Answering the Big Question

Life’s Biggest Questions

Who killed J.R.?

Will the Cardinals ever win the Super Bowl?

Who am I going to marry?

How many kids will I have?

Will my kids grow up to be responsible adults?

What will my career path look like?

Will I be able to retire, and stay retired?

How long will I live?

What will kill me? Will it hurt?

These are all questions we discover the answer to after the fact. 20/20 hindsight.

There is one question, and it’s probably the biggest question we have to answer, and we have to come up w/ our final answer before it’s over.

Can Jesus really raise me from the dead?

Even if you believe He can heal the sick, change the weather, and tell demons where to go w/ only a word; there’s still a huge step to make to raise the dead.

There are several related questions that follow:

Is Jesus just about making this life more bearable?

Is He the only One who can raise the dead?

If He can, how do I qualify? Parameters. Who’s in and who’s out?

When will He raise me?

We’ll answer the biggest question today from .

This is miracle #30. Raising Lazarus.

Context

Just a few weeks away from the cross.

Jesus has started his final journey to Jerusalem.

He’ll pause along the way to teach us some of the most important lessons the disciples need to understand before He leaves.

They are the ones who will be left to explain what has happened after He’s gone.

Preceding context in John

He gave sight to the man born blind

It’s one thing to heal someone who had their sight then lost it.

It’s another altogether to give someone sight who never had it.

Jews and Gentiles.

He claims to be the Son of God, the Good Shepherd, One with God.

Last week we looked at two related miracles.

If you give Him your heavy burden (sin, bad habits, things you’re trying to control), He will give you His light burden. He will free you up so you can stand tall and strong.

Come to Him w/ humility and honesty and He will treat you with grace and mercy.

Believing Jews were expecting a banquet immediately when they arrive. But, word now is the Kingdom is postponed.

So, what’s going to happen when believers die now?

Jesus addresses this question and more when He hears that Lazarus is seriously ill.

He’s on His way to Jerusalem when He rec’s word. Bethany is on the way, anyway.

But, amazingly, He doesn’t run to his side right away.

He waits and Lazarus dies. What’s up w/ that?

Timing is Everything

The situation

John 11:3 NIV

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

Laz’ sisters: Mary and Martha. All good friends of Jesus.

It was Mary who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped it off w/ her hair.

Implied: Seriously ill. At the point of death.

Their request?

They didn’t make one.

They trusted Jesus to meet the need in response to their message.

Good prayer in that they didn’t tell Jesus what to do.

But a bit of a problem they made one huge assumption that Jesus would hurry right over and prevent his death.

Jesus delayed, on purpose.

Divine delay

John 11:4–6 NIV

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

He loved Laz.

When you love someone and you hear they are about to die, what do you do?

Run to his side!

Jesus waited 2 days!

Why?

To glorify God. Make Him look good.

However this is going to play out it is going to make God look good. Jesus, too. The Son of God.

He claims deity. And He claims He knows exactly what He’s doing and it’s going to work out great.

Jesus is expanding their knowledge, understanding, and imagination. And, it’s stretching them to their breaking point.

The disciples are having a hard time understanding all this. Is there a dilemma, or not.

At death’s door, or just sleeping?

If he’s dying, should they go? But, if they go, they may die.

But, Jesus said He’s only sleeping.

What’s up?

Their discussion

John 11:7-16

John 11:7–16 NIV

and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Their concern was the Pharisees had tried to stone Him the last time they were there. The next time, they may succeed.

Why risk their lives if he’s only sleeping?!

Jesus’ response: The sun is still up. Nothing is going to happen until it’s dark and it’s time.

Why ris

Stick close and we’ll all be fine b/c it’s not time, yet.

Whey the time comes, Jesus and all the disciples will die.

But, if it’s not time, stay close and everyone will be fine.

Sleeping?

Jesus is communicating to them that he is in a temporary state. Yes, he’s dead. But, only temporarily.

He’s going to wake up just like we do every morning.

Technically, he’s dead. But their minds were about t/b blown.

Thomas, the pessimist, said what all the rest were thinking.

Okay then, at least we’ll all die together.

They still didn’t get it.

So, they head for Bethany even though Lazarus has died.

Timing is everything.

Too Late; Just in Time.

You’re too late

John 11:

John 11:20–21 NIV

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

She’s confronting Jesus on what He did wrong.

How He should have handled this situation.

I’m sure we’ve never done that.

None of this sensitivity, “Let’s talk about how you could have done this differently.”

No! If you’d been here he wouldn’t have died!

Another situation where she has faith, it’s just immature, underdeveloped.

It’s about to grow.

She knew Jesus could heal. And, no doubt, she knew about the 2 people He’d already raised from the dead.

The widow’s son at his funeral procession

Jairus’ daughter.

But both of these were hours or just minutes gone.

It could have been argued that their pulse was so weak it would have been undetected and they could have been wrongly pronounced dead.

Lazarus died just after Jesus rec’d the message he was sick. So, he’s now gone 4 days.

Her faith in Jesus didn’t waiver. She still believed Him t/b her Messiah.

She just didn’t believe He could do anything for Laz now.

Or, did she?

She still believed

John 11:22–27 NIV

But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

She bel’d that God would still do whatever Jesus asked.

She bel’d He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the One and Only hope God has sent into the world.

She bel’d Laz would be raised from the dead.

But, in the end. When the Kingdom is eventually established.

She’s still nursing this young faith.

Trusting that Jesus will speak to the Father on behalf of Lazarus so that can live again in the kingdom.

She believed for herself, that she would be saved and raised, and she bel’d for her brother and sister, too.

But the limitation she had in her faith was that there was nothing Jesus could do until that time in the future when all believers are raised and reign in the kingdom w/ Him.

Better than nothing.

Better than no resurrection at all.

Better than a sharp stick in the eye.

He’ll be dead until he’s not.

Martha wasn’t along in her beliefs at this point. Mary bel’d the same and confronted Jesus w/ the same words:

“If only you had been here my brother would not have died.” (v.32)

In response to their grief and His plan to answer our greatest question, at this point He asked to be taken to Lazarus’ tomb.

To the Tomb

Emotions

John 11:33–37 NIV

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

John 11:

Mary and Martha questioning Jesus thru their tears.

He didn’t rebuke them, He was about to lovingly help them understand they need not grieve w/out hope.

They bel’d IN Him.

The professional mourners had no faith. Nor, did they have any real tears when the wept.

They questioned out of a lack of faith. This is Jesus’ fault he died.

Blame God for the pain the family feels.

He could have done something but He didn’t.

If I were God, I would have done something.

Clearly, God messed this up and we’re paying the price.

Typical of no faith or weak faith.

They don’t understand God might have a bigger plan than just helping them evade death here and avoid pain.

They are angry.

Jesus wept. Why?

He knew what He was about to do.

He looked inept to the unbelievers.

But, He ID’d w/ the family.

How do you comfort a family who’s grieving?

Cry w/ them. No words. Just genuine tears

Jesus cried and comforted them even in their limited faith and understanding of what He was about to do.

This may stink

John 11:38–40 NIV

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

4 days. Laz died the day Jesus rec’d the message he was gravely ill. Jesus waited 2 days to start the journey. 1 day to travel.

No way they could have mis-pronounced his death. His pulse wasn’t just weak, it was non-existent.

Decomposition would have begun by now.

But, remember, Jesus created him the first time. He could do it again.

It would also stink if Jesus failed at this.

This is the answer to the most important question we will ever ask in our lifetime.

If the answer is ‘no’, Jesus cannot do this, then we have been committing a colossal foolish waste of time.

That would really stink!

Jesus, and God, are either going to look really, really good; or really, really bad.

To glorify something is to make it look good.

Jesus believed He could do it. So, roll the stone away.

Resuscitated, not resurrected

John 11:41–44 NIV

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

John 11:

Why?

So that we would know that Jesus is Who He says He is and can do what He says He can do.

How can we know? How can we be certain that Jesus can raise the dead?

Q Him directly: Prove it!

Okay, Lazarus, come out! And, He did.

B/C Jesus raised Laz from the dead we can be certain that He can do the same for us.

We don’t have to wait until after the fact to admit that He can. In fact, that would be too late.

Point in fact: This is a resuscitation, not a resurrection.

If resurrected, then Laz would never die again, and he did.

He is one of a handful of ppl who have died twice here.

What a story he could tell.

Jesus is resurrected never to pass away again. He ascended to return in the future.

Is Jesus the only One who can?

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Who else has done what He has done to prove they can?

The notion that all roads lead to same place is a uniquely western idea. Every major religion teaches there is only one way.

To say they all do is a cheap cop out. Everyone need to decide for themselves.

There are no muslims in heaven. Nor Hindus, Buddhists, nor any other major or minor religions represented in Heaven.

There are no atheists in Heaven. There are no atheists in hell, either. They might have been on earth, but they’ve stood before Him as He sentenced them.

Who else has done what Jesus has done to prove they can?

How do we qualify t/b raised from the dead?

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-9

John 1:12 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

John 11:25–26 NIV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

It’s all based on what you believe, not what you do.

Though, what you do is based on what you believe, too.

Religion is what you do. Faith is what you believe in.

When will I be raised?

Luke 23:43 NIV

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The thief on the cross came to faith as he suffered next to Jesus.

They were reunited that afternoon.

There will be a different resurrection when we get into the kingdom. Our bodies will rise.

Details are for another sermon another Sunday.

Did Jesus come just to make our lives more bearable here?

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

He is more than just a Miracle-Worker and the miracles are more than just example of what Jesus can do for us.

We will have trouble in this life. But, when we walk closely w/ Jesus we can find peace in the midst of the trouble.

Applications

Expectations

Mary and Martha expected something different from Jesus so they were doubly grieved.

Their prayer was good. They just presented the situation and trusted Jesus to do the best thing.

However, the best thing was not what they had in mind and it caused them more pain.

Present your requests to God and trust Him to do what’s best.

His thoughts are above ours and His actions sometimes take time to understand.

Leave it at that.

Delays

Delays give God the chance to do more.

Don’t limit Him in what you believe He can do. There is no limit to what He can fix. Don’t assume you know what’s best.

Timing is everything. Stay close to Jesus and nothing bad will happen to you until it’s the right time. And, if it’s the right time for that, then it’s the right time for God to glorify Himself in you.

Our goal is not to evade death here but to achieve eternal life.

Nor is it to live the most comfortable life here. This isn’t heaven.

Heaven will be a comfortable place.

Lazarus eventually died for good, from here.

Don’t be afraid to die.

Emotions

Jesus hurts when we hurt.

Even though He knows how it’s going to turn out.

We don’t always respond well when we hurt or someone close to us hurts.

But, Jesus will comfort you in your pain and lead you thru it.

We have to answer the biggest question we will ever face in our lifetime and we have to do it before we experience it and can be sure.

Can Jesus raise me from the dead?

What do you think?

We know enough, read enough eyewitness accounts, seen enough, and experienced enough to believe enough.

Take it on faith that Jesus has proven He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do.