God’s timing isn’t always our timing. Jesus waited, not because He didn’t care, but because He saw beyond that moment of pain to the greater purpose God had in store. Jesus knew that this situation wasn’t just about healing Lazarus; it was about demonstrating God’s power over death itself, giving a foretaste of the victory He would soon win on the cross.

Facing the "Impossible" with Faith: Martha and Mary both struggled to understand Jesus’ delay. When Jesus arrived, they were filled with grief, even frustration. “If you had been here,” they each say, “my brother would not have died.” How many times have we said or thought something similar? “If God really loved me, this wouldn’t have happened. If God were here, I wouldn’t have to endure this pain.”

But Jesus calls them—and us—into a deeper faith, beyond what we can understand in the moment. Even when things seem “dead and gone,” Jesus reveals a power and purpose beyond what our human minds can comprehend. And Jesus shows that He is not distant in our suffering; in verse 35, He weeps with Mary and Martha, showing the fullness of His humanity, His compassion, and His closeness to us in our grief.

God's Power Overcomes Death: Standing before the tomb, Jesus commands Lazarus to come forth, calling life out of death. Lazarus emerges, still wrapped in grave clothes, a living testimony to the life-giving power of God. What the world saw as a final end, Jesus transformed into a new beginning.

Why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? Partly, it was to give proof to those who doubted. Jesus knew that people often need to see, hear, and feel something to believe it. But Jesus also knew that this miraculous moment was preparation for what was to come. Just as He called Lazarus from the grave, He was about to enter His own grave and emerge victorious over sin and death for all of us.

Application: Finding Hope in Our Lives Today: Today, some of us may feel surrounded by darkness and despair, facing moments that seem like the end of the line. Maybe it’s a diagnosis, a broken relationship, a financial crisis, or just a deep sense of loneliness or loss. Like Mary and Martha, you may feel disappointed or even abandoned by God’s timing, but the story of Lazarus reminds us that even in what feels like the end, Jesus has the power to bring life and hope.

And let’s remember, we don’t walk this journey alone. Just as Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, He is present with us, understanding our pain, weeping with us, and standing beside us through every sorrow and trial.

A Living Testimony of Faith: Your story is still being written. What you may see as the end of a chapter could be the beginning of a powerful testimony, one that, like Lazarus’s, can reveal the power of God to others. Every trial, every season of waiting, and every moment of sorrow can be redeemed as a witness of God’s faithfulness. When we trust in God’s timing, even in the face of the impossible, our lives become a testimony that, with Jesus, even death itself has no final power over us.

Conclusion: Today, I want to encourage each of you: hold onto hope, even in the waiting, even in the silence. Trust that God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t make sense. Just as Jesus raised Lazarus, He can bring life to the dead places in your own heart, renewing your spirit, restoring your hope, and reminding you that, with Him, no situation is beyond redemption.

So, whatever you’re facing, don’t give up. Trust Jesus, keep holding on, and let Him transform your testing into a testimony. Because the same God who stood outside the tomb of Lazarus stands with you today, ready to bring new life and hope, calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

​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.