I'm Rotten

Introduction

It is easy to love friends when things are going well, but are you willing to climb into the stinky rotten trenches of turmoil and death with the people you call a friend. It is stated that as we peruse through the text Jesus loved Lazarus. His love for Lazarus or phileo a sincere association of brotherly love.

This relationship is an interesting one,Jesus returns to Bethany against the wishes of his closes comrades. Jesus says “Let us go to Judea again”. For the disciples to exclaim that they are seeking to stone him in the place his going back to. Here’s the thing when you have true love for a friend, there is nothing that is going to stop you from being there for your friend.

On the contrary, we have to be mindful, do we find ourselves in the pits of life trying to help friends? Just to be in the pit ourselves and our friends are no where to be found. Do you love me? Do you love me while I’m rotten, dead, and buried. Do you have enough love to sacrifice what you are doing to help your brother or sister get out of the grave that they are in?

A Good Friend Prior to Turmoil

Even prior to Lazarus’ death Jesus just heard he was sick, and stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

Love says although I’ve got something to do, I’ve got places to be I have to make sure that those who I love are alright.

Nothing gets in the way of true friendship, Jesus was not worried about the Jews who wanted to kill him, Jesus was not worried about anything other than being by his good friend Lazarus.

If I love you and you love me, what is going on around us does not matter. See Jesus is bigger than a location. It was about him being of service to his friend and his family.

Sometimes we will let location get in the way of cultivating loving relationships.

His Disciples, whom happen to be good friends with Jesus did not see Lazarus important enough for him to return to Bethany.

Special Reminder

Verse 11 - This He said, and after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.

Sometimes we need that “our friend” reminder. Especially when we do not feel like being there for “certain” people.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

We compete with other Christians and churches with the wrong things, how about we try to outdo each other with acts of love and support.

Jesus is going back to see Lazarus with a plan, nonetheless the disciples are still seeing the wrong side of the coin. Jesus knows they love him, they follow him but what about your fellow brother.

If someone say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar, for the one who does no love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

You can say you follow Jesus, but are you willing to crawl into the dead places like Jesus did to help your friend rise back up out of that rotten grave of live?

Illness and Death

Illness and death can sometimes be tricky. Even when you go through tough times life can be tricky. You have people who truly love you and will support you to the end. Then you have people who rejoice in your trial who want a courtside view just to see you lose at life.

Jesus came for specific purpose and that was to raise Lazarus up out of his rottenness.

We have to be thankful for the people like Jesus in our life that are around in our lowest moments.

The way Jesus wept even the Jews state in in verse 36 “See how He loved him!”

It takes some passion and some energy to help someone out of the pit of death. The bible says that Lazarus has been dead for 4 days and he began to stink.

It is easy to be my friend when the death is new and my life does not smell yet. But what about when my life starts to stink, and the maggots of life start to infiltrate my system. And now my grave of life has grew on my so much that not only do I not look the same but I do not smell the same.

Now we see that Lazarus is dead, and many Jews according to verse 19 have come to console them concerning their brother. Understand that people may be able to add comfort but there is no greater comforter than Jesus.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

When Jesus makes a Promise

“Your brother will rise again”

Jesus knew he was dealing with faithful women, and the blessing comes after the confession that you believe in his promises.

We look to Jesus so often as measure of prevention, but just like Jesus can stop something from happening he can change the outcome so that you forget about the trial that you went through in the first place.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Mary and Martha was looking for Jesus to heal their brothers sickness but the blessing of God said, not only will he no longer be sick but he will no longer be dead! Nonetheless he is looking for our confession he is looking for our belief.

9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

By day four, blood stops circulating, the body begins to take in excess surroundings, rigormortis has set in. But Jesus is the only one who can give life to a dead situation!

The world may have buried you, wrapped you up and perserved you from death, but Jesus said I don’t think so.

Your marriage may have been dead to rights, no one believed it could be revived and Jesus said Unbind, and let go.

The world may have believed that your addiction had you buried so deep that no rehabilitation, 12 step program or alcohol anonymous, but Jesus said come forth.

You may have made a mistake that you do not want to talk about and feel like your life is over and you cannot recover, and Jesus says come forth.

No matter what you are going through this morning you will rise again! No matter what problem you are having you will rise again! No matter how bad things have gotten you will rise again! No matter how much life stinks right now! You will rise again! No matter the job you have lost, the income that has been cut short, the Lord says you will rise again!