I AM THE RESURRECTION PART 2 JESUS CARES

I Am The Resurrection and the Life Part 2 Jesus cares

Setting

Possible Titles

Place - Open Word Fellowship (Community Church of Myrtle Point)

Jesus Cares

Time - Sunday Morning

Date - October 28, 2018

Scripture -

Text - (NIV84) “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

Topic - I Am the Resurrection and the Life Part 2 Jesus Cares

Theme- Jesus makes the resurrection very personal in these verses as He calls the sisters to believe in Him as the Christ and the giver of life. He calls us to do the same

INTRODUCTION

Jesus Comforts the Sisters

Speaking with Martha and Mary

Observations

When I was a hospital chaplain on one particular night I was present for the death of 15 people. From 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning I was the only chaplain on during those hours that day it was my task to try and comfort each of these families.

I. V. 17-19 The Place of Comfort

II. V.20- 24 The Need for Comfort

III. V. 25-37 Means of Comfort

2. Important Information

A. Lazarus was dead four days

B. Martha and Mary believed if Jesus had been there

Lazarus would not have died.

C. Martha believed in a resurrection

D. Jesus proclaims He is the Resurrection and the Life

F. Martha believes that Jesus is the Christ

H. Mary fell at His feet

I. It is Mary that Jesus asks to show Him the grave.

When I was a hospital chaplain on one particular night I was present for the death of 15 people from 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning. Being the only chaplain on during those hours that day it was my task to try and comfort each of these families.

Death is never easy for any of us and no matter the age of the person we are not really prepared. If there is a long and particularly painful time before the death we may find some comfort in the fact that they are no longer suffering. If they are older we may feel they had a long and good life. Still we are not really prepared for their death. Children and the young are particularly painful to lose in death. It seems so useless and unnatural.

So over all death and dieing are not our favorite subjects. Jesus brings us face to face with this subject in these verses. We have already asked why didn't He go when He got the message. John has told us that this was not to be permanent but Jesus now opens for us two new aspects of spiritual reality to us. First, we are not alone He grieves and brings comfort to us and with us. Second, He is what we eternally need, The Resurrection and the Life.

I. V. 17-19 The Place of Comfort

11:17 Background- On His arrival,

Act - Jesus found

Specific - that Lazarus had already been in the

tomb for four days.

First Note Lazarus had been dead four days

:18 Place - Bethany

Distance - was less than two miles from Jerusalem,

:19 Continuation - AND

Act - many Jews had come to Martha and Mary

Purpose - to comfort them

Specific - in the loss of their brother.

The Jews have come to mourn with these sisters. This is the traditional way for them

II. V.20- 24 The Need for Comfort

:20 Time - When

Act - Martha heard that Jesus was coming

she went out to meet Him,

Contrast - BUT

Mary stayed at Home.

See for the story as Martha the worker and Mary as the kneeling one.

:21 Address - "Lord,"

Act - Martha said to Jesus,

Condition - "If You had been here my brother would not

have died.

Contrast - BUT

:22 Act - I know that even now God will give you

whatever You ask."

Both despair and confidence in the Lord. We get used to the Lord acting in certain ways and then He changes and we might feel let down or punished. Still even now Martha has confidence in Jesus.

:23 Response - Jesus said to her,

Quote - " Your brother will rise again."

A positive statement from Jesus which should bring encouragement. This statement is the keynote to this theme on resurrection. There are here three possible direction Jesus may be going. He could be headed toward the idea of resurrection at the end of time as Martha suggests. He could also be talking about the present and what He shortly is going to do for Lazarus. He could also be talking about His own resurrection and by extension to the resurrection of all believers.

:24 Response - Martha answered,

Affirmation - "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.." John is the only Gospel writer to use this word in the singular. All the others use "in the last days" Martha believes in this doctrine as did the Pharisee's. There is coming a day when Jesus will call and we will answer. Are you ready for that day? Martha understands that some day Lazarus will rise again she just does not see that day as today.

III. V. 25-37 Means of Comfort

:25 Response - Jesus said to her,

Quote - "I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in Me will live, even though he

dies

AND

:26 whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.

Question - Do you believe this?"

This is the biggest announcement that could have been made. Jesus is Life and in Him is no death. 1 Cor. 1 (NIV84) “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Jesus is our victory over death, hell and the grave. That makes the question at the end of this verse very important "Do you believe this?" I am, not I shall be. I am the bread of life, the Light of the World. I am the door, the Good Shepherd, the lamb of God, the water of Life, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.

:27 Affirmation "Yes Lord"

Response - she told Him,

Pronouncement - "I believe that You are the Christ, the

Son of God, who was come into the

world."

"I even I have believed" this is a statement of firm belief in Jesus as Messiah and the Son of God. It is a statement of profound faith and belief.

:28 Time - And after

Act - she had said this,

she went back

AND

called her sister Mary aside

Quote - " The Teacher is here,"

Response - she said

"AND

is asking for you"

Now the picture shifts to Mary. She has been at home mourning for her brother with people around who are part of the grieving process. Martha calls her privately aside and speaks to her. If you have ever been in a situation where you are the one mourning you know how hard it is ti have a moment alone. So Martha calls Mary aside for this private moment.

:29 Time - When

Person - Mary

Act - heard this

she got up

Specific - quickly

AND

went to Him.

Mary was evidently eager to see Jesus and she went to Him quickly.

:30 Parenthetical - Now Jesus had not yet entered the

village,

Contrast - BUT

was still at the place where Martha had met

Him

Again this is just an explanation of where Jesus is or a marker for the story.

:31 Time - When

People - the Jews

Act - who had been with Mary

Specific - in the house

comforting her

noticed

how quickly she got up

AND

went out,

they followed her

supposing she was going to

the tomb

Purpose - to mourn there

Another step in the story marking its progress. The purpose for going out was to meet quietly with Jesus but instead these mourners followed and that private moment become public.

:32 Time - When Mary reached the place where Jesus was

Act - and saw Him.

she fell at His feet

AND

said

Quote - "Lord if You had been here my brother would not

have died."

This is the same statement that Martha had made the difference is that Mary makes it from her knees.

:33 Time - When

Act - Jesus saw her weeping

AND

the Jews who had come along with her also weeping

He was deeply moved in spirit

AND

troubled.

Jesus is moved by the sorrow of Mary and the friends of Lazarus. This description of Mary weeping may be what prompted Jesus to go on to the grave rather than telling her also that He was/is the resurrection and the Life. This sorrow so displayed by Mary and the Jews brought a disturbance into Jesus heart or spirit because He is the resurrection and their weeping as if there is no hope acts as if there is no resurrection. While Jesus cared for all of them very much He is angry that their faith does not take them beyond the moment to the possibilities of His presence.

:34 Question - "Where have you laid him?"

Act - He asked

Request - "Come and see, Lord,"

Response - they replied

To Mary's weeping Jesus reaches out with a direct question. Where is he?

:35 Act - Jesus wept.

this is considered the shortest verse in the Bible but the question is why did Jesus weep? One reason may be His sympathetic heart that grieved with this family even though He knew that shortly He would bring them great joy. A second reason though is connected to verses 33 and 34. The wailing and crying of the people gathered here betrays their understanding of Jesus as the Christ. They knew He could heal but they fell short in believing on Him for resurrection. The grief being displayed is like the pagans who have no hope (). Perhaps Jesus is crying for humankind for what sin has brought upon us. No matter what the reason Jesus is not wailing like a hopeless pagan but as a man who cares deeply for the feelings of His friends.

:36 Time - Then

People - the Jews

Act - said

Quote - "See how He loved him.

No matter how much Jesus was angry with the people for their unbelief and lack of discernment Jesus did truly love Lazarus.

:37 Contrast - But

some of them said,

Quote - "Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind

man have kept this man from dying?"

Once again their is a division among the Jews. So could see Jesus love others who came to criticize only saw what they perceived as an error. Yes Jesus could have saved and healed Lazarus and that would have given God glory. However, God will get far more glory from people that come to belief because they see that Jesus is the Christ and the Resurrection and life.