Live Again!
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Claim: Jesus is ‘the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in 'him’ will live, even though they die.
the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die
Focus: Death is real and difficult (Corona Virus may bring it closer than we wish) but to die is gain for the believer, so take of your grave clothes!
Focus
Function: To give us joy and confidence to live lives of freedom in Christ, the true ressurection life.
Pray
Pray
I wonder how we as a church would react and cope with someone in our congregation dying from the coronavirus?
It’s a morbid way to start a sermon, I’l grant you that,
but it is one aspect of my job as a Pastor to put some thought into things like this.
Even to prepare us for something like this.
And at first glance, it would seem a little inappropriate to open a sermon with that thought,
and then look at an event from the life of Jesus - when he raised someone form the dead!
Becasue well, that’s no use to us today!
Jesus has acesended back to heaven, he’s given us his Spirit to live in and guide us by his word the bible,
But last time I checked,
Christians cant just go around raising people from the dead anymore!
And Jesus isn’t here in human form to do it either!
Aside from Jesus’ own death and resurection!
This account today in John 11,
has to be one of the most extraordinary events recorded about Jesus’s life,
Let’s set the scene as we begin our first point:
Beleif in Jesus is the MOST important thing in all of life (v1-16)
Beleif in Jesus is the MOST important thing in all of life (v1-16)
Var
Almost all good stories need an
introduction to who and what is happening.
If John were a story teller - he’s missed a trick!
A big problem that ideally the reader can’t see a solution to,
And then a climatic solution that leaves us amazed.
And in todays passage we get the introduction and what we intially think is the problem over and done with in the first 3 verses!
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
So, a famliy that Jesus knows and loves,
Mary, Martha and Lazaurs - 3 siblings.
Living in Bethany,
is our intial scence.
And the problem in the story is simple.
The brother, Lazarus, is sick
- and clearly from the way the story develops he is very sick.
Based on Jesus’ track record in John’s gospel,
This is the point where Jesus drops everything
and starts the long journey back to Bethany to heal Lazarus,
and save the day!
But remember, a good story has a problem the reader cannot anticipate the soution too!
And this is a good story!
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
The sickness wont end in death.
The sickness wont end in death.
So Lazaras isn’t going
But in some way,
this event will bring glory to God, so that the Son
(Jesus) will be glorified.
I’m not sure what the disciples should have made of that,
Last time I was sick, it didn’t bring glory to anyone - let me assure you!
But her comes the twist!
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
john 11 5-7
Now how could delaying going to heal someone who is sick and dying,
possibly,
demonstrate that Jesus loves the people involved!
His love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus, casued him to delay his visit to them!
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
His love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus, casued him to delay his visit to them!
What could possibly be more helpful to that familiy right now,
than going immedietly!
So now we have a story with a problem of a sick man,
Whose sickness will glorfy God and the God the Son, Jesus,
And,
a situation where Jesus putting his feet up for a couple of days before helping
will be the ‘loving’ thing to do!
The disciples - who currently think Lazarus is going to just get better,
Well we find out now..
also don’t want Jesus to go to bethany, just 2 miles from Jeruslamn,
john 11 7-
becasue last time they were anywhere near Jerusalmn, v8 - the jews tried to stone him!
But Jesus reminds in v9, in typical imagery language -
that as long as Jesus walks according to the the light and timing of his Father in heaven, they will all be fine!
and uses the reality of day and night in the world as a sort of reminder that as long as Jesus walks according to the the light and timing of his Father in heaven, they will all be fine!
(even if a dark time is coming, when it will be right for Jesus to face his own death - but not yet - it’s still daytime!
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.
So lets go he says,
After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
I love the diciples - alwasy straight forward,
His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”
Don’t make us go to that dangerous place just to wake someone up!
So Jesus stops softeneing his words and tells it straight:
Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
And as if the news that Lazarus was dead wasn’t a shock
- given that Jesus has already said this event wouldn’t end in death,
Jesus adds another layer
to this masive problem before us in the story
and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
john 11 15
Now I know we all know what happens by the end of this event,
But just pause here for a second - for we are far too familiar with this story.
We have a sick man who is now dead,
And we have 4 incredible statements from Jesus about this event:
1 - This wont end in death (seems a bit late for that)
2 - It’s going to glorify God and Jesus the Son (He’s not off to a great start - lets be honest)
3 - It’s the most loving thing to do, to let Lazarus die before Jesus even set’s out
4 - Jesus is glad Lazarus has died, for the sake of his disciples belief!
Why is Jesus setting up the event like this?
But just pause here for a second and
And it’s actually not obvious at first why.
But put in the context of this ‘setting of the scence’ that John does for us.
I think we’ll see that he weeps because those around him at the grave side
are so hardened to seeing that Jesus is their only hope in this life and the next!
As he’s about to say,
He is the resurection and the life!
What’s my point?
Why is Jesus setting up the event like this?
Becasue beleif in Jesus, who offers us reserection and life which we’ll talk about later,
even after death,
is SOOO much more important than anythign else in all of this world!
He’s prepared to let a man die if it brings about belief!
Of course helping and caring for people were high on his agenda.
End of point 1. Of course helping and loving people people high on his agenda. As should it be on ours. Especially at this this. But if our help and love is not leading to help them believe. Then we’re not making below the key thing as Jesus did
As should it be on ours.
Especially at this time of crisis in our neighbourhoods.
But if our help and care is not leading to help others believe.
Then we’re not doing what Jesus did!
We’re not recognising that belief in Him,
And therefore eternal salvation,
Is FAR more important that any loving or helful thing we can do for those that don’t believe.
Do you believe that?
Does your life revolve around belief in Jesus being the be all and end all, of all?
Or is Jesus just an add on to what we do.
he’s just a Sundays!
Are we prepared to sacrifice much so that others might believe in Him,
or is he just a Sunday belief!
Jesus let someone DIE for the sake of those who might belive in him!
Please practically and emotionally support and care for others at this time.
And if you are just paying lip service to Jesus,
or you don’t believe,
The Jesus weeps,
Pause
for you.
BUt please also save them from a judgeemnt that is far worse,
By thinking how to bring them to belief in Jesus -
Who as we’ll see in a minute -
is by far the most effective way to enjoy both this life and the next!
We sent out free bible 1-2-1 rescorces last week - do that over Zoom,
We’re planning to run a Hope Explored Course via zoom, so let us know if you and a neighbour or friend would like to join.
Invite poeple to these live stream services.
And of course pray from others.
If you’re not a CHristian, watching this,
Then please hear Jesus rightly!
He loves you enough to even allow great hurt and pain in your life -
if it means you and your familiy may find the
MOST importnat thing in all this life - Belief in Jesus.
so, We’ve set the scene (v1-16).
And if Jesus can solve the promises he’s made
And if Jesus can solve the promises he’s made
- then he will have prooved to us all, that not only does he think
Beleif in him is the MOST important thing in all of life.
But he will have prooved to us- that it is as well.
Let’s up the pace and summarise this next section.
But before we see if he can do that -
We have a brillinat glimpse into the wonderful life Jesus offers belivers:
Our second point:
2 - Believers Need Never Despair
2 - Believers Need Never Despair
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
By the time Jesus complets his jounrey to Betheny,
4 days have passed since Lazarus died!
That’s a long time - there’s no medical annomally that could explain coming back from that!
The Jews after 3 days of death, knew the body would now start to decompose and smell!
The Jews after 3 days of death, knew the body would now start to decompose and smell!
It’s way to late - He is definetly dead!
And we now meet Mary and Martha for the first time.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
Mary stays at home with the crowds of Jews who had travelled the short distance
from Jerusalmn to mourn with the famliy.
It seems the familiy were well known and held a prominat postion in the community.
But there was also a tradition to hire proffessional mouners who would wail and mourn
- almost as a way of announcing the death and expecting poeple to repesect the situation.
But while Mary remins with the wailing and mourning,
Martha leaves to meet Jesus who she’s heard is coming.
And her converstaion with Jesus demonstrates great faith in Jesus
- despite the fact he didn’t come in time to save her brother.
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
She isn’t meaning she thinks Jesus will raise her brother from the dead, she hasn’t even considered that,
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
john 11
john 11 21
She is simply showing wonderful faith that despite Jesus
having not saved her brother from death,
she still knows and trust that Jesus is one with God.
And that Jesus must have his plans and purposes even though she doesn’t really like it!
It’s a wonderful reminder that as we face trials in this life
- we may even be heart broken,
but we do not need to blame God,
we should still trust him.
And we need not dispair,
and here is why,
john 11 23-
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
john 11
For Martha at least, this event is already glorifying God.
She has not lost her faith,
and even in her sadness
- she looks forward to the last day,
when God will bring an end to this world as we know it,
and
all believers will be resurrected!
But before we look at that more, let’s go back to Mary,
But let’s return to Mary who does not seem to share that faith - yet,
For her responce to Jesus leaves out something important,
and Jesus is troubled by it all.
but then
After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
28not so for Mary.
Mary is running, mourning,
The crowd of Jews and proffesisonal mourners high tail it after her,
wailing and crying.
What a desperate sight it must have been,
john 11 32
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
But she stops there
- in comparison to Martha’s responce,
the lack of her affirmation that she still trusts Jesus seems deliberate in the story.
And it explains Jesus’ emotions that now follow:
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
The translation here is actually quite soft,
and potentially gives the impression that Jesus is simply upset becasue everyone else is so sad by Lazarus’ death
john 11 33-
- or that perhaps he’s sad becasue he himself is upset that Lazarus has died!
But it’s much stronger than that,
It is better translated:
‘he was outraged in spirit, and troubled’
It saddens and even frustrtates Jesus,
that even Mary, whom he loves,
and all the jews gathered
are in utter despair!
They have not believed,
as Martha has,
that there is a resurection to come for all believers!
So, devastating as someone’s death maybe to us,
if they are a believer - we need not despair!
And so as Jesus arrives at the tomb of Lazarus,
He doesn’t weep for Lazarus - for from the begining he’s know what he’s about to do.
He doesn’t weep soley becasue his loved freinds are so upset
- although I’m sure that must have affected him,
No John leads us to understand
Jesus’ tears,
to be ones of sad frustrtaion that so many do not believe,
and so they themselves risk missing out on the future resurection!
Jesus weeps, for non-believers you might say!
For they rightly despair, for they have no hope!
And it brings Jesus to tears
- for he’s stood right there,
And right here today!
asking people to believe in him!
And those that do:
Jesus says those amazing words to Martha, that we skipped over a minute ago:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
john 11 25
translate spirit...
Jesus is the resurrection and the life!
Those 2 things are not different ways of saying the same thing,
they are making 2 claims (or promises) that are
very closely related!
Which then makes sense of him saying that believers will live even though they die,
and believers will never die!
It sounds like a contradicition:
But Let’s keep it simple -
If you believe in Jesus - you take part in the resurrection.
Even though your physical body may die
- Jesus will return to resurrect all believers to true and eternal life with him!
But Jesus doesn’t want us to just think about this
as if it is all and only in the future!
Jesus is also the LIfe!
So believers live now, for all eternity - and in that sense never die at all!
our lives now belong to and live with Jesus
from the day you believe in him!
And that has huge implications for us today!
We need never fell utter dispair - even in the face of physical death!
The coran virus,
financial problems,
Yes they all casue us pain and struggle,
Yet in the big picture, in Jesus,
We live.
remember John 10v10
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The world lives in a way that sees themselves as slowly decaying until death.
Life can seem like a slow walk to the grave.
Utter dispair in all sorts of situations seems apporporiate!
No wonder Jesus wept for those who live like that.
But
Jesus promises the opposite to believers:
that we begin a new life now
that is always improving (not decaying) until sudden ‘resurrected’ perfection
when we physically die, or Jesus returns!
Ordinary mortal life ebbs away - as prooved by what we face as a world at this very time!
But to have belief in Jesus - reverses our decaying life!
we grow and grow in strength and life
- to the point that when Jesus returns we explode into ressurected bodies
- full of life, perfection, joy and all things good
- and we enjoy the the Lord Jesus now and forever!
It is in that sense that while we die we have life, and whilst we live in belief we will not die!!
If life is a slow trudge down and mountain to the dark valley at the bottom,
If life is a slow trudge down a mountain to the dark valley of death at the bottom,
If life is a slow trudge down a mountain to the dark valley of death at the bottom,
Then when we meet and believe in Jesus,
the ressurection and the life,
he turns us around and we start walking back up to the magnificent pinnacle of life,
and when we physically die or Jesus returns
we are jettisoned into perfect resurected lives forever!
We need never dispair -
And all that is available to all!
just believe in Jesus the resurrection and the life.
And so to close,
with our final point:
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)
The miracle that Jesus actually performed therefore confirmed the faith of his disciples and friends with dramatic power that would have been lacking if Jesus had responded immediately to the plea for help
3 - Take of your grave clothes and Live
3 - Take of your grave clothes and Live
and no
Jesus now has the task to turn this event around.
v11 goes with 25-26
Remeber he needs to resolve 4 things.
1 - This wont end in death
2 - It’s going to glorify God and Jesus the Son
3 - It’s the most loving thing to do, to let Lazarus die before Jesus even set’s out
4 - Jesus is glad Lazarus has died, for the sake of his disciples belief!
v16????????????
4 days - after3 the body starts to decompse - myth that after 3 days no-one can come back to life!
Martha has tremendous faith! v21-27
RESURECTION AND LIFE
“Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The New International Version Chapter 11
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
john 11 39-
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.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)
Ordinary, mortal life ebbs away; the life that Jesus gives never ends. It is in that sense that whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die.
This story doesn’t end in death.
It glorifies God and and Jesus the son
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
- for he has surely prooved he is God in this act.
and it was the most loving thing to do,
for Martha and Mary, and for the disciples - for now surely, they can only believe!
But to have belief in Jesus - reverses our decaying life!
And Beleif in Jesus is the MOST important thing in all of life,
They need never dispair,
and the last verse is a beautifl picture of what Jesus offers believers:
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Believers, we no longer need to live restricted by the banadages of death and decay,
Jesus has turned us around,
Set us on the path of life eternal,
He has taken of our grave cloths and let us Live!.
Pray
On the contrary - we grow and grow in strength and life - to the point that when Jesus returns we explode into ressurected bodies - full of life, perfection, joy and all things good - and we enjoy the the Lord Jesus forever!
It is in that sense that while we die we have life, and whilst we live in belief we will not die!!
Jesus has true compassion for us - and death is painful and difficult! v35
Take off the grave cloths and live!!!