The Power of Resurrection Living

Jesus demonstrates His power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead, illustrating that He is the source of life and resurrection for all who believe in Him.

Through our faith in Christ, we can experience spiritual renewal, overcoming despair and finding strength in difficult circumstances.

Jesus is not only capable of performing miracles but Jesus is the very embodiment of life and resurrection. As Believers, we are called to live in the light of this truth, sharing in His resurrection power.

Just as Lazarus was raised, so too will all believers be resurrected in Christ at the end of time.

Big Idea: Through Christ's resurrection power, we are called to live transformed lives, filled with hope, purpose, and the assurance of victory over life's challenges.

Even as we face challenges, Jesus knows what HE is doing and HE has the power to give us HIS ultimate victory, victory over death.

1. Deliberate Delay Demonstrates Trust

Nobody likes to be delayed. We want things done ASAP. Airports, traffic, SoS. The quicker the better is always the best.

Power outage.

John 11:1–3 NLT

1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

With Mary and Martha there was an anticipation that Jesus would heal their brother. They reminded Jesus that Lazarus was HIS close friend.

If you are a close friend who needed help and you had the power to help that person, what would you do?

Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus but intentionally delayed.

John 11:4–6 NLT

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.

What kind of friend would do this? Why would Jesus intentionally delay?

When Jesus deliberately delays we must demonstrate trust. We must trust that Jesus is still all knowing, all powerful and HIS plans are always better then our plans. Even though we have plans that we think God should do because they are urgent. Mary and Martha thought that Jesus needed to somehow drop what HE was doing and heal HIS friend Lazarus. Instead Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead.

John 11:11–15 NLT

11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

Even though we know the end of the story, there was a build up and a tension leading up to HIS resurrection miracle. Jesus chooses to delay HIS visit seem a bit perplexing, but HIS delay demonstrates HIS divine timing and purpose. This situation allows us to see Christ as the master of all circumstances. Jesus is inviting us to trust in His wisdom and timing even when life feels uncertain.

Even when God’s timing doesn’t line up ours. God is still sovereign, in control, that HE still loves us and has a better plan for us then we do. Even death can’t stop God’s plan… so don’t stop believing… trusting… don’t give up on your faith regardless if our timing and God’s timing don’t align.

2. Confident Confession of Christ

When disappointments happen, and they will, where is your confidence?

When Jesus finally arrived at Bethany, the funeral was already starting. Lazarus had already been in the grave for 4 days!

When Jesus finally showed up the women had something to say to Jesus.

John 11:20–22 NLT

20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

Martha confessed that Jesus did not meet her expectations but even in the midst of her disappointment she still trusted Jesus.

This was a complaint and a plea. Martha probably realized that Jesus could not have arrived much earlier, but she was confident that Jesus’ presence would have prevented Lazarus’s death. Mary makes the same comment later. Despite their pain and sorrow, their faith in Jesus did not waver.

We should not quickly assume that God has let us down even in the midst of extreme difficulties.

John 11:23–26 NLT

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Here Jesus emphasizes the amazing, Christ-centered truth that HE is the resurrection and the life. Before Jesus demonstrates HIS power of death, Jesus asks Martha a very personal yet important question.

Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

John 11:27 NLT

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

As believers we must affirm our faith in Jesus' power to bring life where there seems to be none. There is power in our words. It’s more then just believing in our heart but it’s confessing with our mouth.

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

We must confess our trust in Jesus all the time. We must confess and believe HIS promises, especially when you don’t feel like it or in moments of personal weakness or when you’re feeling depressed and alone. God’s promises must be confessed with our mouth and also believed in our hearts.

Even in the middle of a painful loss, Martha had a confident confession of Christ.

Jesus is never disconnected from our suffering, pain and loss.

3. Jesus gave an Empathetic Embrace in the midst of Suffering

Even though Jesus is all knowing, HE is never disconnected from our pain and suffering.

Martha left to get Mary because Jesus wanted to also talk to her.

John 11:32–35 NLT

32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept.

Jesus was deeply moved with emotion because of the pain that Mary and Martha and the other people who loved this family were going though. Even though the pain was a part of God’s plan… It was really Jesus’ fault that they were experiencing this pain. Yet, Jesus never distanced HIMSELF from those who were suffering. HE embraced them, HE loved them, and HE wept with them.

When we are grieving, when we suffer pain and loss, Jesus remains with us no matter what.

Jesus' emotional response to Lazarus' death shows HIS empathy and connection to human suffering. Jesus walks with us in our pain, giving comfort and an assurance of HIS presence.

Jesus not only demonstrates sorrow and sadness as HE wept but HE also shows another emotion here.

A deep anger welled up within HIM because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Death is a thing of the past and death will not win the day if Jesus is in the room.

Yeah, we might die physically but as we live here on earth we have hope and we have power over death because Jesus conquered death.

4. Triumphant Triumph Over Death

John 11:38–44 NLT

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

WE see here that Jesus has full authority over death.

Yeah, Lazarus was dead and in the tomb for 4 days… the stench was terrible… resurrection did not seem possible.

Jesus not only confirms His identity as the Son of God but also foreshadows His own resurrection.

Jesus still has the power over death, we must live in the hope of this resurrection power, knowing that in Christ, nothing is ever hopeless.

Maybe today you are looking at a hopeless situation. A broken marriage, financial crisis, a bad diagnosis from the doctor, a wayward son or daughter, even after death… Jesus is still triumphant over death… Jesus is still the resurrection and the life.