What Do You Know About Jesus?

Jesus still loves those who know little of Him

Text: John 11:17-32

Introduction

Q — Have you ever experienced a day(s) when you were misunderstood? It was probably frustrating and hurtful all at the same time. You said the right words and the said them in the right tone (at least you thought), yet the misunderstanding and damage still happened.

LISTEN…living your life with a continued misunderstanding will do nothing but add to your life all kinds of unnecessary personal hinderances and heartache!

As frustrating as misunderstandings can be, Jesus dealt with them in our text tonight with grace, patience, and validating miracle. He continued speaking to them in different ways that they might step our of spiritual ignorance and rest their hearts in who He is.

Bottom Line — Resurrection to spiritual life is not a reservation on a calendar, but a relationship found in Jesus Christ you can experience TODAY! Jesus can be received today and known deeper every day of your life until you expire.

Let’s notice how Jesus interacts with those who are His friends…

1) Living In Ignorance Will Make Your Heart Quiver

Verses 17-29…

A. Jesus arrived at the best time (v17-18)

Jesus had about a 2 day journey.

Day 1— The messenger comes to Jesus (Lazarus dies); Day 2— The messenger returns to Bethany; Day 3— Jesus waits another day, then departs; Day 4— Jesus arrives in Bethany.

Being in the grave for four days was no surprise to Jesus. This was by design. Jesus was a Jew and was very much aware of what they believed about the departure of a human soul.

The three days after death were called “days of weeping,” which were followed by four “days of lamentation,” thus making up the seven “days of mourning” (see Genesis 27:41 Days of Mourning). James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 520–521.

According to rabbinical thought, the spirit wanders about the sepulcher for three days seeking an opportunity to return into the body; but when the aspect of the body changes, it hovers no more, but leaves the body to itself. The friends of the deceased were in the habit of visiting the sepulcher for three days after death and burial, probably because they supposed they would thus be nearer to the departed soul. When the fourth day came, and decomposition took place, and the soul, as they supposed, went away from the sepulcher, they beat their breast and made loud lamentations. James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 521.

I call this, “Setting the stage.” It would not be this miraculous resurrection, but it would also show up at the time Jesus would resurrect (3 days and 3 nights).

Jesus wants more than anything for each of you to grasp His authority over death that has forever marked your soul.

B. Both sisters came to Jesus with a trembling spirit (v20-27)

a) Notice the responses of both sisters:

(v20, 32) In Martha-like fashion, she bolted out the door when she heard Jesus was on His way. Mary remained quietly waiting on Jesus to arrive.

They both had enough faith to say, “If you had of been here, my brother would not have died.”

However, they should have remembered that the death of their brother did not depend on Jesus’ physical presence. He could have simply spoke his health back to him.

Martha had enough faith to say, (v22) “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.”

b) Grief had blinded their hearts to who Jesus really was (v23-24, 37)

It seems like these sisters were so captivated by grief that they could not grasp that the One standing in their presence held the keys of life and death.

It seems as if many at this time considered Jesus’ authority not to extend past death. It paints the picture that death was the final authority and had the final say.

(v37 for example) They reduce Jesus as a miracle working man. They judged Him based on his ability to improve the physical wellbeing of people and prevent them from facing death.

It was like they were saying, “If Jesus can’t measure up to my expectations, then He is weak and not really who He says His is.”

Colossians 2:9 “9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Mark 9:24 “24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

LISTEN…never let the fragility of life detour your mind away from the power and authority Jesus has as well as the love He has for you.

c) Once again, it is good to remember who real Christians are

They are not perfect beings…they are converted sinners.

You and I are sinners who have been declared righteous, forgiven, changed, sanctified, and yet, we will be sinners until we expire!

2) Living With Truth Steadies Your Heart Through Life

A. Jesus teaches the truth about resurrection and life

Often times, just a little knowledge of Christ is all believers have.

Q — How much do you know of His fulness, resurrection, priesthood, intercession, unfailing compassion, etc?

We should all be ashamed that if we have named the name of Jesus for so long and yet know little about Him!

(v25) “I am the resurrection and the life”

Colossians 3:4 “4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

For there to be a later bodily resurrection, there must first come a spiritual resurrection.

“dead” — Should not be defined in a way to validate your theological system (Calvinism, Armenianism, Provisionism, etc.), but defined in light of all scriptures that speak to the lost soul of man.

(v26) “shall never die”

Jesus wants their understanding of Him, to rest upon who He really was and what really mattered in life.

Physical death is not the worst death a person can face!!!

Jesus was speaking of the kind of death He was sent to free them from.

(Turn to) 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 “13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

(Turn to) 1 Corinthians 15:26 “26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

(Turn to) 1 Corinthians 15:51–58 “51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

B. Jesus demonstrates the truth about resurrection and life

a) Notice the kindness of Jesus toward their grief

Think about this: How kind it was for Jesus to teach these truths in this way!

It would be the same as raising back to life your departed loved one.

You and I don’t need that in order to believe. However, this demonstrated the length Jesus goes to reveal Himself to hurting souls.

This resurrection led to a resurrection of souls.

Many here were in attendance due to their sympathy for the family.

LISTEN…how often we miss a great move of God because we fail to employ kindness, sympathy, or generosity?

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 “2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Matthew 10:42 “42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

Jesus lived this out — Jesus grieved and wept!

In one since, he was touched by the collective heartache of death on those of His people.

It is never a weakness to cry!

In another sense, I think He was saddened to have to bring Lazarus back.

b) Notice Jesus’ instructions to move the stone

Q — Could Jesus have moved the stone Himself? YES! However, He gave them something to do.

LISTEN… You and I are called to be doers of the word! As they moved the stone, you are to help people move hinderances out of their life preventing them from coming to faith (stay faithful to share the gospel and demonstrating the love of Jesus).

Jesus addresses Martha’s objection (v39)

c) Notice Jesus’ public prayer to the Father

Once more, Jesus would remind them that He is more than a prophet. He was sent by the Father.

d) Notice Jesus as He addresses Lazarus

At the sound of Jesus’ voice, the king of terror had to give up it’s captive.

Try to take this in: A man four days dead came in a moment shuffling out of a tomb.

A soul called back from paradise entered once again his mortal body.

Romans 9:5 “5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

Here is the assurance it gives me: When I lay my head in the grave, the same voice that brought Lazarus’ body forth will one day call my body up to be changed into something glorious to enjoy Jesus for eternity!

What to do & Why to do it…

The Main To-Do For Your Life

Write down what is currently heavy in your life (a burden being carried), then, meditate on verses 25-26.

Following meditation, write down the redirection it creates in your heart.

Philippians 3:10 “10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

Ephesians 3:18–19 “18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Why Does This Matter?

Follow through with this will lift your heart out of reach from the stressors that are killing you right now!

This experience will not just help you, but equip you to lead others to finding peace in their Savior while endure hard life moments.

How does this identity of Christ impact your daily life?

Imperfections —

Sickness —

Death —

Brokenness —

Depression —

Anxiety —

Conclusion

Jesus’ whole mission is all about FREEDOM! If you are born-again through Christ, CHOOSE to dwell in freedom through the resurrected life he has bought for you and put in you!

I will ask you what Jesus’ asked Martha: “Believest thou this?”