Come Alive

John 11:20–45 ESV

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 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. 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.” 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. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 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.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

Pray

Come Alive

This moment in John’s Gospel offers us something you hear me talk about frequently. It offers us perspective.

1-3

But - it can only do that if we allow this text to speak into our situations, and not just exist as history - which it no doubt is.

Ultimately, this text offers us a glimpse into our situation, even right here right now! And is a great moment to think a little figuratively.

Great moment to think a little figuratively.

Here is what I mean. The text opens with a puzzling exchange. Here we see someone who needs Jesus. And to the reader, that is all we know. He is ill, and Mary - one of the sisters of this ill man - who had intense faith sends word to Jesus.

Not unlike us asking for prayers, right? Or even just praying ourselves!

We have a problem, life hits us hard, and we pray.

It is the response of Jesus, though, that starts to make us aware that we should be paying attention and applying this to us. This moment when Jesus says, “this illness does not lead to death - but - is for the glory of God!”

And we need to remember that in our situations. Sometimes it seems awful, but it can be for God’s glory if we just change our perspective!

And that starts with a single simple reminder there in verse 5.

John 11:5 ESV

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

“

Jesus loved them. And as we see the story progress, we see just how much He loves them!

Jesus loved Lazarus, but He loves us too!

Jesus loved Lazarus, but He loves us too!

And like Lazarus, we face troubles and problems in life, and either we, or someone on our behalf, gets the message to God.

And when we do that, sometimes it feels like it is life or death, right?

[examples]

But what is important to remember, in all things, is that we are the one God loves! So no matter what we face, we need to remember that and let it shape our perspective for our lives and our situations.

But for Lazarus, this situation was - at least in the moment - dire. And for all those around him, was most certainly leading to death! Even though there in verse 4 Jesus says it will not lead to death.

This is an important moment for us. You see, this backs up this idea of perspective. From our point of view, just as theirs, it was obviously leading to death. But just like those bones in the desert, God sees beyond what we can see!

Even in our present situation - corporately and privately - God sees beyond what we can see. He sees not only what we can be and what we can do in our present state, but what will be for us eternally with Him!

So it is just bigger than us, church. Everything is bigger than us. But we are so wired to make it about us that we lose sight on the bigger picture. We lose that perspective.

[stayathome]

[Talk about staying at home, resetting our habits and expectations to align with God’s plan and God’s tempo and not our own]

…and that, to me, is why Jesus stays there in that place for two days, not going immediately leaving to save Lazarus. God could only be glorified then, just as now, if God’s plan and not ours is carried out.

And along those lines, I think, is this whole idea that what we think should happen, and what we could do with our own power or ability, it pales in comparison to what God will do if we only get out of the way!

But that is hard, at least for me sometimes. It is hard to want something so badly but then to not chase after it. It's hard to love someone, but to let them go - whether from this life or even just letting them work out their own life! It’s hard to do that because we want to control, and we love too!

You see that clearly in Lazarus’ sister’s reaction to Jesus finally showing up.

You see, much like last week, Jesus seems to not be there right when we would like Him to be. He is patient. He has a point to make, and more appropriately, He has a plan to glorify God through all of this.

[picofwomencrying]

And like all of us, these sisters are noticeably upset.

“If you would have just been here, my brother would not have died,” Martha says.

And using that word “says” might be putting it lightly. Too often we read these texts emotionless. But this moment is painful. It is real. It hurts, and Martha isn’t really happy here.

I read this interaction with mixed emotions. The first is accusing and angry. “If you would have just been here!” If you wouldn’t have sat around with those people who don’t love you like we do! If you loved us like you said you did, you would NEVER have let this happen!

Those emotions are relatable for all of us. We feel that too sometimes.

Where were you, God?

I needed you, and you weren’t there.

[expand]

At some point, we all call out to God in our troubles, when our bones are dry and laid bare in the deserts of this life, wondering just why God isn’t there.

But - and those words are so powerful - but, so, therefore, if, then; these are all words that remind us that whatever is doesn’t have to be!

But. This moment when Martha’s tone changes. This anger that seemed so real, and so pervasive just a second ago, get washed away by the realization that WHATEVER it is that made her so angry, it belongs to God too! He will feel. He knows it. And we would be wise to seek Him - even when it is the last thing we want to do!

But I know you can do anything.

God, I am angry. I am hurting. I am empty inside. Everything I thought was true seems like it isn’t. Life shouldn’t be like this! You were supposed to love me, to protect me! Life was supposed to be easier than this. This just shouldn’t happen.

But.

I know you are God. And even though I can’t feel it right this second - because of my perspective - I know that you can bring life into my brokenness.

We need to relate to that, not just because of this situation, but simply because that is the nature of life. There are ups, there are downs. There are dry bones, there is death. BUT - there is a God.

And that God loves us, just as He loves Lazarus. That God mourns with us in our loss, just as Jesus wept. But even so, that God is in control of all things! From the beginning of time until the very end - God is everything!

And we might want this or that, BUT if we can change our perspective just a little and remind ourselves that He alone is God, we will find that like those dry bones, and like Lazarus, life will return to our souls.

Ezekiel 37:13–14 ESV

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

Ezk 37:13-14

Ez 37:13-14 says it the best. “O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.” You see, Lazarus could have been made well by Jesus where he was with nothing more than a snap of Jesus’ fingers.

And with us, God can take away all our problems. God can make it all just vanish and give us a life without problems.

But that isn’t the point. Having the solution to worldly issues isn’t what this is all about! If God was just a vending machine, then really, we would be God! So that can never be the point, and honestly, even if God did that, it would never bring life!

Life without the pursuit of God isn’t really life. Life without God’s Spirit within us is just existence! While we are sitting in our problems, church, we have a chance to pursue God’s Spirit - to use His perspective and to see things His way, and in so doing to find life!

I know we want to solve our issues. I know we want to get back to work, and to church, and to normalcy. I know we want to find peace in the midst of loss, or figure out how to fix our marriage, or find a job. Those things are real, and unbearably difficult! But the solution can’t be found with our perspective. When we find ourselves asking God why He isn’t there, or isn’t listening, we need to immediately turn the corner mentally, and remind ourselves that His Spirit is what we are after! Sure we have those problems - BUT - if we just choose to wait on Him, we will come alive! If we just choose to be patient, we will come alive! If we change our point of view and use the time in our troubles to pray and draw closer to God, we will come alive!

And in that life, church, we will bring life! To our family, our work, and our world!

Those dry bones, our troublems, they aren’t really the problem after all - living a life apart from God, a life without His Spirit, a life lived only for self and not for others, that is not life and that is the problem.

But through Christ we can come alive. He alone is the resurrection and the life! He is what we need to pursue! And finding Him, bringing that life to others through our lives, through our words, through our actions, and through all that we offer to the world around us.

He is calling for us to do just that. He is calling out to our dry bones, to come alive! Don’t just sit there and view things from your point of view! Read, pray, come to life! Live the life that He has placed right in front of you! Run the race! Get in the game! Don’t lose sight of God in the middle of the troubles you are facing! Those dry bones will be brought to life when we allow God to breathe life into our situations - our troubles - our lives!

Give Him room to breathe into our lives. To bring life to our life just as it is. He will bring those bones back to life. He is calling to us to come alive. Let Him bring that life into your soul.

Pray