Jesus at the Funeral

Introduction

Funerals bring us face-to-face with the reality we try to avoid: death is real, personal, and painful.

How would you feel if Jesus were attend the service today?

How would you feel? What would you say?

In this passage, Jesus Himself attends a funeral — not as a distant observer, but as the Friend who weeps and the Lord who conquers the grave.

Big Idea: In this passage, we find a Savior who feels our grief and defeats our death.

John 11:28-44 Story of Lazarus

What I want us to see first is that Jesus looks like he is late.

He was only about two miles away when he learned that his good friend, Lazarus, was gravely ill.

What did Jesus do? What did the One who could walk on water do?

John 11:6 ESV

6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

When Jesus does finally makes his way to Bethany, he is greeted by Lazarus’ two sisters, Mary and Martha, both of whom confront Jesus with statements of confusion and pain:

John 11:21 ESV

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (Same as Mary in v32)

*it is ok to express your pain, grief, and confusion to Jesus: Why didn’t you do something earlier?

We must remember - death is not the end of how God might use someone for his glory, because Jesus has a plan in his timing.

Jesus Comes Near in Our Grief (vv. 28–32)

Even with the sisters’ confusion and pain, Jesus is not repelled by grief; He enters it.

Jesus didn’t stay away, he came close.

Whatever the pain and confusion you may be feeling today, Jesus is not absent in your sorrow — He draws near to the brokenhearted

Psalm 34:18 ESV

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

The word “brokenhearted” has been translated in other places as “shattered.”

Maybe you feel that way today. Jesus is close.

And. . .

Jesus Weeps with Us (vv. 33–36)

John 11:35 ESV

35 Jesus wept

Every Sunday school child’s favorite memory verse is the shortest verse in the Bible. While the shortest verse, it also contains some of the deepest comfort

Shortest verse in the Bible, deepest comfort in the world: “Jesus wept.

Jesus’ tears show us that sorrow over death is right — even for those who know the resurrection is coming.

Charles Spurgeon: “Jesus wept, for He was truly man, and His soul was stirred by our griefs. But He also wept that we might know how He loves us.”

The God of all Creation weeps with his creation.

Death Makes Jesus Angry (v. 33, 38)

John 11:33 (ESV) 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.

Twice, John notes Jesus was “deeply moved” — the Greek has the sense of indignation or outrage.

Death is an intruder in God’s creation, and Jesus has come to destroy it

Jesus was there when death entered the world and at that moment he committed to do something about it.

Sin brought death into the world and Jesus, in overcoming sin, has defeated death!

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

One day there will be no more death!

Jesus Raises the Dead (vv. 39–44)

The command “Lazarus, come out!” is not a suggestion — it’s the sovereign voice of the Creator.

The One who gives life can revive!

John Piper: “When Jesus says, ‘Live,’ the dead obey.”

• Lazarus emerges bound, a living testimony that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (v. 25).

What He did for Lazarus physically, He will do for all His people eternally.

Jesus Points Us to the Greater Resurrection

Lazarus was raised to earthly life, but he would die again — it was a sign pointing to the ultimate resurrection.

In His own death and resurrection, Jesus removed the sting of death forever.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

D.L. Moody: “Death may be the king of terrors, but Jesus is the King of kings.”

Conclusion

Jesus is not just our comforter in grief — He is the conqueror of death.

The same voice that called Lazarus calls you — “Come to Me, and live.”

For the believer, the grave is not the end but the doorway to display God’s glory

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15).