Jesus - The Resurrection and the Life

Jesus - The Resurrection Jesus - The Resurrection Stephan Webb / General John 11:25 John 11:25 ESV ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, Opening On this Easter, this Resurrection Sunday, we gather to celebrate the fact that Jesus the Christ is no longer in the tomb. We celebrate that He came into Jerusalem on a donkey, spent several days making preparation to lay down His life so that we may live. We gather to celebrate the fact that on Friday He was crucified, but on this Sunday morning when they went to the tomb it was empty. Luke 24:4-7 says: Luke 24:4–7 ESV ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” I have come to tell you this morning that Jesus is Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 1 resurrected, and He is the resurrection. Jesus came out of the tomb and ascended to the right hand of the Father so that we can be resurrected also. He has risen so that we can be raised up out of the miry clay of our sins: Psalm 40:2 KJV 1900 ² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. I’m here today to tell you that He can establish your goings, He can set your feet upon the Rock, He can resurrect you. Lazarus - A Life Lesson I am going to go through the story of Lazarus to pull out a couple of points. Jesus is alive this morning. Not just for the sake of defeating the grave, but to confront in the sleepiness and deadness of daily life. To resurrect that which is dormant. Jesus wants to bring a change in your life as a witness to you and a witness to others. John 11:11–16 ESV ¹¹ After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” ¹² The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” ¹³ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. ¹⁴ Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 2 let us go to him.” ¹⁶ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” We are Lazarus. And we are the disciples. And we are Thomas. In other words, we are either dead, we don’t understand and are doubtful, or we want to die along with those that do not have life. The Bible is clear and the message simple: Proverbs 21:16 ESV ¹⁶ One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. Romans 6:23 ESV ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV ¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— The message is this - if you are not following Jesus Christ, you are just as dead as Lazarus was in that tomb. And just like Lazarus, even in death, people were still looking to follow him. John 11:16 ESV ¹⁶ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” We may not like it, but people watch. Our family watches. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 3 Friends watch. Co-workers watch. Somewhere in our life, someone is looking to us to set an example, or they have such a love for us that they are willing to follow us even to the grave. You are confronted with a choice today. And it may not be the same choice for everyone, I understand that. Some may be completely dead in sin…dead, just like Lazarus. Locked in a tomb. Some may be family or friends that have lost hope for the Lazarus in your life…you think that it is too late, they are too far gone. You may think you are too far gone... You may be Thomas the Twin. You may be ready to throw in the towel and follow someone into the grave, literally or figuratively. But you are not here this morning out of sense of duty, because someone invited you, because it is Easter or Resurrection Sunday. You are here this morning because Jesus has said it is time to believe…it is time start rolling away stones…it is time to start calling out names…it is time to stop some funerals. Resurrection and Life John 11:23–27 ESV ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 4 believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷ She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” We are short sighted much like Martha was. Jesus just told her He was the resurrection and the life, yet she wasn’t looking in the here and now, she was looking in the future. He was talking in the present and she was talking in the future…some kind of abstract possibility that she may or may not live to see. He was standing in front of her telling her, and she still wasn’t hearing everything because she was distraught. It wasn’t that she disbelieved, she just didn’t get it… Now, did she know of the other two people Jesus raised from the dead? I don’t know. But we do. Luke 7:11–17 ESV ¹¹ Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ¹⁶ Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” ¹⁷ And this report about him spread Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 5 through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 8:49–56 ESV ⁴⁹ While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” ⁵⁰ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” ⁵¹ And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. ⁵² And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” ⁵³ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” ⁵⁵ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. ⁵⁶ And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Here is what we know…when Jesus shows up things can change. When Jesus shows up, you no don’t have to stay the same When Jesus show up, you no longer have to walk in tears When Jesus shows up, joy can be restored When you thought there was no way, a way can be made Crooked paths can be made straight A future with no hope now has hope Why Jesus Rose - And He Showed Us in Lazarus Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 6 Jesus defeated death so we can have eternal life, but that wasn’t the only reason. Turn to back to John 11 John 11:38 ESV ³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. When you’re trapped in sin, you are in a tomb. You can’t get out on your own. You need help. You need someone to come and take away the stone. John 11:39 ESV ³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Even those that believe in Jesus may think you are too far gone. But here’s something we all need to know…we all stink. And we can still see the glory of God if will just listen: John 11:40–41 ESV ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. This morning, the Father he has heard some prayers. They may have been your prayers, maybe the prayers of your family…but some prayers have been heard And today Jesus is calling…He is crying out with a loud voice: Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 7 John 11:43 ESV ⁴³ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” Jesus is calling. Will you answer? That is the question of the day…You are in a tomb. It is dark. You are bound. You have to make a move, and when you do, help is waiting: John 11:44 ESV ⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 AM April 21, 2019. 8