Do you believe?
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Intro
Intro
We are gathered here as this body to celebrate this morning.
We are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
The fact that He is not dead, but alive and at the right hand of God the Father, awaiting the time for His return.
We celebrate because the resurrection gives us hope.
Paul tells us in 1 Cor 15
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
The question that I would like for us to address this morning though has to do with our belief and our hope.
Are we believing rightly about Jesus.
This morning I want us to look to a woman in the Bible who is practical, active, and outspoken.
A woman who has faith, but a faith that needs refined.
Jesus asks Martha a question that relates to her personal trust in Him as the resurrection and the life.
We must also consider the same question.
Do we believe that that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 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 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.”
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 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 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.”
The death of Lazarus.
The death of Lazarus.
We must begin by setting the stage a little bit more. We need to know what has happened previous to this in Jesus life and ministry.
Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah is the more common term that we know it as. The Jews were celebrating the reconsecration of the temple.
Jesus had in chapter ten, when the Jews asked him
24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus told them that he had told them who He was and they did not believe. They were not his sheep because they did not follow him. Jesus told them that He and the Father were one.
Upon hearing this the Jews picked up stones to stone him.
Jesus spoke with them again, explaining that everything he was doing was so that they would know and understand that the Father was in Him and He was in the Father.
But they sought to arrest him.
Jesus escaped their hands and went away across the Jordan.
Now we read in chapter 11 that Lazarus of Bethany was ill.
Bethany is within 2 miles of Jerusalem, we are told this in verse 18. The place where Jesus had just very recently almost been stoned and arrested.
We also learn from the text that Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha. Mary being the woman who anoints Jesus feet and wipes them with her hair.
We don’t actually see that story until chapter 12 of John. From this then we know that Jesus already had a relationship built with this family.
It makes even more sense as to why Mary would do this act of humble thanks when Jesus had returned her brother from the grave.
V.3 Martha and Mary send word to Jesus that their brother, whom Jesus loves is ill.
Jesus response
4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
This is a rather strange thing for Jesus to say.
The sisters must have been concerned for their brother or they would not have sent for Jesus.
With the proximity to Jerusalem in mind as well, they may have seen or helped him escape earlier.
So they would likely have been very concerned for their brother to want Jesus to return to a place where he was almost arrested.
Lazarus was on his death bed but Jesus knew what was going to happen.
He knew that God was going to be displayed through this situation.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
the raising of Lazarus provides an opportunity for God, in revealing his glory, to glorify his Son, for it is the Father’s express purpose that all should honour the Son even as they honour the Father
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all mutually committed to one another’s glory.
As each is glorified, they reveal the true nature of who they are. One true God.
Verse 5-6 could cause us to be even more confused as to what Jesus was doing.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
What would your reaction be if someone you dearly loved was on their death bed?
If we had the ability we would be there as soon as we could. We wouldn’t wait longer before we left.
Remember though, it was for the Glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
There is more to the picture here than meets the eye as we know from the story.
Some translations put Jesus staying two days longer almost in contrast to his love for them.
In reality though, Jesus two day delay was motivated by His love for that family and his love for his disciples.
The disciples likely thought that he was staying away from the area because of what had happened so we can imagine their surprise when Jesus announced that they would return.
When Jesus announces that they are returning to Judea, the disciples rightly express their concern.
8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
The disciples recognize that the animus against Jesus is now so great it could easily result in his death. They do not recognize that his death, however appalling an event, would also be his glorification and the consummation of his ministry.
They didn’t understand the things he had been saying that He had to die.
Jesus response to them is also somewhat puzzling to us outside of the cultural context.
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
In days before accurate time-pieces existed, both the Romans and the Jews divided the daylight period into twelve ‘hours’, which therefore varied in length with the changing seasons. During those twelve daylight hours, most people did their work; once the darkness came, it was time to stop work.
There are a couple of complementary meanings that we can take from this, one applying to Jesus and another to His disciples.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
As an answer to the question of the disciples as to why Jesus is determined to go up to Judea (v. 8), these verses metaphorically insist that Jesus is safe as long as he performs his Father’s will. The daylight period of his ministry may be far advanced, but it is wrong to quit before the twelve hours have been filled up. The time will come soon enough when he will not be able to work.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
But because the disciples have been asked to accompany Jesus to Judea (v. 7), there is an obvious application to them as well. Jesus himself is the light of the world (8:12; cf. the last clause of v. 9) who is still with them. As long as they have him, for the full twelve hours of their ‘daylight’ they should perform the works assigned them. The time would come, all too soon, when the darkness of his departure would make such work impossible
Jesus then tells the disciples
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
We can take note of another interesting thing in the text here in what Jesus says,
Jesus begins with a plural and shifts to singular.
Our friend Lazarus.
but I go to awaken him.
The shift from plural to singular points us to the importance of Jesus.
Jesus alone is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus alone has the power to do this mighty work.
It is Jesus who will awaken Lazarus.
The disciples being under the mindset Lazarus being ill misunderstood Jesus.
I don’t know about you, but the best thing I can do when I am sick is sleep. If I can get a good amount of rest it normally does wonders in the recuperation process.
We would probably respond, “Jesus, he is sick, let the man sleep so he can recover.”
We know as readers though that is not what Jesus was referring to.
The disciples were referring to Lazarus recovery.
Which is an interesting play on words because the word is also the same that is used for being saved.
They mean that Lazarus is resting to be saved from his sickness.
The recovery that Jesus is referring to is salvation from sin and death.
Jesus knows that Lazarus has died.
It was part of God’s plan.
The disciples, almost begrudgingly tell Jesus, okay crazy man, you want to hop back into the frying pan, I guess we will go to.
The disciples did not yet understand Jesus and His purpose for being on the earth.
They were devoted though. Thomas makes the bold statement, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
We see Thomas making these sort of statements a few times in scripture.
He is often the voice outwardly what others are likely thinking.
What we are thinking as we read or would have been likely thinking had we been there.
We as readers have an unfair advantage over them, we know how the story ends.
But we also must ask, do we really believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
Are we so firm in our beliefs that we would follow Jesus into whatever he calls us?
Are we willing to take up our cross daily and follow Christ.
This is at the root of our faith. Our willingness to obey.
Are we obedient? Are we doing our part to be in God’s word, to be growing our relationships with Jesus?
Have we even truly begun that relationship?
I would challenge you to reflect and ask yourself some of those questions.
Martha’s belief.
Martha’s belief.
V. 17
When Jesus arrived he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
This is more than passing information.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
From a slightly later date there are sources attesting the rabbinic belief that the soul hovers over the body of the deceased person for the first three days, ‘intending to re-enter it, but as soon as it sees its appearance change’, i.e. that decomposition has set in, it departs (Leviticus Rabbah [a rabbinical commentary] 18:1 [on Lv. 15:1]; for other references cf. SB 2. 544f.). At that point death is irreversible.
Reconstructing the timeline for us. The message that Lazarus was ill took one day to reach Jesus where he was, but Jesus knew immediately that Lazarus had already died.
Jesus’ delay for two days did not bring about the death of Lazarus.
Following the delay, another day was taken for the return trip to Lazarus’ home, making a total of 4 days.
The decision to delay was a deliberate refusal to be manipulated on Jesus part. It was Him waiting for his Father’s timing.
Above all, the delay ensured that Lazarus had been dead long enough that no-one could misinterpret the miracle as chance resuscitation before his spirit had properly left the area.
V.18-19
The proximity to Jerusalem shows the risk that Jesus was taking in coming to this place.
Comforting those who were grieving was both a religious and social responsibility.
It is also assumed that the family was somewhat prominent in that many of the Jews came to console them.
This added to the danger that Jesus was placing himself in.
He was going near the place where he had almost been arrested and stoned, as well as to in essence a public event where many of the Jews had come.
Jesus was doing this all for a purpose. And for a purpose greater than the resurrection of his friend.
All for the sake of God, His father. That together they would be glorified through the raising of Lazarus.
V.20
Jesus first interaction that we see is with Martha.
Martha leaves the place where they are mourning to go out and meet Jesus.
Martha’s statement to Jesus comes across in a couple of different ways.
At first read it almost appears as if Martha is rebuking Jesus.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
I don’t believe this statement was made in rebuke though for one because she continues.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Martha had a significant amount of respect for Jesus.
She is referring to Jesus as Lord. She is referencing his authority and his power that she recognizes that He has.
Martha’s statement in verse 21 one is a statement of grief and longing.
Oh Lord, if you had only been here you could have saved my brother.
Her statement in verse 22 is a statement of faith.
We can’t misunderstand this statement though either. It is not a faith in resurrection, we must take into account what what she says in verse 39 as Jesus tells them to open the tomb.
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.”
The faith that Martha has here is faith in Jesus special relationship that He has with God.
She has likely seen miracles that Jesus has done and knows that His prayers are answered by God.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
Martha is not only persuaded that her brother would not have died had Jesus been present, but even now, in her bereavement, she has not lost her confidence in Jesus, and still recognizes the peculiar intimacy he enjoys with his Father, an intimacy that ensures unprecedented fruitfulness to his prayers.
We can take an example from Martha here in our own belief about Jesus.
Do we make statements that sound good, but hold little true value?
Do we recognize Jesus and the power He has to change lives, and yet still not place faith in Him as our Lord?
Do we only seek God when someone is sick or hurting?
These are good reasons to seek God but they are most definitely not the only reasons.
Looking to verse 23, let us put ourselves in Martha’s shoes for a moment.
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
What does Jesus mean by this?
Is he trying to comfort me?
I know my brother loved God.
I believe there will be a resurrection.
What is he saying?
We know what Jesus is talking about, but she in the moment did not.
Jesus statement here is wonderfully complex.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Jewish and Early Christian Literature
Various Jewish sects held differing beliefs regarding resurrection. For example, the Sadducees, who accepted only the books of Moses, did not believe in the resurrection; however, the Pharisees, the community who composed the Dead Sea Scrolls, and likely most of the common people believed in a future resurrection from the dead.
Martha responds.
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
She believed that in the last day that her brother would be restored to bodily life.
Jesus though is leading Martha on into a greater, deeper belief about resurrection and about himself.
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 believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
While the rest of the story is amazing and important. The pain that Jesus has towards the fallenness of man is shown and Lazarus is raised to the Glory of God.
I believe that this is the climax of our story.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
Jesus’ concern is to divert Martha’s focus from an abstract belief in what takes place on the last day, to a personalized belief in him who alone can provide it.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
Just as he not only gives the bread from heaven (6:27) but is himself the bread of life (6:35), so also he not only raises the dead on the last day (5:21, 25ff.) but is himself the resurrection and the life. There is neither resurrection nor eternal life outside of him.
As the resurrection and the life all hope is laid up in Him alone.
John: An Introduction and Commentary iii. Jesus Meets Martha (11:17–27)
the Father has given him to have life in himself and to bestow resurrection life upon whomever he will
Beyond the resurrection, Jesus is the life.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
If the last half of v. 25 stipulates that the believer, even though he or she dies, will nevertheless come to life at the resurrection, the first half of v. 26 stipulates that the believer, the one who already enjoys resurrection life this side of death, will in some sense never die.
This is the message that we celebrate today.
As we live and breathe we celebrate kingdom of God that has come, but not yet fully come.
We celebrate the tension of the kingdom now, and the kingdom to come when Christ returns.
We have hope our resurrected savior.
That he gives true life.
That as we live our lives, day after day, no matter how monotonous they may seem at times, there is a purpose.
As
20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
But it is not without a purpose.
Our purpose, just as with the resurrection of Lazarus is that the for the Glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified through our lives.
But we who believe in Christ have a greater purpose.
We haven’t gotten there yet in Colossians but in a couple weeks we will be looking at
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
There is no such thing as coincidence.
If we believe that our God is sovereign, he orchestrates our steps, he places us in places, with people, in situations for a reason, that we might give glory to Him.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
When Jesus asks Martha Do you believe this?, he is not asking if she believes that he is about to raise her brother from the dead, but if her faith can go beyond quiet confidence that her brother will be resurrected at the last day to personal trust in Jesus as the resurrection and the life, the only person who can grant eternal life and promise the transformation of resurrection.
Do you believe?
Do you believe?
The same question is asked of us.
Do you believe this?
I am not asking if you believe that it is possible that Jesus will raise the dead at the last day.
That is what Martha referred to.
I am asking if you have moved to the point of placing your trust in Jesus, as the resurrection and the life. As the only one who can grant eternal life and the promise of transformation and resurrection.
Jesus is leading us to a deeper belief, a deeper understanding of the resurrection.
The resurrection is as much for our lives here and now as for eternity.
The resurrection of Christ, is where our lives begin.
The resurrection of Jesus is our anchor and our launching pad.
It is from this point that we can see the change in our work, in our homes, in our family, in our lives.
We must also tie this statement back to Jesus words in verse 11 regarding his relationship to Lazarus.
Tie 11 and 25-26 Those who are Jesus friends will be raised again.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
John intends his readers to associate v. 11 and vv. 25, 26: those who are Jesus’ friends and who fall ‘asleep’ will one day be wakened by him who is the resurrection and the life.
This story serves as encouragement and as warning.
The New American Commentary: John 1–11 (3) The Encounter with Martha (11:17–27)
The story thus serves as a significant warning even to evangelicals who may be able to mouth all the correct theological statements about Jesus but actually have failed to bring words and life together. It is not enough to make statements about Jesus. Indeed, if a person would make a statement akin to Martha’s in some churches, the tendency would be to baptize such a person and accept him or her into membership. But we must all be warned that verbal confessions and life commitments are not always partners with each other.
Have you committed your life to Christ.
This doesn’t mean going out and becoming a missionary or a pastor as we traditionally view them.
But when we commit our lives to Jesus, we are all missionaries, we are all pastors in the sense of sharing the gospel and needing to be in God’s word.
As encouragement we see Jesus as the resurrection and the life.
We are encouraged that whoever believes in Him, though they will die, they shall yet live.
Everyone who lives and believes in Jesus, shall inherit eternal life.
Our hope is in lives that are lead and guided by our Lord, our King, our Savior.
The ultimate glorification of God comes through what we celebrate today. Easter Sunday.
The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Have you made that choice?
Ultimately one way or another, all things are done unto the glory of God.
Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
Is Christ at work in you, leading you, guiding you, shaping you?
Is God working through you? To share His message of truth, hope, love, forgiveness.
Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
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