True Hope in the Resurrected Christ

John 11:17–27 ESV

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Father, grant us faith to believe your promises, hope to endure your discipline, and love to obey your law. Glory be to you, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

The Despair of Death

People in our day and age have a very difficult time dealing with the sorrow of death. Many have chosen to soften the way death is spoken of. “He died” is often changed to “he passed away”. “Funeral” is often changed to “Celebration of Life”. Moments that should be grave and somber are often replaced with positivity and light-heartedness. They cannot bear the weight of mortality. They do what they can to avoid the thought of it.

No doubt, this is occurring side-by-side with the move away from Christianity that occurred a few generations ago. If you lose hope for life after death, then death is no longer a doorway, but a dead-end. And that is certainly terrifying. What a dreadful idea it is that there is no life after death! No wonder some cannot stand to think of such things.

But no matter how much we try to avoid it, the reality is that death is the greatest enemy against the human race. And no matter what we do to run away from it, it catches us eventually.

You may die at a good old age. You may die tomorrow. You might have a peaceful death. You may have a very painful death. You may have time to prepare. You may not. You may get cancer. You may have a heart attack. You may die in a car accident on the way home this afternoon.

If that were the end of the story, great indeed would be our misery and darkness would surely overcome us.

The Hope of Resurrection

Yet into this dire gloom, a light shines forth—warm and strong. The one who is life himself says, “Behold! I come!”

The one who could not of himself die contrived to do it. And through his death, made a doorway where there was none.

Death met its bitter end in the death of Jesus. And when Christ was buried, he took death with him. And only one of them came walking out of that tomb.

APPLICATION >>>

But I am afraid that there are very many Christians—not excluding myself—who at one time or another live in such a way that no person would look upon them and see the faintest glimmer of hope. The outstanding truth of the resurrection of Christ should cause invincible joy, even through times where it is mingled with sorrow and suffering.

Yet so often when life doesn’t go our way, discontentment grows inside us like a cancer. Our head knows the truth, but our heart is woefully ignorant. Our affections and concerns are so often out of line with the truth we confess in our thoughts and words.

To address this, I have three charges to give to you this morning from our text in John 11, with the goal that you will, from the heart, come to have a potent and steady resurrection hope.

First Charge to obtain Resurrection Hope: Believe from your Heart, not Just your Head

Martha knew in her head that Jesus was the almighty Son of God and could do all things. Yet her heart had no expectation that he could (or would) help her presently.

In John 11:21–22 she said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

So clearly she knew Christ could do anything and the implication seems to be that it isn’t too late and that he could raise Lazarus from the dead right then and there. But it appears her heart had no expectation that he would.

APPLICATION >>>

Oh how guilty we are of this as well! We say we believe in God’s promises, yet seldom are we eagerly expecting their fulfillment.

We say we believe that God will provide for our needs, yet how often are we nervous about our finances?

We say we believe that Christ atoned for our sin, yet how often do we wallow in guilt and shame?

We say we believe that Christ arose and defeated Satan, yet how often do we chose to walk in fear?

We say we are not ashamed of the gospel, yet how often are we embarrassed to tell others about Jesus?

We say we believe that to have Christ is to have everything, yet how often are we discontent, and even covetous?

In a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon on this very text, he said the following:

We say “Yes, quite true, we fully believe that doctrine.” Somehow it is almost as bad to lay up a doctrine in lavender as it is to throw it out of window. When you so believe a truth as to put it to bed and smother it with the bolster of neglect, it is much the same as if you did not believe it at all. - C.H. Spurgeon

Lord, save us from such a life!

How then do we cause our heart and mind to be in sync?

You must understand what it is that causes a disconnect between your head and heart.

1. It Could Be Forgetfulness

It is easy for us to examine the history of Israelites and see how most of their problems arose from a failure to remember what God had done for them.

He delivered them from slavery, yet they feared not having food in the wilderness.

He brought them across the red sea, yet they feared not having drink.

He gave them victory over the mightiest empire at that time—Egypt—yet when they came to the promised land, they feared the enemies dwelling there.

He gave them the law and the tabernacle and blessed them, yet they forgot the true God and turned to idols.

Yet are we so different? Do we not forget the promises of God?

The solution then is to immerse yourself in God’s promises. Force yourself to remember times when you were in need and God came through.

Make it a habit to give thanks for specific things he has done.

Sit down with your family at dinner and make that the topic of discussion.

There is an old hymn I remember singing growing up. One line says “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.”

Count our blessings we must if we are to protect ourselves from forgetfulness.

2. It Could Be an Idol

Another reason our heart is out of line with what we know to be true is because of idolatry. Not necessarily idolatry in the pagan sense of worshiping a carved image or statue of a false God. But idolatry in the sense that there is something your affections are set on other than Christ. There is something you are thirsting after and seeking for more than him. Listen to what St. Paul in his letter to the Colossian church has to say about this.

Colossians 3:1–10 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

We cannot serve two masters. Either sin will rule our hearts or Christ will.

We must first and foremost put to death whatever it is we are hoping in in order to make space for hope in the resurrected Christ. And then you must seek Christ, setting your hear and mind upon him, remembering that you are dead to your old self and alive to the new.

Second Charge to obtain Resurrection Hope: Remember that Resurrection Hope is a Person, not an Abstraction

In John 11, Lazarus has died and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are in mourning. He says to Martha, “Your brother will rise again”, to which she responds, “Yes, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Here was her misunderstanding: she placed the hope of her brother’s resurrection in the future, as an event, which was therefore very remote and distant from her presently. She knew in her head that her brother would rise again on the last day, but her heart certainly did not know this hope.

But what does Jesus say to her? He takes the hope she placed in the distant future and brings it to her immediately, for he says to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Yes, Martha was correct that her brother, along with all of God’s people, will rise again on the last day to everlasting joy. But she spoke as if the power of this resurrection lay chiefly in the future, in an event. But Jesus says that resurrection power is in a person: namely, himself.

APPLICATION >>>

It must be our endeavor for this truth to take root in our hearts: Jesus is not just performing salvation upon us, as if it were some impersonal formula.

No, Jesus is himself salvation. If you have him, you have salvation from sin, death, and judgement.

This is why we should be very concerned when people speak of conversion as if it were a formula.

It can be seen when people say things like this: “I said the sinners prayer when I was younger, so I know I’m bound for heaven.”

What folly! What error! No prayer can save you from the fires of hell. No action you perform will ever redeem you.

Place no confidence in a prayer or a ritual. Why? Because then you will always be wondering if you used the right words, or if you meant those words, or if the ritual was performed correctly.

Instead, place your confidence in the person, Jesus Christ. He is salvation itself. He is life itself. He is resurrection itself.

It matters not if you know the day or time you first placed your faith in Christ. It is of no significance what words you used to first express your need of salvation. All that is needed, and all that matters, is that you are presently trusting him.

Do not think of salvation as something that happened to you, but as a person who rescued you, and is with you now, and ever shall be with you. You are in him and he is in you.

This is the comfort he gave to Martha: that he is life itself.

Third Charge to obtain Resurrection Hope: Be Sure that you Truly Believe

Martha’s third problem was the weakness of her faith. Thankfully, she certainly did have genuine faith in Christ, though it was very weak in this moment. But there are those who think they have much faith who in fact have no true faith at all.

There really are people who will hear the words who to their great surprise will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

They will say, “But Lord, we taught other people about you!”

He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.

They will say, “But Lord, we cast out demons in your name!”

He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.

They will say, “But Lord, we did many mighty miracles in your name!”

He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.

This is why St. Paul told the christians residing in Corinth to “Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith”.

A very curious thing to tell a church full of professing believers. It must then be possible to say you have faith without actually being in the faith.

How then can you know?

A Comfort to the Humble

The Scriptures say, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Notice what it does not say: “God gives grace to those who are put together, but resists those who are messed up.”

Notice it does not say: “God gives grace to those who have a pleasant temperament, but resists those who are rough around the edges.”

No! He says he will give grace to the humble. He will show kindness and compassion on the weak. Those who are keenly aware of their unworthiness and sinfulness and come to Christ for aid are the very same people who will be redeemed! And great indeed is their redemption! They will be kings and queens!

If you, dear brother; if you dear sister, see your sin for what it is and desire it all to be killed…and if you dear brother; if you dear sister, go to Christ so that he may crucify your sin…and if you then go to him to be raised to newness of life…and if you thereafter go to him the rest of your life, to be renewed after you have disobeyed…then, whether you know it or not, this is the humility God delights in.

He will not break a bruised reed, nor will he quench a smoldering wick.

To those who are unsure of their salvation, fear the fires of hell, and plead to God for mercy in Christ are the very same people who shall receive salvation, the blessing of heaven, and mercy from Christ.

A Warning to the Proud

But what of the proud? Who are they?

They are those who treat their sin lightly and therefore grace lightly, proving they see little need for the cross of Christ and therefore little need to obey him from the heart.

They are those who say they love God, but hate religion, meaning the church.

They are those who in their heart of hearts say, “It is better to please man, rather than God.”

They are those who when asked about their sin say, “what sin?”.

They are those who are very religious, yet have no room for grace toward sinners, proving they are quite self-righteous instead of depending on Christ’s righteousness.

These things will bypass your baptism and give you a one way ticket to hell.

So what is the solution? St. James tell us:

James 4:8–10 “8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Now is the time to stop being light hearted about sin, death, and grace.

Now is the time to cleans yourself of your filth by coming to Christ fully and truly.

Now is the time to lay down your idols and smash your false gods.

Come to Christ, and come to him fully, with no reservations; nothing held back.

And those who come to him, he will never cast out.

Conclusion: Resurrection Hope

As mentioned at the beginning of the sermon, the hope given to us in Christ’s resurrection is potent indeed, but we must have the faith to access and apprehend that hope.

But when we do, oh, what a joyful thing it is. Our greatest enemies, Satan, Sin, and Death, have no power over us.

Satan’s accusations will not stand in God’s court room, for our resurrected advocate, Jesus, will declare our sin to be crucified with him and therefore no longer in existence.

Sin no longer has power to enslave us because our resurrected savior has given us his spirit to empower us for obedience.

Death is no longer a dark an dreary thing, for our resurrected king conquered it and so shall we ever be with him after death.

So take hold of this hope, brothers and sisters. For we are a people who shall never die.