Power over all Obstacles (even Death)

Introduction

Few events on earth bring more sadness than a funeral. It was a death that we remembered in song, Word, and Ordinance on Friday that brother Roth handled so well. As we gathered, those prompting our worship rightfully mentioned how hard it was to stay in the sorrow, because we want to move past the pain to the resolution that we remember on this Resurrection Day.

There is a name for the day between. “Silent Saturday” is when we allow ourselves to sense the depth of despair and distress when it seems like God is silent. We all go through struggles when we want things to be made right. 2 of our 3 adult children reached out to us in the last 48 hours to express how frustrated they were that discouraging events were happening in their lives. Things where they saw no way out, no easy 1-2-3 steps to make things right.

Life is sometimes unbearably confusing and challenging. Less than two weeks ago, I was called by our Sheriff. He was in a home where a woman unexpectedly just watched her husband die. Ann and I were in her home before the funeral director could come for his body.

In that moment there was nothing that anybody could do to change the situation. No words that could ease her mourning. No deeds that could remove the pain. In her shock Brenda kept saying, “I don’t know what to do.” We recounted her husband’s absolute certainty that his sins were forgiven and his soul was already in God’s very presence.

Often in tough times, words and quick reactions do more harm than ultimate good. Sometimes the only thing to be done is rest in God’s presence, take comfort in that relationship, and trust that our circumstance won’t remain as it is.

Rather than look at Jesus’ Resurrection that you may have heard preached on Easter, I want to focus on another chapter where Jesus brings resurrection, or more precisely, resuscitation into the pain of his loved ones. I call this one resuscitation because Lazarus did die again. But Jesus’ event is different because he rose to NEVER die again. And He rose to prove that He has power to overcome the obstacles that you face.

I recently did a study through John’s Gospel looking at the signs that Jesus did and John recorded so that we might believe that Jesus is exactly whom He claimed to be. These signs start with water into wine and conclude with raising Lazarus.

TRANSITION: Let’s start by noticing the relational connection between Jesus and the other character of this story.

Include Jesus in Your Distress (John 11:1-7)

John begins by naming the characters who had significant relationship with Jesus. Jn 11:5 even spells it out in case we don’t make the connection. Jn 11.5 tells us that Jesus loved them and Jn 11.4 tells us that they knew that He loved them.

Lazarus, Martha & Mary are not the only people whom Jesus Loved. Jn 11.8-16 indicates that he also loved the disciples who were with him and they knew that traveling toward Jerusalem could be a death sentence for them.

Jesus reassures the twelve that there is a reason to go and that they will be enriched “so that you may believe” by the voyage.

Martha invites Jesus into the distress of dire illness. The twelve invite Jesus into the distress of angry people. Jesus reminds of the value of relationships which prompts Thomas to encourages the others by saying that dying with Jesus their master was better than living away from Him.

You and I both encounter times of uneasiness and turmoil. Jesus desires to be brought into those troubles AND He models having relationship with others so that we don’t go through those troubles alone.

TRANSITION: Even though Jesus loves the Bethany 3 and His 12, He doesn’t allow His emotions to shortcut a lesson about to be learned.

Jesus’ Deferral is not Denial (John 11:17-27)

The delay in John 11.6 begins to make sense only when we read it in the light of Jn 11.4. We know that Jesus received news and made a decision. Jesus shared the news with the twelve in a wrapper of “God is about to receive Glory and the Son of God will also be glorified.”

Jesus doesn’t explain how God’s glory is about to be multiplied. Jn 11.8 indicates that the twelve had concern for Jesus’ safety, and most likely their own as well. They had seen sign #3 so they knew that God could work even without Jesus physically being in Bethany.

Jesus’ deferral is NOT for lack of love for the Bethany 3. His decision is NOT driven by the safety of his 12. When there is a delay in answering our prayers, we must remember that God’s deferral is NOT for a lack of love or inability to protect us. Deferral is NOT Denial, but in this case, and in many of our prayers, the very act of delay magnifies WHO is bringing about resolution to our distress.

In Jn 11.17-27 Jesus uses the delay to teach Martha (and other mourners) an important lesson.

Martha (Jn 11.24) surely believe God would make things right at the end of time, but Jesus (the 2nd person of the Trinity) who was present on earth wanted himself to be identified with victory over death, not just something Yahweh God in heaven would eventually bring about.

Our society claims that one can believe in whatever higher power you want, or you can pray to whatever God you believe in, but to say that Jesus is better than all others is hateful and intolerant.

The I in Jn 11.25 and the me in Jn 11.26 are the two pronouns upon which this whole story pivots. John doesn’t just want us to believe generally in some god, he wants us to grasp that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the key to life after death, that Jesus is the Messiah we need.

TRANSITION: Yes, God is at work, but in this narrative He is doing it through the 2nd person of the Trinity...through Jesus! This personal Jesus reveals compassion and empathy in the following verses.

Jesus Sympathizes deeply (John 11:33-37)

The weeping of Jn 11.35 is not a sign of weakness. The Jews who are observing in Jn. 11.36 seem to question if Jesus’ ability was somehow limited.

I’ve heard some claim that since Jesus foreknew what was about to happen that he wasn’t weeping out of sadness for Lazarus, but He was weeping over the lack of people’s understanding of who He was.

I’m not convinced of that. I think Jn 11.3-5 plus Jn 11.38 are revealing something is happening within the fully human Son of God.

A Visceral reaction

Jesus’ tears are not like the tears shed by the other mourners. Wailing/weeping (vv.31-33) [κλαίω] appears 40x in NT. Louw-Nida describes this type of crying as...

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.138 κλαίω; κλαυθμός, οῦ; κραυγή, ῆς

to weep or wail,

Jesus’ weeping [δακρύω] a hapax legomena, come from being deeply moved (ἐμβριμάομαι)

illustration: Chris Jones during national anthem or the anti-pollution campaign with Iron Eyes Cody looking at a polluted stream with a single tear running down his face.

Whatever other meaning you take out of this passage, it is essential that you see a Savior who is intimately connected to human suffering.

TRANSITION: Jesus doesn’t only identify with suffering, He leverages compassion so that He overcomes it!

Jesus Dominates all obstacles (John 11:38-44)

I hesitate to make the distinction I am about to point out, because Jesus was FULLY God and at the same time FULLY Human. His unique hypostatic union sets him apart from any person who was only human throughtout history.

But while Jesus was Fully both at all times, sometimes John focuses on his humanity, and other times he highlights his divinity.

Referred to as “Lord”

“Jesus” is used 19 times which indicates personality and relationship as we just saw.

“Lord” appears 9 times because John is telling this story to teach that Jesus is MORE than a friend.

Something that John wants all readers to recognize is that:

Jesus is not restricted by the distance to Bethany

Jesus is not constrained by the schedule of Martha’s expectation

Jesus is not limited by the threat of the Jews who are displeased with Him.

Jesus is not confined to ONLY the final resurrection.

Jesus, is greater than any obstacles between Lazarus and living. Jesus is greater than any theological presumptions Martha may have held. Jesus is greater than any consequences sin may have over man.

Conclusion

John has built these 7 signs upon each other like a child building a tower of blocks. The total tower is more impressive than any of the individual pieces.

John 2 reveals that Jesus is greater than the time necessary for grapes to grow or wine to ferment

In the cleansing of the Temple (2nd half of John 2) we saw Jesus reclaiming the purpose for which the Tabernacle among God’s people started—not a place to trade and profit, but a place to encounter the presence of God.

At the end of John 4 we learn that Jesus is a Savior for all as the son of a Gentile was healed over distance,

Then John 5 begins with Jesus’ individual healing of a Jewish person who could not walk. Jesus doesn’t heal all at Bethesda, but He shattered superstition and healed the one willing to believe.

In John 6 the people wanted to see healing signs, but Jesus something different (teaching) than the sign-seekers wanted as he fed thousands.

In John 9 we see the contrast between sight for those willing to submit in faith and obedience, and those who are arrogant and remain blind.

Finally, today we see Jesus establishing relationship that death terminates—an indication that eternal relationship is possible even after physical death.

I see in the combination of these signs that John chooses to include in his portrait a Savior who is worth believing. I see a Gospel of one who draws near to us. I see a Savior who saves, regardless of time, space, or obstacles. I see a Gospel which is sufficient for all, but must be individually received in faith and obedience.

I reflect on these 7 signs and my heart stirs within me in unison with the words of 19th century Plymouth Brethren lay preacher, Samuel Trevor Francis...

Amazing Grace—366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions 3. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus—vast, unmeasured, boundless free! Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me, underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love—leading onward, leading homeward, to my glorious rest above.

A Savior who loves me like this is worthy to be my Lord; worthy to believe; as another John described him, He is worthy to rest upon as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

What I just told you is that:

Some of us see this text and needed a reminder that Jesus SYMPATHIZES with our struggles, Some of us see this text and needed a reminder that Jesus is GREATER than our obstacles. Jesus is fully God and fully man!