John 11:1-44: The Resurrection and the Life

1. Introduction

a. One of the biggest stumbling blocks people have with believing in Jesus is the presence of suffering and death in the world.

i. The question is formed like this: If God is all good, and God is all powerful, then why is there evil? Why doesn’t He deal with evil?

ii. No doubt each person has wrestled with this question because the effects of evil are felt by everyone.

This question tries to bridge the gap between what we learn about God in Sunday school and our actual experience.

1. War, oppression, broken relationships, lies, emotional abuse, cancer, trafficking, etc.

2. Universally, everyone will have to deal with sickness and death.

iii. As well as physical death there is also spiritual death and separation from God.

iv. As we ask our question we must realize that as humans we cannot possibly understand God’s infinite mind.

b. One thing that is clear is that God has not remained passive.

i. In this text we will see Jesus reveal His power over life and death through the raising of Lazarus.

ii. This mighty miracle ultimately points us to believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection and in doing so we can be encouraged that:

1. God is faithful to deal with suffering.

2. He has already taken the initiative in dealing with evil.

3. He promises complete restoration in the end.

Jesus’ Delay Should Not Lead Us to Doubt (John 11:1-6)

John 11:1–6 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.” 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.

a. V. 1-3

i.  Jesus, encamped across the Jordan, receives a message that a loved one of his was sick.

Relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

ii. If we get a message like this from one of our loved ones it would be natural to step away from work, buy a place ticket, and go.

Story about my mom calling into work, staying home with me, and responding to the baby monitor to all my requests.

iii. We would especially expect Jesus to go since He is known to move towards the hurting and broken.

b. V. 4-6

i. Jesus does not act how we expect, He delays for two days. Lazarus probably died the day the messenger was sent.

ii. We get a hint at His reasoning for delaying in verse 4.

1. First, the sickness will not end in death.

2. Second, Jesus indicates that Lazarus’ sickness will be used to glorify God and more specifically glorify the Son.

iii. When God is glorified, it means that He is revealing Himself.

1. John frequently refers to Jesus’ glorification being in His death and resurrection.

2. This is the purpose of Jesus’ signs in John’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus will be the ultimate example of His identity and mission.

3. Jesus is going to reveal of Himself as the Son of God who has power to raise the dead to life.

iv. In this case it is helpful to have a reason for Jesus’ delay in Lazarus’ sickness, but maybe you have wondered why God would delay in your own life? Maybe you’ve sent out a prayer asking for help, but it feels like God is delaying.

1. In many cases it does seem like God delays helping us when we suffer and that might cause us to have doubts.

a. To doubt that God is there.

b. To doubt that God cares.

i. Personal Reflection: My wife’s unexplained health issues.

ii. I have blamed her, myself, and God at different times.

v. What Scripture has reminded me and what we see in this text is that Jesus’ delay should not lead us to doubt, because He has a purpose.

1. We could speculate on God’s purpose for delaying in each of our own situations, but we can trust that He has a purpose for it and will work it for good.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2. Trusting in this fact requires trusting in God’s faithfulness.

a. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and the Prophets probably all wondered when God would crush the head of the serpent like He promised to in Genesis 3:15 and restore the world.

b. But Rom. 5:6 tells us that “at the right time” Jesus came.

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

c. Jesus’ death, like Lazarus’, seemed like a bad thing, however by dying God was able to open the door to salvation and forgiveness.

d. This is the ultimate display of God’s faithfulness.

vi. And as we trust, know that God’s delay is not forever. This leads to our next portion of the text.

Jesus Boldly Offers Life to Those Who Believe (John 11:7-27)

John 11:7–27 ESV

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 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. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 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. 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.” 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.” 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.”

a. V. 7-16

i. After two days Jesus tells His disciples they are going to Jerusalem. The disciples are worried and confused because of the opposition there.

ii. Jesus’ parable assures His disciples that nothing will happen to them.

1. Jesus’ confidence may have come from His knowing that His time had not yet come.

2. Jesus invites His disciples to trust Him.

iii. The disciples will get to behold Jesus’ glory and revelation and so will be called to believe in Him.

1. This miracle’s purpose is to point them to believe in His own coming death and resurrection.

b. V. 17-27

i. Our society has figured out a way to help people in a ton of different ways. Hearing aids, prosthetic legs, specialized eye surgery, pace makers, advanced surgery techniques, X -rays, radiation treatment, etc...

However, once someone has died, we can do nothing. The power of life is beyond our capability and so when someone passes there may be feelings of hopelessness.

1. A superstitious belief said the spirit could re-enter the body for up to three days. Lazarus being dead for four days really means that he is dead in everyone’s mind. Seemingly no hope.

ii. Martha has some faith in Jesus, but it is incomplete. She had believed in Jesus as a healer, and in God to raise Lazarus in the end, but she will learn Jesus can do much more even right then and there.

iii. Jesus’ response reveals His identity and mission.

1. Jesus has power over life and death.

a. This power is reserved to God; therefore, Jesus is God.

b. That is why Martha declares Jesus as the Son of God.

2. Jesus came to offer eternal spiritual life.

a. The word for life is zoe which is different than bios. Zoe is used 36 times in John and is a major emphasis in John’s message.

b. All humanity needs this spiritual life because all have sinned (Rom. 3:23).

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

iv. In our lives we may have problems that we ask God to deal with, and God certainly cares for our physical needs. But God’s ultimate concern is our spiritual life.

1. Sin separates us from God.

2. Sin corrupted the world, allowing illness and suffering.

3. Jesus came not just to put a band aid on the problem but fully deal with sin and death all together.

What would you rather have for a mortal wound, perhaps a massive gash? A continual stream of band aids or emergency operation by the great physician?

a. The most pressing need was not physical life, it was spiritual life.

b. Jesus’ teaching in John 6, where He says He is the Bread of Life illustrates this.

John 6:35 ESV

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

v. Martha understood this salvific tone in Jesus, which is why she calls Him the Christ: the Messiah, promised anointed one.

vi. This new spiritual life can be experienced here and now. Jesus boldly offers life to those who believe. This is what we really need.

1. Romans 10:9, If you confess and believe in Jesus you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

2. The benefit of receiving the spiritual life Jesus offers includes eternal life in heaven and a newly restored relationship with our creator.

3. It is not a band aid to the world’s problems; it is the ultimate gift and solution.

Jesus Promises Restoration at Our Resurrection (John 11:28-44)

John 11:28–44 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. 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. 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?” 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?” 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.” 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.”

a. V. 28-37

i. The result of sin and death are ugly and grim. This is a dark scene.

One comedian remarked that if ignorance is bliss then some people are floating on cloud nine!

We can try and whitewash the darkness in our world, we can pretend like we are civilized, intelligent, and have evolved enough socially....we can try and pretend that things are good, and maybe for a time they are.

ii. Jesus understands our suffering. He wept.

1. It grieves God when sin has its way with us.

b. V. 38-44

i. Jesus raised Lazarus… summarize, prayer authority.

Jesus does not leave us in suffering. He was deeply moved in Lazarus’ case and is moved in ours as well.

1. God took action by coming down to earth and dying for us.

a. To those who wonder if God cares about our suffering, this is the ultimate expression of God’s love.

b. He died for us while we were still sinners, we do not deserve it (Rom. 5:8).

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

1. This visibly authenticates His authority over life and death. He raised Lazarus by speaking.

2. This points towards His own resurrection which is the ultimate sign showing Jesus is the Son of God who accomplished salvation for those who believe.

3. Praise God that there is even more to say… This also points towards our resurrection in the end.

a. There is spiritual life available here and now, but by receiving the spiritual life Jesus also promises restoration at our resurrection.

i. God will restore all things in the end when He creates a new heaven and earth and raises us to new physical life in new bodies.

b. Revelation 21:1-7 gives wonderful promises about the restoration of all things in the new creation.

Revelation 21:1–7 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

c. When we get to heaven the former things will pass away, and all our suffering and pain will make experiencing heaven even more glorious.

Contrast with previous dark scene.

Conclusion

a. In a world where suffering and death reign it can be hard to see God.

i. You might see God’s delay and begin to doubt but remember: God is faithful.

1. His delay might even be out of His patience towards you to turn to Him (2 Pet. 3:9).

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

ii. You might wonder if God is doing anything, but He has already accomplished the greatest thing in making spiritual life available.

1. This has eternal benefits including a restored relationship with our creator.

iii. You might wonder if our physical suffering will be dealt with. God promises that it will be when our bodies are resurrected in the end, and we will get to enjoy the new heaven and earth with Jesus.

1. In the end all things will be made right and restored.

We are the redeemed community, we have this hope together, (God places people in our spheres) but also as we suffer let’s do so together. We can comfort one another, carry one another’s burdens, support, KEEP REMINDING EACH OTHER OF THIS HOPE.