Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.13UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.09UNLIKELY
Joy
0.55LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.57LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.57LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.61LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.72LIKELY
Extraversion
0.1UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.91LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.55LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Today we will be studying John 11:1-44.
This is the account of when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
John alone records this account of Jesus life.
We are going to read through the passage and study it as we go.
At the end, we want to draw some applications for our lives today, about the resurrected life.
Pray
So, Lazarus, a friend of Jesus’, was ill.
And His sisters sent word to Jesus.
John mentions that this Mary is the one who anointed Jesus’ feet.
We will read about that in John 12.
Now, to understand this passage, we have to keep in mind the geography and culture of the day.
Where were Lazarus and his sisters?
Bethany.
Where was Jesus?
John tells us in John 10:40.
Earlier in his gospel, in John 1:28, John tells us where this was.
Two Bethany’s.
Not uncommon to have towns of the same name.
Let’s look at this on the map.
Where Jesus was located was likely 20+ miles from Bethany, where Lazarus was sick.
How did the sisters send word?
Well, there was no Cell service.
No landlines for telephones.
No Western Union for telegraphs.
The only way they could send word to Jesus was by a messenger.
How did the messenger travel those 20+ miles and locate Jesus?
He would have had to walk.
It was not like today when I travel 20 miles to stores in Dickson City, or Walmart in Tunkhannock in about 25-30 minutes from my home.
We can travel quickly with our automobiles.
But this man had to walk through mountainous terrain, cross the Jordan at the river crossing, and then on to Bethany across the Jordan, where he had to locate Jesus.
Of course they were used to walking like that, and he likely made it in about a day.
This is significant.
We must keep in mind the setting of the situation to fully understand what comes later.
Let’s continue reading.
By the time the messenger got to Jesus, Lazarus was dead.
How do we know?
Because we see later that Lazarus was already dead and buried 4 days when Jesus gets there.
We will see that later in the account.
Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick.
But I believe Jesus knew that Lazarus was already dead when He said that this will not end in death.
God is going to turn this whole situation around for His glory.
Interesting how this reads, isn’t it?
Because Jesus loved Martha and Mary, he stayed two more days.
In my mind, if you love someone, you go right away.
But Jesus waited two days?
Why?
Jesus knew what He was doing.
He was waiting so that when He arrived, He could raise Lazarus.
But for the miracle to bring God the most glory, and the most encouragement to Martha and Mary, He needed to wait.
Hmm… Let’s keep reading.
In merely human perception of things, this was unwise for Jesus to return to the area where the Jews were trying to kill Him.
They just tried to kill Him three times over the preceding months.
Jesus uses an illustration of walking in the light.
It is much easier to walk in the light, isn’t it?
Have you tried walking in the dark?
It is hard.
We tend to trip over little things, or stumble in little holes.
We need light.
That is why they invented flashlights!
In the same way, Jesus was walking in the light of His fellowship with God.
He knew what God had for Him to do.
So He walked in that light.
As long as He walked in the light of what He knew God wanted Him to do, He could not stumble.
He would succeed in what God wanted to do for His glory.
Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus has died, but He uses the idiom of sleeping.
The disciples don’t get it, so Jesus makes is plain to them.
I love the idiom of sleeping.
Because it reminds me that loved one who died are only temporarily away from me.
What an attitude!
But they went to be with Jesus.
Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.
This is what I mentioned earlier.
Lazarus was sick.
It got so bad that the sisters sent for Jesus.
The messenger leaves, and while he was traveling, Lazarus dies.
He travels for 1 full day to find Jesus.
Day 1.
Jesus waits for 2 days.
Days 2 and 3.
Jesus travels back, which is another full day’s journey, and Lazarus has been in the tomb for 4 days.
This was on Day 4 since the messenger left.
Let’s keep reading.
It was cultural to have days of mourning when someone died.
People would come and wail loudly and be with the family.
Martha hears that Jesus is coming, and she goes out to meet Him.
Some people have read this as Martha blaming Jesus.
I really don’t believe that is what is going on here.
If anything, I think Martha and Mary feel guilty because they waited to long to send for Jesus.
They know that Lazarus died shortly after they sent for Jesus.
Why did we wait so long?
If Jesus was here, He could have healed Lazarus!
Have you ever felt guilty because if you would have acted, it may have prevented something bad from happening?
Martha was not blaming Jesus.
If anything, she blamed herself, because she truly believed Jesus could have healed her brother.
And she still believed in Jesus now.
But what was she believing He could do?
Martha did not expect Jesus to raise Lazarus that day.
She thought Lazarus would raise on the last day, as foretold in Daniel 12.
My favorite verses of this passage.
This bring us hope when we lose loved ones who believe in Jesus.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9