Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

HOOK

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we looked into the narrative of the death of Lazarus, and from that, we learned the following:

I WILL CALL THE ELDERS TO PRAY OVER THOSE WHO ARE SICK

GOD RESPONDS TO MY PRAYERS IN HIS TIME

DOUBTING MAY LEAD TO NEGATIVE WORDS

Let’s take a look how the events progressed— Open your Bible to John 11— we’ll pick it up from verse 17 all the way to 37, once you get there you know what to do, type Amen!

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 11:17-37

BOOK

John 11:17–37 NIV

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 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?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 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.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 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. 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.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then 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 have kept this man from dying?”

WHERE: Bethany [less than 2 miles from Jerusalem]

WHO: Jesus, Disciples, Mary, Martha and some Jews mourning with Mary

WHY: Lazarus died

WHEN: Shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem as King

WHAT: Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus

HOW: By His mere presence

Note: “IF”— is that an indication of doubt on the part of Martha and Mary?— could be…

LOOK

GOD WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU ASK

From one of the cross references yesterday, particularly what James [brother of Jesus] said about what to do whenever somebody is sick— he also said this [JAMES 5:16]

YOUR BROTHER WILL RISE AGAIN

Though Martha believed that God will give whatever Jesus will ask for, she did not expect that when Jesus said, “your brother will rise again”, Jesus really meant that Lazarus will literally rise again

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

One of the 7 “I am” statements of Jesus

WHOEVER LIVES BY BELIEVING IN ME WILL NEVER DIE

Martha and Mary were already followers of Jesus— but He still asked them if they believe what He said

JESUS WEPT

The shortest verse in the Bible

Jesus comforted them by His presence and tears— He said something about mourning in the Beatitudes [technically it means blessedness] during his sermon in the Mount— [MATTHEW 5:4]

TOOK

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL IS POWERFUL

JESUS IS MY COMFORTER