Nov. 10, 2019 - True Love
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So this past Monday evening, we met in our groups (in-reach / outreach), and we had some good planning time…
I was in the outreach meeting, and so one of the events that we discussed was a - Community Date Night
The gist of this night is that we would allow parents to drop off their kids……for say - 3 hours or so…
And it would allow the parents to go out and do whatever they’d want…
We want to provide an opportunity for parents to cultivate their relationships…To cultivate that LOVE that they share…
We know it can be hard to FIND TIME these days...
And so I think this could be a really HELPFUL event for our community...
See - in case you didn’t know - LOVE - can make us do crazy things
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
Anyone ever feel that way?
Anyone ever DO THAT?
Some of the best movies ever made are - LOVE stories
they draw us in..
we long to be the ONE PURSUED
we long to be the ONE PURSUING
LOVE seems to BRING out the ‘SACRIFICE’ in all of us? no?
Today - we’re going to get a glimpse at what TRUE LOVE looks like…Do you want to know what TRUE love is - pay attention today
And if there is any sermon that should IMPACT us as CHRISTIANS as we walk out this door today…my hope is that it would be this one…
Today we’ll be in John chapter 11…
And we’re going to walk thru the story of Lazarus
We’ll pull out points along the way…
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.”
In these first 4 verses, the stage is set…And Christ gives us the purpose of all of it
Remember - we’ve all experienced that - LOVE makes us do crazy things…
We’re told here in v3
3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
Jesus loves this man Lazarus…!
He’s sick
And Jesus here tells us why this sickness has fallen upon Lazarus
Jesus says - “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.”
And so for NOW - we need to file this away….REMEMBER it…we’ll come back to it…
But file it away for now
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Again - God wants us to KNOW - without a shadow of a doubt…that Jesus LOVED - LAZARUS!
We see this here AGAIN -
Jesus loved Lazarus
Jesus LOVED Lazarus
SO - remember the song?
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
LOVED birthed this song…
Love causes us to SACRIFICE and WALK a THOUSAND miles just to - see someone
Jesus LOVED Lazarus!
Will He WALK 10,000 miles to HELP his friend?
Will He make Him some of His universally famous - chicken noodle soup?
IMAGINE what Jesus - GOD HIMSELF would do - if He LOVED someone????
We’d walk a THOUSAND miles…
We’d survive 3 months out at sea…
IMAGINE what Jesus would do!!!
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.
HUH?
THIS is the EPIC - ONE-OF-A-KIND act of love by Jesus?? toward His friend???
He STAYED where He was - and LET Lazarus DIE???
THIS is what LOVE did?
THIS is what LOVE does???
THIS was LOVING????
Jesus JUST REWROTE the song!
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd STAY WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW
AND I WOULD LET YOU DIE - tonight
Doesn’t seem to have the same appeal does it?
Doesn’t seem to be the same jam?
What is going on here?
Remember - we’re going to see that THIS - is TRUE love!
And it’s the KIND of LOVE that we need to start DISPERSING in our lives…
It says - BECAUSE Jesus LOVED Lazarus…He stayed where He was - and DID NOT go to him.
And so we HAVE to ask - HOW is this love??
We’re going to see as we walk through this…And we’re going to pull some KEY characteristics of TRUE LOVE
let’s continue...
SLIDE: True Love: Works in The Light
True Love
True Love
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,
Jesus here tells the disciples - We’re going back to Judea…
And they respond with their “WELL BEING” on their mind…
The Jews were JUST trying to kill You…and You wanna go back there?
WHAT’S THE RESPONSE?
YES…And then Christ explains His answer…
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.”
TRUE Love - operates within the Light of Christ
**Solar Panels - Only work when light hits it…They’re POWERED by - light
True Love - works in the light…the LIGHT of Christ!
To walk in the light of Christ is to walk according to the Spirit…to live according to the Spirit
to OPERATE - in life - in step with the Spirit of God
And as we can see - sometimes WALKING in the Spirit will cause us to RISK our lives…literally.
Think about JIM ELLIOT…Missionary to the Auca Indians of Ecuador
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
His mission: to take the name of Christ to the Auca Indians…
And as they attacked Jim’s crew…they didn’t fight back…
to them - it was worth losing their lives if it meant the Indians would have more time to turn to Christ
And so EVEN as Jim Elliot was being attacked…he was walking in the Light of Christ…
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
YES - Jim Elliot died that day…but he did NOT STUMBLE…!
WHY - for those who walk in the LIGHT….do NOT stumble…!
TRUE LOVE - does its WORK - In the light of Christ!
TRUE LOVE - is POWERED ONLY by the Light of Christ
But that’s not all…
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.”
Jesus says - He whom I LOVED - DIED!
And for YOUR SAKE…I’m glad he did (glad I wasn’t there!)
Is this KIND of LOVE hitting you yet?!!!!
I’m GLAD he died - for YOUR SAKE….so that you may BELIEVE!”
The DISCIPLES - BELIEF is the goal here...
SLIDE: True Love: Seeks Faith Over Comfort
True Love
True Love
Jesus was GLAD that He wasn’t there to prevent Lazarus from dying…(His friend)
WHY?
BECAUSE - it was more LOVING that Lazarus die and the disciples come to BELIEVE in Christ…due to Lazarus’ resurrection…THAN for Lazarus NOT TO DIE…and the disciples remain in UNBELIEF!
So TRUE LOVE (remember - Jesus let this happen BECAUSE He loved Lazarus) - seeks FAITH IN JESUS - over COMFORT IN THIS WORLD
SO - think through now how often we AVOID speaking the truth of God in order to MAINTAIN our comfort…?
Who in here likes to be in AWKWARD situations with people??
We DON’T!!
And BECAUSE we don’t...
we’d rather chat about the weather…than talk Jesus
we’d rather stay surface level…than get deep into things that matter
But TRUE LOVE - seeks FAITH over COMFORT!
And this is why Jesus responds the way that He does in Scripture to many different people!
19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Jesus here has someone come up to Him and say - Hey - Sign Me Up Jesus!!
It’s the kind of person the church nowadays LONGS for!!
That person who sees 14 different sign up sheets in the back and SIGNS ALL OF THEM!!
That person who hears about a NEED in the church and before the NEED is finished being explained...
this person has already SIGNED up for IT, made a MEAL, and is heading back to teach the 2 year olds
And what does Jesus do?
He tries to TALK HIM OUT OF IT!
He’s like - ARE YOU SURE?
We’re sleeping outside tonight…you still in?
You know - we may even go get crucified tomorrow…you still in? (Think of Paul and his life)
Christ was ALL ABOUT - people getting real.
He wasn’t interested in the phony..not interested in the fake!
He wanted people to - COUNT THE COST…do you REALLY want to do this….because THIS is what it looks like…
Another guy said this…
21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Wow - the guys dad had just died…like JUST died
How did Jesus - the ALL-LOVING Jesus respond?
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Jesus Christ - Mr. Compassion
Now - we read this and think - NO WAY this is compassionate…but Jesus IS - love
So HOW is this LOVING?
It’s LOVING - true love - because true love SEEKS faith over comfort…
Jesus says - FOLLOW ME…
And this man says - Ahhh well…..I have something more important to do
And Jesus is saying - no…NO - I’m loving you right now because I’m seeking FAITH over comfort…a BILLION years from now - we’ll ALL look back and SEE and FEEL the importance of - FAITH over comfort!
But when we’re in it….we most often REACH for comfort…
And YET - TRUE LOVE…seeks FAITH
Will we embrace this?
Will we BEGIN to TRULY LOVE those around us - in SEEKING for FAITH to RISE in them?
Will we live in a way that helps them SEE Jesus in life…Because they DON’T SEE Jesus in life…
They don't SEE Jesus in the:
healing
turning of tables
turn of events…INSTEAD - they WORSHIP - luck
TRUE LOVE:
Works in the Light
Seeks Faith Over Comfort
And next we see this very point played out in our text…
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.”
So Jesus here ties RESURRECTION LIFE to WHO HE IS…and belief in who He is…FAITH
“Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet he shall live”
True Love - Seeking FAITH over comfort…And isn’t it awesome…
When Faith is REALIZED…when faith COMES….so comes with it - COMFORT!
This is TRUE LOVE…!
But this isn't all…
SLIDE: True Love: Feels Empathy
True Love
True Love
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.
31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept.
Did Jesus know what He was about to do?
Did He know that He was about to RAISE Lazarus?
Yes - and yet we see here that He became - deeply moved…greatly troubled…
He WEPT…
WHY?
Because that’s what True LOVE does!
Let’s look at the difference between Sympathy and Empathy…
SLIDE:
Sympathy:
feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
Empathy:
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Which one of these - STEPS INTO the shoes of the other person?
TRUE LOVE feels empathy!
Jesus looked around at all those Mourning the loss of Lazarus…
and even in KNOWING that Lazarus would soon be raised…Jesus WEPT!
We can all do a better job at this…
Not only that we would be more empathetic when tragedy strikes family or friends…But that we would ALSO more RIGHTLY FEEL the weight of the situation that waits up ahead of those who DON’T KNOW JESUS!
The more we can FEEL this - the more we’ll pursue their FAITH!!
The more we’ll TRULY LOVE them!
This is what TRUE LOVE does! It feels empathy!
But that’s not all!
SLIDE: True Love: Pursues Eternal Life
True Love
True Love
36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
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.”
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.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
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.”
The love of Jesus Christ - TRUE LOVE - lead Jesus to RAISE Lazarus from the dead!
And this story here - of Lazarus - is a reflection of how we are to live on this earth…
Like Jesus - we are to love with TRUE LOVE…and WHAT did Jesus tell us was the point of this whole episode?
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.”
SLIDE: The aim of TRUE LOVE is the glorification of God.
The aim of TRUE LOVE is the glorification of God.
If we want to TRULY LOVE someone - then the AIM of that love - whatever the detail is of what’s being done - the AIM of that LOVE has to be the glorification of God.
Think of all that Jesus went through to get to this moment!
SLIDE: SUMMARY
TRUE LOVE:
Works in the Light
Seeks Faith Over Comfort
Feels Empathy
Pursues Eternal Life
It starts out with us being told that Jesus LOVED Lazarus…How did it get to that point?
How does LOVE grow?
Surely Jesus cultivated a relationship with Lazarus over the years!
How many of you LOVE Armando Cortez who lives in California?
Anyone?
You’re all like - WHO?
You don’t even know who I’m talking about - because you don’t know him or have a relationship with him…
Through relationship comes a deep love… (NOW - must you have a relationship with someone to love them - NO….but)
Jesus LOVED Lazarus… and that LOVE would have been cultivated!
And because it was Jesus doing the LOVING - Jesus VIEWED Lazarus and all those who would see this miracle…
Jesus VIEWED THEM ALL in - the Light of Who He was!
Jesus WAITED the 4 days so that He could SHOW up and RAISE Lazarus - SO THAT there would be NO DOUBT who was to RECEIVE the GLORY!!
Jesus KNEW that the best thing for ALL those who saw this - was to come to - BELIEVE in HIM!!
This was TRUE LOVE - TRUE LOVE - WORKS in the LIGHT of Jesus!
This is where TRUE LOVE can FLOURISH!!
And we find out that Jesus LOVED Lazarus SO MUCH = that it caused Jesus to forsake COMFORT
How we doin?
Do we FORSAKE comfort, in the cause of LOVE, for the lost of this world?
if our answer is NO - then we’re not REALLY loving anybody.
But it’s not JUST a FORSAKING of comfort that equates to TRUE LOVE…
TRUE LOVE will FEEL the weight of life when TRUE LOVE isn’t present…And it will CRAVE to fill that void with itself.
This is where EMPATHY comes in!
It’s that UNCEASING ANGUISH of heart that Paul told us about in Romans…It propelled him forward….when the whole world was pushing back!
This is TRUE LOVE!
And True Love pushes forward, TO THE POINT where Eternal Life is either EMBRACED…or REJECTED!
Meaning - I think many of us (I know I have), we’ve pursued some of these things…And we try and try and try….Until it gets hard…and then we don’t bring it to completion…
Maybe we started to TRULY LOVE someone - sacrificing for them…So that we would be able to one day share the truth of Christ with them….But then time goes by….and the thought of rejection gets too weighty…
And we give up…before we ever extend Eternal Life…
Think if Jesus had come to earth, did all that He did…all the miracles…Said ALL that He said…BUT THEN….
Didn’t RISE from the Dead like He said He would…. If He wouldn’t have COMPLETED the work…Then His Love wouldn’t have been - TRUE LOVE!
See - True Love pursues Eternal Life…for all those around us!
And we might need help with this….This is what our groups are for…this is what discipleship/bible study is for…
And when all of [THESE] things are present…
We see that TRUE LOVE Glorifies God!
That the AIM of TRUE LOVE is the Glorification of God!
And so - What do we need to do to begin to TRULY LOVE people!??
Bring your love for others to a completion by bringing them to the SAVING Truth of Jesus Christ..
That they might prove themselves to be a chosen, child of God.
Let’s pray…
Which brings us now to the Lord's Table...
Lord's Table:
This brings us to the Lord’s Table…a time for each of us to reflect on our lives, to examine ourselves spiritually, and to remember the cost of our faith. We were bought with a price, and these elements remind us of this.
Have you experienced the Saving Power of Christ at the cross? I ask because IF you haven't...you should not partake.
The Bible says not to take this lightly. Scripture says – “ whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
Take time now and examine yourself before the Lord. (Am I TRULY LOVING people)...
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”
23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
“do this…in remembrance of me.”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen