Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Illustration: The first person I watched Die.
I remember feeling awkward.
What do we do?
This person has lived with us on this earth for 80 something years and now, we just call someone to come get her?
It just seemed awkward.
How on earth are we supposed to deal with this thing called death?
I didn’t really know how to respond.
Other people kept saying to me, “She’s in a better place.”
But it still hurt.
I will say this this.
The only comfort I found sufficient was the comfort that only comes in Christ.
Other religions, in fact every religion, has to deal with this issue, and having studied them all, the only one that gives true comfort is the Christian Faith.
Every other religion fails to address the issue of death with any true comfort.
I read this week:
If Jesus Christ can do nothing about death, then whatever else He can do amounts to nothing.
‘
This question of death and how will deal with it ultimately rests in how Christ is able to deal with it.
Fortunately, for us, the chapter we are studying this morning answers the question: How does Jesus deal with death?
We will not get through the entire chapter this week.
In fact, this sermon is kind of a precursor and a set up to the next sermon.
This one will probably leave you hanging, but that just means you will have to find your way back here next week.
All that said, Lets look at verse 1
The pronoun here is used.
There isn’t really any significance to Lazarus being called “a certain man.”
This can be translated Someone was sick.
But, this someone was someone special.
This was Lazarus of Bethany.
Now, at this point, this is the first time Lazarus is mentioned within the book of John and really Lazarus is only mentioned one other time outside this chapter.
That is found in chapter 12 where Lazarus is with Jesus reclining at the table.
The reason I tell you all of that is this: Oftentimes, we get caught up with thinking of Lazarus, but this story is not about Lazarus.
This is a story about Jesus.
He is always the hero.
He is the hero of our story as well.
This is a narrative that reveals the glory of Christ.
Lazarus is in Bethany with HIS two sisters, Mary and Martha.
This is not Jesus’s mother.
In fact, John makes this clear.
Look in verse 2.
John makes it clear who it is that He is referring to.
Interestingly enough, he refers to an event that is corroborated by Luke’s Gospel in .
All to say, these are people with whom Jesus has spent a considerable amount of time.
He has a relationship with these people.
He has grown to love these people.
Look in verse 3
Better translation here I believe would be.
They sent for him.
Keep in mind, their brother is sick
They aren’t just wanting Jesus to know.
They want Jesus to come.
And wouldn’t you?
These sisters have probably seen and at least heard of what Jesus has done for complete strangers.
He has healed people sick for 38 years.
He has recently healed a blind man.
They’ve witnessed the miracles.
They
Surely, if he could heal those people, Jesus would definitely come and heal their brother who they knew Jesus had love for.
So they send for Jesus.
And listen to their appeal.
Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.
They call him Lord and we should skip over that.
They know who he is.
Then they not only appeal to his mind but also to his heart.
The one whom you love is sick.
Certainly they inform his about Lazarus sickness, but they mention the love he has for Lazarus, because they believe that his love will motivate him to do something for their brother.
Make no mistake about it.
They want Jesus now.
They believe that if Jesus gets there in time, he can do something.
Lets look how Jesus will respond to this news.
Jesus hears of Lazarus sickness, and he makes a definitive statement.
We learn three things in verse 4.
Lazarus’s situation will not end in death.
Jesus will be glorified.
Jesus is sovereign.
He is 100% in control of His situation.
Mary’s situation.
Martha’s situation.
Lazarus’s situation.
The disciple’s situation.
Our situation.
So when he says this will not end in death, it will not.
He has told us this.
Death is not the end.
Jesus will be glorified and he is sovereign.
Honestly, this should have been the end of all worry in this passage, but we are human and we have to see.
Jesus, the sovereign Lord of All Creation, has spoken.
This will not end in death.
Lets see what happens next.
Lets make this clear Jesus loves these people.
They have just told him that their brother is sick.
So what would you expect Jesus to do?
If they love Him, and He loves them.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT HIM TO DROP EVERYTHING HE IS CURRENTLY DOING AND COME TO Lazarus.
But thats not what happened.
In fact John emphasizes this strange action by Jesus.
When He heard, what you are expecting here is that Jesus took off toward Bethany to get there before Lazarus died.
but he didn’t.
In fact He not only doesn’t come then.
He stay two more days.
Not to mention he will have a long walk to them when he does decide to go.
But I thought he loved them.
He did.
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