I Am the Resurrection and Life

John 11:17-37

Jesus’ Timing

Why did Jesus wait 4 days? The Jews believed that during the first 3 days of death that the spirit would hover over the body and could reenter it. After the 3 day the body would start to decompose and the spirit would notice and leave the body. Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 4 days and his body had started to decompose. This allowed Christ to show that He has authority and power over death. Luke 7:11-15; 8:52-56

Luke 7:11–15 ESV

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Luke 8:52–56 ESV

And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

It was customary to bury the deceased on the day of their death. The Jews did not practice embalming. Women would begin the 30 day of intense mourning and the reason we read that Jews were still there.

Belief -vs- Anger

When Martha and Mary had heard Jesus had arrived, Martha went to Him but Mary sat on the floor. Martha reached Him and stated with belief that If He would have been there her brother would never had died. Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again. Martha’s faith is shown here, she states “in the last days.” She knew he would be risen but she did not know or understand Jesus meant now.

Life not Death

We serve a Risen King who is alive! Time is not an obstacle of our Lord. He is the creator of time and everything else. His power and authority has no ends, even death has no power over Him. For us that are in Him we too can say with confidence that death has lost its sting! 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 ESV

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Obedience

We see the obedience of Martha and her faith being played out. He asked her if she believed, Martha said, “Yes Lord, I believe.” Christ is wanting His sheep to be obedience and have faith in Him in all your circumstances. First, faith without obedience is dead faith. James 2:14-18

James 2:14–18 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Repentance

Jesus calls us out of our disobedience and sin unto Him. Martha tells Mary that Jesus is calling her. Saints allow me to expound on this. Jesus knew she was anger at Him but did that stop Him from calling on her? NO! You can be anger but that does not stop our Lord from calling out to us. Why? Because it is not based on you but on Him! Our Lord is perfect in everything He does. He understood her hurt and He understands yours. He desires to have a relationship with you and take away the hurt we harbor. Our problem is we do not allow Him to have it.

Mary, knew where her comfort would come from. She ran and fell at His feet. This is the sign of repentance and obedience. We too can run to Him and fall at His feet. He is calling!

Jesus Cares

Nobody cares how much you know until they know you care. This saying is what I live by, but there is One who cares and knows all your dark moments. It did not stop Him from Dying for you. It does not stop Him from calling out to you. And it definitely does not stop Him from Loving you! He wants to tell each of us that our anguish is for just a brief moment. I want us to listen to Tauren Wells “Joy in the Morning.”