Lazarus
Notes
Transcript
Intro - what is the supernatural???
Intro - what is the supernatural???
Our problem: we have a limited view of God. Our God is too small. We try to devise our plans and solve our own problems.
We have natural laws - laws of thermodynamics; gravity; we can understand these with human reason, observation; natural laws don’t have to contradict a belief in God - God put these laws into motion;
But what about the supernatural? Things that can’t be explained. God suspends his own laws.
God trumps his own law
God taught a lot to Martha, and teaches us a lot through Martha, but I’m going to focus on a miracle - a big one. Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
The whole story is in - I’m going to base the sermon on that passage. Go home and read it many times. We’re going to go deeper into the story.
Why don’t we experience the supernatural? We block miracles.
god delays the supernatural
god delays the supernatural
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
truth be told we have been disappointed with God; we needed a miracle and didn’t get one.
4 days
angry w god; made things worse by false hope; disappointment
we block the supernatural
we block the supernatural
by trusting in our theology - your brother will rise...
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
John 11:
trusting in the natural: logic; education
trusting in the natural
martha is correct - end of times; smell;
“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.”
disobedience to the revealed will
disobedience blocks the supernatural
disobedience blocks the supernatural
believing is seeing
believing is seeing
move the stone
act first
]move the stone - this is
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
this is a group effort
this is a group effort
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.”
miracles bring glory
miracles bring glory
God advertises himself
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.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:
d
this is a group effort
this is a group effort
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
John 11:
s
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.”
