Jesus Loves The Authentic Christian

Authentic Christianity Is Not What You Think

Text: John 11:1-16

Introduction

Bottom line — Jesus loves every unique Believer

Q — How many of you live the Christian life perfectly?

Q — Have you ever been haunted by your sins/imperfections wondering if Jesus loves you as much now as He did before the failure?

The historical moment we have before us is the greatest miracle outside of Jesus’ own resurrection. Here we see in full color the type of interaction Jesus has with Believers who exercise faith based on sound theology and in the same setting make a mess of their faith when trials and heartbreak come crashing in.

Just like you and me with all of our imperfections, so were the people in this moment in redemptive history. Notice verse 5: “Jesus loved them!”

Focus on this truth (the bottom line) — To continue life in question about Jesus’ love for you during moments of pain and struggle will be to add to your life disastrous doubt, worry, and anxiety. It will also choke out real experiential peace and hope within your soul.

1) Jesus’ Love For You Is Not Measured By Your Standard

Verses 1-6 in focus…

A. Sickness in your life is not a sign of Jesus not loving you

Q — Who here believes that John is telling the truth about Jesus loving these three people?

Q — Did God create this sickness and put it in Lazarus? ANS: NO. He did however permit it.

More than anything else, sickness comes through the repurposing hands of our loving Father to draw our affections away from this world and direct them to Him.

It sends us to our Bibles and to our knees.

Q — How many times have you prayed better as a result of a season of sickness?

It reminds us that we are not to live on this earth forever in this condition.

As Jesus loved Lazarus the same whether healthy or sick, so does He love each of His children!

B. Sickness should be brought to Jesus and left with Him

a) Notice the kind of message these sisters sent to Jesus (v3)

They did not send a request to work a miracle, nor did they demand Jesus to command the disease to depart from Lazarus’ body.

NOW, this does not mean they were not desiring those things.

There is no sin to present the desire of your heart to God for your family and those you care about.

There is no sin in seeking the best medical advancement God has graciously given mankind the mind to develop.

THE POINT — Like Mary and Martha, present the issue to Christ trusting He will do what is best.

This can only be done with a true faith and humility.

We should never fear to present the issues of life to Jesus with a gracious submission of your own will!

b) They knew the quality of Jesus’ friendship

The Devil wants nothing more for you to doubt God intent with your life. He wants you to perceive God as someone who is lying about His love and friendship.

C. Sickness is repurposed by the love of Jesus

a) Sickness would not lead to an end where death would get glory (v4)

Jesus’s love for you is not determined by your physical wellbeing.

The chief end of Lazarus’ sickness would not be death, but God’s glory.

“Glory” — splendor, brightness, amazing might, etc…

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

God enjoys the moments when He proves our doubts wrong!

This was going to be a great work of God’s power.

This was strategic leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

b) Sickness has no authority to rush the work of Jesus (v5-6)

Jesus’ love is not in question here!

Q — How many of you think that Jesus was well aware what was going on?

For the good of believers, unbelievers, the church, and the world, He delayed His coming to Lazarus.

Quote: (J.C. Ryle) “Nothing so helps us to bear patiently the trials of life as an abiding conviction of the perfect wisdom by which everything around us is managed.”

Quote: (J.C. Ryle) “He by whom all things were made at first is he who is managing all with perfect wisdom.”

Quote: (J.C. Ryle) “The hand that was nailed to the cross is too wise and loving to smite without a needs-be, or to keep us waiting for relief without a cause.”

2) Jesus’ Love Is Not Restricted By Fear Or Death

Verses 7-15 in focus…

A. Jesus’ love often leads you to unsuspected paths

Q — Have you ever been led in way where you didn’t understand the purpose of it?

Q — Have you ever been called to do something you never would have picked for yourself?

LISTEN…the path you and I are obligated to walk is not that of what we would choose for ourselves, but the path God places us on!

Q — Do you really believe that Jesus knows best?

Whatever path He has placed you on is the best path for you to experience His grace and even keep your besetting sin in check.

LISTEN…if you were left to chose your own path, you would miss unnumberable amount of opportunities to learn more about Jesus and His grace.

Jesus never skirted around necessary vulnerability.

Verse 9

Jesus the Light of the World came to expel darkness!

The people of God should always prioritize expelling darkness out of their life!

You should prioritize introducing the light of Jesus into the dark world around you!

Verses 11-15

Oh than language of a friend when describing the death of Lazarus

Jesus identifies the death of Lazarus as “sleeping.”

Quote: (J.C. Ryle) “Every true Christian has a Friend in heaven, of almighty power and boundless love. He is thought of, cared for, provided for, defended by God eternal son. He has an unfailing Protector, who never slumbers or sleeps, and watches continually over his interests. The world may despise him, but he has no cause to be ashamed. Father and mother even may cast him out, but Christ having once taken him up will never let him go.”

When you are “in Christ,” everything takes on its truest form within your perception.

Examples: Death is not final, the most tragic is purposed, when you think you have the worst life, when all you see are the problems...

Death is an enemy that has no final authority over my soul.

No Believer is to fear the great change that is coming to them!

Jesus is our greatest friend who has promised no to let one hair on our heads perish!

Not sting or victory from death!

Psalm 4:8 “8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

3) Jesus’ Love Does Not Retract From Your Doubts

Verse 16 in focus…

His disciples were brave, yet negative.

Doubting Thomas came in there with some great positivity, lol.

Q — How many of you are following/serving Christ with the same attitude?

Q — How many times do you perceive following Jesus as something negative?

While Thomas spoke of death, Jesus was speaking of resurrection life.

YET…one thing they all had in common, they loved Jesus.

What to do & Why to do it…

The Main To-Do For Your Life

Whenever you doubt or mess up, pause in prayer and present these two things to God:

First — Repent from the sin.

Second — Thank Jesus for loving you through your doubts

Why Does This Matter?

If you want to raise the level of worry and anxiety in your life, keep doubting Jesus’ love for you.

To reckon the truth about Jesus’ love for all His children who continually mess things up, is to live your life with a greater sense of peace, living with consistent humility, repentance, and submission of will.

Conclusion

Have any of you been questioning God’s love? Maybe you’ve thought, “If God loved me, He would have healed______?

LISTEN… God’s love is not measured by healing your sick/injured parent or child, His love for you is measured by the CROSS!

John 15:13 “13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”