I Am The Resurrection And The Life

Introduction

This morning we conclude our series influenced by Mark Batterson’s book The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible. Through this series we have looked at the seven miracles listed in John’s gospel.

Hands down, the greatest miracle is the forgiveness of sins made possible by the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no close second. It is the foundation of all other miracles!

At some point in our life we will all need a miracle. We don’t welcome the circumstances that necessitate a miracle, but non the less we need one. As we learned through this study, there is nothing too small or insignificant and nothing too big for God.

Example: The wedding in Cana vs. The resurrection of Lazarus

John 11:1–46 NIV

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 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.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 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. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” 11 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.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “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.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

“Don’t seek miracles. Follow Jesus. And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself in the middle of some miracles.” Mark Batterson

Follow Jesus.

And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself in the middle of some miracles.”

Excerpt From: Mark Batterson. “The Grave Robber.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-grave-robber/id895156398?mt=11

Resurrection miracle occurs 3x’s in Jesus ministry. Jarius’ daughter, Jesus interrupts a funeral procession of the only son of a widow ()

John 11:1–7 NIV

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 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.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

John 11:1–3 NIV

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

Jesus loves this family. Possibly stayed with this family when he was in Jerusalem. (only a 2 mile trip)

This story causes us to wonder “does God care?”

John 11:4 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.”

Mary & Martha’s mind is put to ease

John 11:6 NIV

So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

Why if he cares doesn’t he come? If you care, why don’t you come through?

John 11:7–14 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,

“We have an opportunity to do something and we don’t wan to miss it.” MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY!

Sleep - (euphemism) (a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt)

Romans 5:12 NIV

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Jehovah Witnesses - soul sleep (soul annihilated) Only lives on in the memory of God and recreated after the final resurrection

Romans 5:13 NIV

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.

Seventh Day Adventists - soul remains in an unconscious state until the resurrection

The Bible - We are created to live eternally

2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

John 14:1–3 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 11:14–16 NIV

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.”

John 11:14–17 NIV

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.” On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

John 11:14

John 11:18–19 NIV

Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

John 11:18-

Probably well connected and well off

Talmud - If you were poor required to hire musicians & wailers

Example of Job and his friends who sat with him for days

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.

John 11:20 NIV

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

Everyone grieves differently

Everyone grieves differently

“Jesus, where were you? Why didn’t you come?”

John 11:22–24 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.”

Martha collects herself but misunderstands what Jesus is doing.

We can’t understand all of God’s ways

Isaiah 55:8 NIV

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

John 11:25 NIV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

The resurrection is not so much an event as it is a person. If we are in Christ, and He is resurrected, then we are resurrected as well.

John 11:25–32 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?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:33 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.

We sometimes think that God is detached from our problems and seems to not care

- God is close to the brokenhearted

“deeply moved” = “troubled” - angered or agitated = sin and it’s affects

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:

Death is not right! Death is our enemy = it was never intended that way. God is indignant about it, but He also has redeemed it!

John 11:34–35 NIV

“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.

“Jesus wept” = silently burst into tears (if you hurt today, He hurts with you …)

John 11:36–38 NIV

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?” Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

Jesus gets indignant again, this time with unbelief / mocker

John 11:39 KJV 1900

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

John 11:40–43 NIV

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 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!”

John 11:40

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NLT

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:

John 11:44 NIV

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 11:45 NIV

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Many? Why doesn’t it say ALL!!

It reminds me of the person who would say “If I could see this, then maybe...”

Seeing is not believing, Believing is Seeing!

Even when you cannot understand God, you can trust Him

Even though God knows the outcome, He is not indifferent to our pain

Even when it seems all hope is gone, God can work a miracle

Eternal life is found only in Him

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.