John 11, Part 3
Notes
Transcript
People have real needs. With all the warts, blemishes, and inconsistencies of life, we all have needs. Things have not changed, as we see Mary with great needs also.
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.”
The first need is for the glorious message of Christ. Martha had made a great confession of faith: “Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (Jn. 11:27).
The great confession apparently struck some kind of hope within Martha. Just what she was expecting, perhaps even she did not know, but there was a spark of hope. Her Lord, the Son of God Himself, was now with her. Whatever could be done would be done; whatever help was available would be given. Her faith and trust were in Him. Only one thing was missing: her dear sister, Mary. So she runs to share the glorious news with her.
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.
The second need is to make the right response to Christ—the response of arising quickly and running to Him.
a. The message of Christ was enough to stir Mary. It is enough to stir action within the heart of any person who honestly seeks the answer to the riddle and trials of life and death.
b. When Mary heard, she responded quickly. The idea is that she jumped up (arose quickly) and ran to meet Jesus. Hope and expectation were stirred in her heart. Note that the message had come to her in a very quiet manner: secretly, in a whisper, without anyone else knowing it.
c. Mary acted on her own and made her own decision.
⇒ She did not consult with friends and neighbors, not even with those who were closest to her. She got up and went to Jesus, leaving both friends and neighbors behind.
⇒ She did not consult with religionists. Religion was important to her. The local religious leaders were even present, visiting and comforting her in her sorrow and sharing the comfort that their religion offered. But it helped her so little. When she heard the message that the Lord was calling for her, she went to Him, saying nothing to the religionists.
⇒ She did not consider appearance or decorum. Think about the situation. The house was full of friends and neighbors. Who was going to greet them, receive their sympathies, express appreciation, and handle their presence? None of that mattered to Mary, not now. The Lord was calling for her. She must respond and go to Him immediately.
⇒ She did not consider the distance. Jesus had not yet entered town, so Mary had to walk a considerable distance to reach Him. She had to make the decision to break away from those back in the house despite what they might think and feel. She had to march forward and travel to Him in order to respond to His call.
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.
The third need is for people, friends and neighbors, to reach out to help each other. This is a touching picture. When the neighbors and friends saw Mary leave quickly, they thought she was going to the tomb to mourn over Lazarus. They were with her for one reason: to “comfort” her. Naturally, they followed her, thinking she needed help in bearing up under her loss. Note what happened.
a. They, too, were brought face-to-face with Jesus. Because they were set on comforting Mary, they were to share in Mary’s experience with Christ.
b. They, too, were given the opportunity to trust Christ. In fact, many did “believe on Him”
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.”
The fourth need is the confession of faith, even if the faith is limited and weak. As soon as Mary saw Jesus, she fell at His feet in homage and worship and made a confession of faith in Him.
a. She called Him, “Lord”.
Lord (kurios): means master, owner. Jesus was called Lord from the very first of His ministry (Mt. 8:2) and He accepted the title. He even called Himself Lord (Mt. 7:21). The word had been a title of respect throughout history. During the Roman empire it became the official title of Roman emperors. It was also a title given to the gods. The Hebrew title Adonai is translated Lord (Ge. 15:2), so is Jehovah (Mt. 1:20–22; 2:15; 3:3; 4:7, 10; 11:25; 21:9; Mk. 12:29–30; Lu. 1:68; 2:9). Both titles, Adonai and Jehovah, are translated Lord in Mt. 22:44. Jesus Himself called God the Father, “Lord” (Mt. 4:7, 10). But the title is more often given to Jesus. There is no question but that Jesus is recognized as Lord, being identical with the Old Testament Jehovah and Adonai (Mt. 3:3; 12:8; 21:9; 22:43–45; Lu. 1:43; Jn. 14:8–10; 20:28; Acts 9:5). When Jesus is called Lord, it means that He is Master and Owner, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the only true God. He is Jehovah, Adonai, God Himself.
b. She expresses, however, the same complaining, limited faith that Martha did.
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!”
The fifth need is the understanding, feelings, and compassion of Jesus. Notice three things.
a. Jesus “groaned in spirit.” The word “groaned” is often interpreted to mean stern reaction, displeasure, or anger (because of its use in other places). Some interpreters feel that Jesus was angry with the friends and neighbors because of their loud wailing and moaning, feeling that they were being hypocritical and insincere in their sorrow. This interpretation is difficult to see.
⇒ Mary was certainly sincere in her sorrow, and Jesus was definitely touched by her need.
⇒ The Jewish friends and neighbors were sincere in “comforting” her (v.31), and many were open to trusting the Lord. Jesus was certainly touched by those as well.
In light of the whole scene, it seems best to see Jesus gripped with intense emotion. He was deeply moved …
• by Mary, who was so broken in sorrow
• by Martha, who was gripped by pain and hurt
• by those who were really feeling the death of Lazarus and the sorrow of the family
• by the terrible tragedy of death and the pain it causes
• by the terrible price He was soon to pay conquering death. (This was certainly glimpsed by Jesus in such a scene as He was now experiencing.)
Jesus does groan in spirit: He groans in understanding and feeling and compassion for all who are hurting and suffering. The words “was troubled” mean agitated, moved deeply, disturbed within. Jesus was actually feeling the misery and pain of all. His spirit was disturbed and agitated, deeply moved by the whole scene of sorrow and death.
b. Jesus asked where the dead (person) was. Note that Jesus knew where the grave was, but He asked where it was for two reasons.
⇒ If He had gone straight to the tomb, there was the possibility of some charging Him and Lazarus with being in collusion and tricking the people.
⇒ He needed to distract the people from their deep wailing and arouse their expectation for something unusual about to happen.
Note also that Jesus demonstrated His concern over the dead. He wishes to know where every dead person is, both those who are spiritually dead and those who are physically dead. He wants to point man’s attention to the fact that all men lie in the grave. All must look to Him if they wish to escape death.
c. “Jesus wept” in love. Why? He wept over death, over man’s pain, sorrow, suffering, and fate. Man was never made for sin and death; man was made for righteousness and life. Sin and death …
• deceive and lie
• hurt and maim
• separate and alienate
• misuse and defeat
• destroy and corrupt
• condemn and doom eternally
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
The misunderstanding of man. The people asked the same question that is so often asked by men of every generation. How could Jesus love so much and let this happen? The problem, of course, is not Jesus. People just do not understand …
• that the nature of the world is decay and corruption, trial and trouble, suffering and pain, death and hell—all because of selfishness and sin
• that trials and sickness can be an opportunity for God to do a great work
Change of action, from the feeling of groaning and sorrow to one of the newness of life.
SALVATION!!!!!
Jesus Christ confronted death and demonstrated His great power over death. In confronting and conquering the tomb of Lazarus, He demonstrated that the believer’s hope is not in vain. The believer will be raised from the dead, resurrected by the great shout of the Lord’s power.
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.”
Jesus confronted the dead. Note two striking points.
a. Jesus groaned in Himself. He stood face-to-face with the grave. Again …
• He saw the pain of Mary and Martha and their dear friends.
• He sensed the terrible dread and bondage that death held over His dear friend Lazarus and over the whole human race.
• He was keenly conscious of His own terrible death that lay only a few days away.
He felt the emotions of both compassion and anger, sympathy and indignation. He groaned from deep within, sensing an intense love for all who suffer and a holy anger and displeasure against death.
b. Jesus was confronted with an objection from a believer. Note two things.
1) An unbeliever might question if Lazarus were truly dead. Note the emphasis upon the fact that Lazarus was truly dead.
⇒ Lazarus was in a real tomb, a tomb of the wealthy. Martha’s wealth was indicated by her having owned a house large enough to lodge Jesus and His disciples. If by any chance Lazarus had only been mistaken for dead before, he was certainly dead now. It had been four days since he had been placed in an enclosed tomb. Four days without food or water in such circumstances would kill any weak and critically ill person.
⇒ There was Martha’s shock at Jesus’ request. The body would have started to decompose after four days.
2) It was a believer who objected to Jesus’ confronting the situation. There was distrust and uneasiness in Martha’s objection. She was not sure that Jesus’ action was wise nor for the best. She was uneasy about what Jesus was doing and asking. She did not want the situation disturbed. She was satisfied with things as they were, with Lazarus laid to rest as he was. What she wanted was to be comforted, not disturbed.
***** Thought 1. Many believers want things left alone, being happy with things as they are. They want only enough of Christ to give them comfort and security and ease. They want little if anything to do with His demands and confrontation with the sin and death of the world.
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
The great promise of unlimited, resting faith. Jesus challenged Martha to take an enormous leap of faith. He wanted her to conquer her complaining and to set aside her objections (see note—Jn. 11:21–22). He wanted her to trust Him, to quit questioning what He did. He wanted her to trust …
• His judgment and will
• His knowledge and understanding
• His Word and instructions
Very simply, He wanted her to rest in Him, to place an unlimited, resting faith in Him.
Note what the promise was to Martha (and to all): if she would believe and simply rest in Him, she would “see the glory of God.” By glory, Jesus meant His mercy and power, love and care on this earth. However, the promise applies to the next world as well. The person who will step back and let God act as He wills—the person who truly rests in God—will see the glory of God in the next world.
A place of rest in our faith brings us deliverance through salvation, it brings us a desire to serve and minister, and it also brings us assurance and confidence of what will be in the future. With that, it also brings us a courage and boldness that only resting in God can do.
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.”
The great prayer of purpose. Note the wording of this point: prayer of purpose. Every prayer is to be a prayer of purpose. This is Jesus’ point. He was praying for a specific purpose, and in so doing He demonstrated the purpose and the power of prayer. When a man truly prays with purpose, he receives the answer to his prayer and witnesses to the power of prayer. Note Jesus’ prayer.
a. Jesus addressed God as “Father.” Jesus had an intimate and continuous relationship with God: a Father-Son relationship. He knew God as His “Father,” and God knew Jesus as His Son.
Thought 1. Believers are hereby taught to call upon God as “Father” and to approach God as a child would: intimately and boldly, yet respectfully and reverently.
b. Jesus requested that His Father do something: “Thou hast heard me.” What Jesus asked was not stated, but the reader knows from the context that it has to do with …
• the power to conquer death
• the strengthening of believers standing around and watching Him
• the stirring of others to believe and trust Him
c. Jesus offered thanksgiving to the Father, praising the Father for the glorious privilege of prayer and of being heard and having His prayers answered. This is a striking lesson for believers. God is to be praised for prayer, for the open access He allows into His presence and for the glorious fact that He hears and answers us.
d. Jesus expressed a perfect and confident knowledge in God: “I knew that thou hearest me always.” There is no hesitancy, doubt, or questioning on Jesus’ part. He knew perfectly that God heard His prayers—always.
e. Jesus bore testimony through the prayer. He prayed …
• to show the close personal relationship between Himself and God
• to stir belief that He was the Sent One of God
Note that the above points could be stated as the fivefold purposes for prayer.
1. To honor and worship God as “Father.”
2. To secure whatever is needed to live righteously and to minister.
3. To praise and thank God.
4. To prove and demonstrate one’s confidence in God.
5. To bear testimony and proclaim that Jesus is the One sent by God.
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.”
The great shout of power. Note three significant points. (Note also how the resurrection of Lazarus pictures the coming resurrection of the believer. See 1 Co. 15:12–58.)
a. The power over death comes from Jesus alone. Few prophets have ever raised a dead person except Jesus. Jesus alone has the power to raise the dead. Note that He simply spoke three words, “Lazarus, come forth”; but He shouted them out with a loud voice. Why?
1) A shout matched the enormity of the miracle. It stressed the enormous power required to raise the dead.
2) A shout stressed that the power within Jesus is the power of God Himself. With just a shout Jesus can …
• call forth the enormous power of God
• call forth the greatest amount of power imaginable, the power to raise a person from the dead
b. The shout of Jesus is personal. Jesus shouted the name of Lazarus. He did not just shout, “Come forth”; He shouted “Lazarus, come forth.” Jesus knows every believer by name, and He is personally concerned over the death of everyone. The day is coming when He will shout “Come forth,” and only the ones personally known by Him will respond.
c. The results of the shout of Jesus were twofold.
1) The person who was dead came forth. The Son of God spoke and called him forth. There was no way he could remain in the grave, no power that could hold him there. He came forth …
• immediately
• obediently
• just as he was
• perfectly
• visibly
• unquestionably
2) The person who was resurrected received the personal attention of Jesus. Note the attention and the thoughtfulness of Jesus: “Loose him, and let him go.” The wonder of the miracle did not detract Him from continuing to minister and to help wherever He could. It was not enough to share in the wonder of the miracle. Service to God was, and always will be, the call of our Lord Jesus to every man, even in eternity.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2004. The Gospel according to John. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
