So, When he Heard... He stayed: The Misunderstood Love of Christ

Have Student Read John 11:1-16

Did anyone watch Stranger Things Season 5?

Katie and I, one episode a week, cliff hanger

John 11 as we read through it and watch it unfold over the next 5 weeks, I pray each week you are longing for the next week to come

This is ch./story is a massive pivot in John’s Gospel, it’s the 7th sign ant the 6th “I am...” statement.

After this chapter, Jesus turns to Calvary and John writes in great detail the last week or so of Jesus’ life.

As _____ read for us, let’s re-read John 11:1–3 “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.””

1. Their Plea Reveals Love Misunderstood. vv. 1-3

John gives a little foreshadowing here, Mary anoints Jesus feet in ch. 12

Notice what the messenger said to Jesus “Lord, he whom you love is ill”.

Is there a request in this?

Is there a plea in this?

Is there even a statement declaring a desire in this? “I wish you’d do something!”

I imagine your parents have sayings that don’t ask of anything from you but you know exactly what they want you to do when they say it.

How’s your homework coming?

"The sisters’ message presupposes that Jesus’ love for Lazarus will move him to act—but they do not yet grasp that his love will be displayed in a deeper way” DA Carson

There are two tensions here in this statement

Mary and Martha appeal to Jesus’ love, not their merit

“he whom YOU love is ill.”

Notice Lazarus’ name isn’t even mentioned till John 11:5 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

They were close friends with Jesus, have been doing Ministry together for awhile.

Bethany “Beth” House of, Any “the Poor”

2. They assume that Jesus’ love operates on their timeline and toward their definition of a good outcome.

Now based off this love, they expect Jesus to act, and act in the same way they think it should happen.

“Daddy, don’t you love me? If you did, you would...”

Even correct theology, can lead to incorrect expectations.

Jesus loves me, therefore he will act how and when we want.

He will heal this person I love,

Give me supernatural knowledge to pass a test

Be on myside in this issue my friend and I walking through and I don’t have to apologize.

Have you misunderstood God’s love for you? Where has this misunderstanding led to you misapplying God’s love in your life?

2. His Delay reveals God’s Timing Misunderstood. vv. 4-6

Read John 11:4–6 “But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

Notice how deliberate Jesus is here in v. 6 “So when he heard… he stayed...”

Wouldn’t you think that if Jesus loved Lazarus that he would’ve healed him right then and there, or would have IMMEDIATELY gone to save him?

John here ties Jesus love, v. 5, directly to to his delay, v. 6.

BECAUSE Jesus loved, he stayed.

Have you ever have thoughts or questions about God’s timing? If God would have just… If God would just do this than my life would be better?

Often times, like what we see in this text, we are like a river, we want to live life in the path of least resistance.

Jesus never said the Goal of following him was for your life to be peachy cream, or for you to be happy, or for life to be easier.

No like Jesus says here the goal of our live is “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it!”

Come what may.

Jesus’ love doesn’t prevent suffering—it governs it.

Nothing happens in your life without the redeeming ability of God’s love.

Satan will seek to kill, steal, and destroy. Evil is real and it will try it permeate your life, but Jesus will redeem even the most hurtful, frustrating, sad, worst parts of your life for His glory!

3. Their Decision Reveals Discipleship Misunderstood. vv. 7-16

Read John 11:7–16 “Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.””

For the disciples Judea=Death.

Jesus gives this teaching that if you walk while it is day time, you won’t stumble, but if you walk at night you will stumble.

Pointing that he is the light of the world, but that he won’t be here much longer.

Jesus uses the language here that Lazarus has really just fallen asleep. Like literally taking a nap.

Stomach bug this weekend. Normally rest and allow body to heal.

This is what the disciples believe to be happening.

Jesus speaks about as plainly as you can “Lazarus has died...”

Notice here it’s in the past. “died” He knows already.

Thomas, “Doubting Thomas”, should really be “Tenacious Thomas” because he is ready to go to Judea and DIE fighting for Jesus.

However, Thomas misunderstands what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Fight for Jesus, Peter Cuts the guards ear off.

Some of us are like this today, we misunderstand what it means to follow Jesus.

Some of us want to defend or fight for Jesus.

Everyone in this story relates rightly to Jesus—but understands him wrongly.

They are willing to die with Jesus—but they do not yet understand that He is going to go raise the dead. And then he is going to die for them.