09.03.17 - Hope for the Hopeless - John 11

09.03.17 - Hope for the Hopeless -

Source: Notes are adapted from YOU Sunday School Material Teacher Notes by LifeWay

Source: Notes are adapted from YOU Sunday School Material Teacher Notes by LifeWay

Opening: As we begin our lesson this week, you will remember that we have been on the theme of HOPE over the past few weeks. We are primarily in the Gospel of John for this study of hope. And I think it’s a fitting study in a world where we see so little hope.

So what is going to set us apart? In many ways, it is our display of hope. So this week we are resuming this study…and we’ll be in .

To get us started, consider this illustration...

Lesson Kickoff Illustration: How many of you are guilty of wanting to add a bit too much salt to things. This may seem strange, but growing up in our home, to add salt was taken as a slight against the food…as if it didn’t taste good and needed something else. So with that mistaken idea, we actually didn’t add salt much at all. In fact, I rarely reach for the salt when I’m eating food. But, it DOES make things so much better. Try cooking your fries at home and not adding salt…it tastes like a plain baked potato.

But what I have rarely seen anyone do is just grab the salt shaker and turn it up - getting a dose of salt as the appetizer for the meal. We don’t do that! Salt adds flavor, but by itself…it’s rather unpleasant.

Point of Illustration: That’s what each of the situations that we have been looking at in this unit are like - by themselves…they were unpleasant and painful. But when Jesus brought hope into the situation, the event became a way for Him to receive glory. So he took something bad (salt by itself) and made it good (adding it to the full picture of the meal).

Review: This is our third lesson in the “Hope” series.

Review: This is our third lesson in the “Hope” series.

We began in week 1 with the story of Jesus turning water into wine.

Last week we looked at those needing healing in . They were waiting by the water for it to be stirred, hoping that this would be their source of healing. But Jesus commanded the man to “take up his bed and walk”. So he was HOPE for a man who had been hopeless for 38 years!

And this week, we are returning to this theme of HOPE as we look at the story of the raising of Lazarus. So we have certainly ramped up the hopelessness in these stories. We began with a cultural hopelessness (shame for not preparing adequately for the feast) to now talking about someone who had died. And in each example, we are seeing Jesus as the source of hope.

Well let’s a bit of set up for the passage that we’ll be studying...

Setup Passages: We need to look at some of the setup verses before we get into the points from the lesson. Our lesson is going to pick up at vs. 37, but we need to go back to the beginning of the chapter to understand what’s happening here.

John 11:1–4 NKJV

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Two dimensions of Jesus waiting: So why did Jesus say that this sickness would not lead to death?

He was pointing to what was about to happen…in the healing of Lazarus.

The Resurrection: He was ALSO foreshadowing what would happen in His own death, burial, and resurrection!

So Jesus was about to address the immediate need (the resurrection of Lazarus), but He was also pointing forward to what the disciples were still not getting. He used this as one more teaching time regarding His purpose.

But in the midst of this story is an interesting pair of verses...

John 11:5 NKJV

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

John 11:5–6 NKJV

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

Pre-Lesson Point: One of the most difficult things for us to do is to WAIT. That is exactly what vs. 5-6 reveal about the story - Mary and Martha were going to have to wait. And this was NOT the best time to be waiting…Lazarus was at the point of death.

And as we consider their “waiting”…what are some things we do as we wait???

Most people stare at their phones while they are waiting.

I will read on my Kindle app sometimes while I am waiting.

I will scroll social media or I will text back and forth with someone.

Why do we do all of those things? We do it because we despise waiting! We will do anything to distract our minds from the wait.

God does allow us to wait: And yet, there will be many times in our lives when God will have us to WAIT on the full picture of how He is going to work.

We may be praying for God to intervene in a situation.

We may be praying that He will reveal Himself with a need.

We are asking Him to work.

And yet…in His great plan…He leads us to wait.

Application Question: So why do you believe God leads us to wait?

Source: Pete Wilson, “What Keeps You Up at Night?” wrote about this very story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He addressed it from this perspective of WAITING…and the benefits of waiting on the Lord. Listen to these 3 benefits...

3 Benefits of God's Waiting Room

An understanding of God's grace helps us make sense of struggles and times of long waiting. God is working during those times. 

1. We see God at His most powerful during the wait. We don't get to see God at His most powerful unless we spend time in the waiting room. When we're highly aware of our own inadequacy, that's when we need to be most aware of God's unlimited ability.

2. God's waiting room refines our character. If we embrace our weakness and place our trust in God and His timing, He can use the waiting room to refine our character, bring about spiritual transformation in our lives and teach us to hope and persevere patiently.

3. We grow spiritually during the wait. It's usually on the other side of the waiting room that we see the most spiritual growth and fruit in our lives. When our trust is in the Maker of heaven and earth, we realize that what matters most isn't what's happening to us but what's happening in us. 

Back to the Story: So Mary and Martha found themselves in God’s waiting room. And oh how frustrating that must have been. He could have dropped everything and come. He could have turned away from what He was doing…and yet He didn’t. And we know the result. Lazarus died.

This was no small issue. They had watched Jesus do the unthinkable (miracles) and He could have done that with this individual He was very close to. And yet, for whatever reason, He didn’t come and now Lazarus is dead.

Discussion Question: What do you think were some of the emotions that Mary and Martha were experiencing at this point?

They were likely confused and frustrated.

Maybe they felt like they had been abandoned.

In vs. 32, we are going to see her throwing herself at the feet of Jesus. So this shows her level of desperation!

Application: So how do we keep on TRUSTING the Lord even when His timing is not our timing?

That is a great FAITH question…and not easy to answer…because we realize that this is one of those “rubber meets the road” faith questions. It’s where we move from talking about faith to actually living it out in the tough roads of life.

Back to the Story: Well that’s where we find Mary and Martha. They have brought their request to Jesus and now they are hoping for an answer. But as they hope…they must wait.

The Story In Between: Well…in the time of waiting…Lazarus does die. And that’s where we pick up in the story this morning. Their hope has now been lost.

I. Hope Lost

So let’s see that scene that I was pointing to a few minutes ago...

John 11:28–32 NKJV

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32 NKJV

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:37 NKJV

And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

The Characters in the Scene: In this scene, we have Mary, Martha, Jesus…and then we also have this group of mourners who ran along with Mary. While it was common in the time period to have professional mourners who would accompany the funeral procession (to magnify the importance of the person lost)…this was not likely that practice. Why? Well, they were gathered in the house. So this was more than just an external show group. They apparently knew Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and they were there at the house to comfort her. Running Out: And so as she ran out of the house, they went with her (assuming that she was headed to the tomb). They were going to walk/run with her to the tomb to be there for her as she continued to mourn.

Different Destination: But she wasn’t headed to the tomb at this point. She had a different destination because she was still HOPING that Jesus could change the situation.

And as she came to Jesus…she poured out her HONEST emotions...

John 11:32 NKJV

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Observations: She came questioning Jesus and wondering why He didn’t step into the situation. She is frustrated, confused, and brokenhearted. Jesus did’t do what she expected and she made it known. She didn’t hide it. She didn’t gloss over. She just poured out her heart to Jesus - raw emotions and all.

Application to Us: And I wonder if we are as willing to just come before the Lord in honesty? Now I’m not suggesting that we come before the Lord JUDGING His actions…but we certainly can share our emotions and even our disappointments. That’s what Mary did - she just laid it all out there. After all, he already knew everything that she was feeling in that moment.

Let’s take a few minutes to read some examples of honest words to God...

Examples of Honest Prayers to the Lord

1.

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 69

2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;

I have come into deep water,

and a flood sweeps over me.

3 I am weary from my crying;

my throat is parched.

My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Psalm 69:2–3 NKJV

I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Or here is another example…of both extremes of trusting and questioning...

2. Psalm 77:1

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 77

1 I cry aloud to God,

aloud to God, and he will hear me.

And then in the very same psalm…we read these words...

3.

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 77

7 “Will the Lord reject forever

and never again show favor?

8 Has his faithful love ceased forever?

Is his promise at an end for all generations?

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Selah

II. Hope Uncertain

The Point: Here’s the point…the psalms are FILLED with examples just like that. But I offer a word of caution…because Job heard from the Lord after his friends had questioned God and offered some really bad advice. Listen to the strong response of God to Job in Job 38...

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 38

38 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:

2 Who is this who obscures my counsel

with ignorant words?

3 Get ready to answer me like a man;

when I question you, you will inform me.

4 Where were you when I established the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

The Point: In the end, we have to remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL and He is the one seated on the throne. So while I do believe it is right that we would speak openly and honestly with the Lord…we do so while still recognizing that He has not lost control. He is not fretting the outcome. So we share our hearts…and then we plead with the Lord to see HIS view and perspective on our situation.

Back to Mary in : That’s what Mary did. She came honestly before the Lord. She fell down at His feet. She was desperate and distraught over the situation.

And what’s interesting in the story is that the crowd followed her lead...

John 11:37 NKJV

And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

Response: So they were coming the same conclusion. He COULD have done something.

So this sets up the first point - - HOPE LOST. Everyone believed at this point in the story that there was no hope. It could have been different…but that window of time for God to act has now passed. They have lost hope.

And so let’s continue with this second point...

II. Hope Uncertain

John 11:38–40 NKJV

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Groaning in Himself - other translations render this “deeply moved again”. In other words, this is a continuation of vs. 35 where “Jesus wept”.

Contrary to the confusion of Mary...

Contrary to the questions of the crowd...

Jesus DID INDEED care about the situation and was deeply moved.

Why was He deeply moved? Listen to these words from the New American Commentary...

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 (4) The Encounter with Mary and the Mourners (11:28–37)

Of course Jesus loved Lazarus, but I doubt that that was the basic reason Jesus wept. Of course Lazarus had been dead four days, but I doubt that death was the main reason Jesus wept. The evangelist had made it clear from the very beginning of this story that the illness of Lazarus would “not end in death” but would bring glory to God and to the Son of God (11:4).

Then what about Jesus’ weeping? The other places in the Gospels where such a depth of Jesus’ emotions were expressed are specifically places related to his mission: the places where he groaned over the failure of Jerusalem to come to him (cf. Matt 23:37–39; Luke 13:34–35), where he prayed for his disciples’ safety and future (cf. John 17:9–26), and where he wrestled with his death and the disciples’ weaknesses (cf. Matt 26:37–41; Mark 13:33–37; Luke 22:40–46; John 12:27–28). Accordingly, I would maintain that Jesus’ weeping here is directly related to the failure of his followers to recognize his mission as the agent of God. God’s Son was in their midst. They really missed the point. That fact becomes more evident in the next two segments of the story.

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 (4) The Encounter with Mary and the Mourners (11:28–37)

Yet in interpreting this text it is important for us not to rely on what other people have said about Jesus. Their evaluations may be skewed. Of course Jesus loved Lazarus, but I doubt that that was the basic reason Jesus wept. Of course Lazarus had been dead four days, but I doubt that death was the main reason Jesus wept. The evangelist had made it clear from the very beginning of this story that the illness of Lazarus would “not end in death” but would bring glory to God and to the Son of God (11:4).

Then what about Jesus’ weeping? The other places in the Gospels where such a depth of Jesus’ emotions were expressed are specifically places related to his mission: the places where he groaned over the failure of Jerusalem to come to him (cf. Matt 23:37–39; Luke 13:34–35), where he prayed for his disciples’ safety and future (cf. John 17:9–26), and where he wrestled with his death and the disciples’ weaknesses (cf. Matt 26:37–41; Mark 13:33–37; Luke 22:40–46; John 12:27–28). Accordingly, I would maintain that Jesus’ weeping here is directly related to the failure of his followers to recognize his mission as the agent of God. God’s Son was in their midst. They really missed the point. That fact becomes more evident in the next two segments of the story.

The Point: So did Jesus weep because of the death of Lazarus? No, he knew how the story would end. What grieved him was (1) the awareness of the pain it was causing those all around him and, (2) the failure of everyone there to recognize the power and ability of Jesus to change the situation. They were bewildered and confused because they were still trying to figure out what exactly Jesus would do (and we would have likely had the same response).

So facing the deep emotions of everyone around him…and the inability of those around him to believe and see Him at work…he cried and was deeply moved.

Transition: So Jesus pressed ahead to the tomb.

And when He arrived at the tomb, He ordered the stone to be rolled away. And immediately, Martha objected to the command. She knew that it had already been long enough for the BODY to have begun the process of breaking down. So she objected - - it is difficult enough to see our loved ones after they have passed. But this was beyond comprehension - she certainly didn’t want the tomb opened at this point.

But Jesus was emphatic...

John 11:40 NKJV

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

As most versions have this verse…notice the order of what Jesus stated...

BELIEVE

THEN SEE

Our Approach to - We reverse what Jesus just stated. We want to see - - then tell God we will believe. Show me! If you will just show me…then I will believe.

But Jesus said, “If you would have believed…then you would have seen...”. He invited her FIRST to belief (faith)…and only then did He promise seeing (SIGHT).

And so in the actions of Jesus…we see our final point...

III. Hope Restored

III. Hope Restored

John 11:41–44 NKJV

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

HEADLINE: You are the lead reporter on the story. What is your headline?

Imagine you are writing the Story: Your job is to cover this event as a news reporter. If you are ONLY covering the event up until the moment that Jesus arrived in Bethany, what would be your headline? Clarification: So your news story is only covering the event as if it ended at vs. 21 (not including the healing event). What would be the headline of your story?

Jesus deeply moved by the tragic event in Bethany.

Emotional Reunion between two close friends.

Discouraged and Confused Mary Confronted Jesus.

Revised News Story: But you submitted your story too soon…there’s more! Now you are revising your story to go all the way to vs. 44. What would be your headline now?

Jesus Promised a Miracle…and Delivered.

Mystery Teacher is Performing Miracles.

Lazarus once was dead and is now alive again.

Key Point: The end of the story changes the way we view the entire story. That’s what the headline does - it sets up what we are to expect in the story. And with this event, the ending impacts the headline!

Order of Events: Let’s look at the order of the events here in .

Jesus prayed at the tomb. That’s the first thing that He did before He SAID anything. He had already ordered the stone rolled away…but before He entered or stated anything, He paused in prayer.

He commanded Lazarus to come out! We often see in movies that Jesus went into the tomb…but that’s not what happened here in John’s Gospel. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out…and he came out with the linens dragging behind him.

What was the goal of the prayer? The goal was that people would believe! That was ALWAYS the purpose of the miracles. It wasn’t so that the person could be healed, fed, or even walk on water. It was to BUILD faith!

Closing Word: The hopeless was now filled with hope.

Questions for Closing Discussion

What does the word hopeless mean to you? What standard do you use to determine if a situation is hopeless or not?

What are some areas that are easier to let Jesus control?

What do we learn from this story today that will lead us to place even greater hope in Christ?

Jesus came to give us HOPE and the only means/source of hope is Christ alone. He worked miracles in order to increase faith. As our faith grows…so will our hope. Let’s pray that God will give us greater faith…and in turn…greater hope in Him.