Living Beyond the Horizon

A Matter of Perspective

Introduction

When we drove to Deleware last weekend we made good time. No traffic… until we got close to the Bay Bridge outside of Baltimore. All of a sudden, we stopped. The traffic in front of us wasn’t moving. I peeked around the cars in front of me.... all I saw.... was more stationary cars..... waiting. I looked on the gps app on my phone.... all it told me was that the blue line I had been following.... had now turned red and that we would be adding at least another 20 minutes to our trip.

From my perspective… all I knew was that we weren’t moving very fast.... and there was nothing I could do about it but wait. At that moment, I had no clue what was causing the slow down and all I could do was live in the moment and look to the horizon and wondered what lied beyond it.

As we look at our text for today, we will see that Jesus challenges a close family friend to rise above her circumstances… and see that being able to live beyond the horizon is enabled through a matter of perspective.

Today we are going to be continuing our study through the gospel of John as we look at the next section of John 11 together.

As you open your bibles and find your place in John 11:17, I would like to remind you of what was presented last Lord’s Day.

Last week, Cody did a great job of showing us the wonderful truth that the love of God reveals and draws us to the glory of God, which awakens our faith in the Son of God.

It was interesting to see that when Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was ill, he didn’t immediately drop everything he was doing and run to the rescue. Jesus could have simply spoke Lazarus’ illness away. But, He didn’t. Jesus’ perspective allowed Him to see farther.... beyond the horizon… there was a purpose to all of this that the human perspective… just could not yet see.

By the time the news of Lazarus’ illness made it to Jesus, Lazarus had probably already died. Jesus could have remotely resurrected him.... but, He didn’t. Why? … For the same reason that John wrote this entire gospel. So that God might be glorified… and so that mankind might believe.

From man’s perspective, Jesus’ actions could have been viewed as odd.... cruel even. .. Having the power to heal someone… but not doing it.

The problem with man’s perspective is that it is limited. When we look at something… we can only see so far.

For example: When you are at the beach… on the clearest of days.... with no obstacles in your way… how far can you see? You can see as far as the horizon… and that’s it.

Or, when you are driving.... when all you can see is the long line of cars in front of you… with no idea why they are stopped. It could be an accident… it could be construction.... it could be nothing at all but people still seem to want to stop and look at it!

(Isn’t that frustrating sometimes?!)

As we bring our thoughts back to this event described for us in John chapter 11, let’s keep in mind that most of the characters in this event, like us.... could only see the horizon.

They had no idea what lied beyond.... They could not see what it was like to live beyond the horizon. They didn’t have a drone that they could send out… to help them see things from a higher perspective.

But, Jesus, being God in the flesh, having a divine perspective, had the benefit of knowing what life was like beyond the horizon. He knew what would happen… He knew why these events were taking place.

He not only saw things for what they were.... He saw things for what they would be.

And, just like a loving parent sometimes allows hard things to happen in their children’s life for their ultimate good.... Jesus, loving Mary and Martha.... knew that going through this difficult time would be for their ultimate good.

Jesus is getting ready to help Mary, Martha, the disciples and anyone else that is watching… see things from God’s perspective.... Jesus is going to help these people… and all of us rise above our current circumstances… change our perspective... and see beyond the horizon.

That is why Jesus made the statement found in verse 14,

John 11:14–15 ESV

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Now, Jesus… and his disciples knew that making the trip to Bethany would put Jesus in very close proximity to the Jews who were trying to kill Jesus. Jesus and his disciples knew that making this trip to Bethany to be with Mary and Martha .... would mean risking their own lives.

Thomas voices his… and probably the other disciples concern in verse 16, when he said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him”.

From man’s perspective, with only the horizon in view, Lazarus was dead.... there was nothing anyone could do.... Now, Jesus wants to go to Bethany… which was in the very back yard of the men who were trying to kill Jesus....

Thomas, expressing a pessimistic loyalty says… well... if Jesus is going to die.... let’s go and die with him. At least we’ll all be together!

As we walk through this passage today, take notice that Jesus doesn’t rebuke anyone for their lack of vision, faith, or understanding. Even though statements will be made that seem to reflect their weak faith.... or lack of understanding.. and inability to see farther than the horizon.

Jesus simply continues teaching and demonstrating what true faith looks like… what it looks like to have a godly perspective… What it looks like to not only see what lies beyond the horizon, but how one is to live beyond the horizon.

As we walk through this passage today we will see that the perspectives we have... reveal aspects our faith.

Jesus will help correct aspects of Martha’s logical faith, and help us to see the importance in having a shift in perspective that results in a Godly faith.

Let’s begin by looking at John 11:17-27 together. If you are able, would you stand with me as we read this portion of God’s word together.

John 11:17–27 ESV

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 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.”

In this passage Martha, hearing that Jesus was on his way to Bethany, she slips out of the house where she and her sister had been mourning and makes her way to speak with Jesus.

As Martha talks with Jesus, she will reveal aspects of her logical faith, which come from her limited human perspective. Martha knows the right answers in her head.... but is having a hard time embracing the truth in her heart. (Let’s look at the logical faith of Martha)

I. Logical Faith

When Martha sees Jesus, she verbalizes what she and Mary had no doubt been discussing for 4 days now. We know this because later Mary will ask Jesus the same exact question...

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v. 21)

While Martha’s words here could almost be taken as a rebuke of the Lord… we have to give Martha credit for speaking what was truly in her heart.. what she honestly thought.

I’m sure we have all had those “Martha moments”, when we spoke our mind to the Lord...

“Where were you, God?… You showed up too late! Where were you when _________ died? Where were you when my marriage fell apart? Where were you when my parents got a divorce? Where were you when my father or mother walked out on us? Where were you when my parent became an alcoholic? Where were you when my children went astray?!” (Hughes)

Even though it seems like Martha was questioning Jesus’ actions, Jesus does not get defensive. Jesus does not rebuke her for her words!

A lesson we can learn from Jesus here is that it is not sinful to tell God how we feel... what is truly on our hearts.

Yes, we should always be reverent towards God. He is God and we are His creatures. We must bow to Him.... but, that does not mean that we are not allowed to express our thoughts and hearts to Him.

Some of us have feelings that should be shared with God. While sometimes our feelings and thoughts are not necessarily correct, they are feelings that need to be honestly brought to God.

But, many times we don’t, because we are afraid of losing something.

Jesus demonstrates here that God is more patient with us than we realize.

One of the problems is that many of us have been led astray by a misconception of what New Testament Christianity requires. We think that to be a “good Christian”, it means that we can never cry or share our inner feelings. There is a lie that in order to be a “good Christian” you have to have all the right answers.... never have doubts… and never share those doubts or feelings with anyone....

I would like to share with you that this line of thinking is a lie.

David expressed his sorrow and misunderstandings.... and He shared his thoughts and feelings with God!.... and God saw fit to preserve it forever in Scripture!

This past weekend Veronica and I cried at her grandmother’s funeral. We experienced sorrow and grief. I had no idea the weight of the sorrow and grief that would overtake me when I stood there looking at the body, watching Veronica cry. I did not expect to be overwhelmed to the point of barley being able to speak when I prayed to close the funeral.

Going through an experience as traumatic as losing a loved one forces us to ask God some serious questions… and when we are honest with God.... and ask Him those hard questions.... even if we are wrong.... we need to understand that we are not sinning by revealing our weakness.

We are not sinning by sharing with God our faith struggles and imperfect understanding.

We are actually affirming our great need for Him. And God loves that. That was God’s plan from the beginning… in the garden… God’s perfect plan was for Adam and his bride to come to Him for everything.. depending on God for all things...

God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. God wants us to come to Him… depending on Him... That is why Jesus allows Martha to express her deeply felt.... heart aching thoughts… without rebuke… or correction.

As Martha expresses her grief and disappointment in verse 21, it is almost like she realizes that she may have spoken a bit too boldly… she let her true thoughts and feelings slip out.... so, she tries to recover by saying something that sounded a little bit more logical and reverent in verse 22 when she adds this statement, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

Here is where this logical, head knowledge, aspect of Martha’s faith is exposed.

Notice how Jesus responds in verse 23.

John 11:23 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha’s logical, informationally driven perspective is voiced as she responds in verse 24

John 11:24 ESV

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

It’s almost as if Martha is saying.... ‘Jesus, I know all about the resurrection that is promised to Israel on the last day.... in the future. I learned that in Sabbath School.....’

I know and believe the facts that that it will happen some day!

…but, what about now! I am hurting now! I am grieving now! How does some theological promise of the future help me today?

There are times when we are so much like Martha, aren’t we?

We do not live in a vacuum. We live in real time… in the real world. And sometimes, if we are honest with ourselves, you probably ask the same question.

In theory, I know that this is all true.... I believe what God has said.... but, how does this help me today?!? I’m hurting, grieving, confused and suffering today!!!

Jesus acknowledges Martha’s deep grief… and pain and answers her with this divinely encouraging truth in verses 25-26.

John 11:25–26 ESV

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?”

Martha.... I am the life.... I am the resurrection..... for all those who believe in me..... even though they die...... they will live..... and those that truly believe in me.... they will not only live.... they will never die!

Through this great “I AM” statement, Jesus reveals to Martha this truth that … wherever I AM.... there is life!

Martha, I know that you are hurting… I know the pain you are wrestling with.... I know the confusion you must have..... But, you need to look farther than just the horizon. You need to see things from God’s perspective..... Just beyond the horizon… is life.

Martha, I’m sharing this truth with you so that you can not only see beyond the horizon.... I want you to be able to live beyond the horizon.

Even though you are confused at why I didn’t heal Lazarus.... even though all you can see is death now.... you need rise above your circumstances so that you can see what lies beyond .... understanding that wherever I am… there is life.

That is a wonderful truth.... to meditate on this week.

Where Jesus is.... there is life! Where Jesus is… life is present.

Martha approached Jesus, in her grief and sorrow with a mind full of informationally driven logical faith. Jesus helps her to move from a head knowledge to a heart embracing of the truth as he reveals that He is the life… He is the resurrection.... Even though Martha is grieving for the dead.... now that Jesus is here… there will be life!

Through His words, Jesus provides life giving comfort to a woman who was trusting in her logical faith.... in her head knowledge to get her through tough times. Now, let’s continue to work through the text as Jesus, coming along side of Martha in her grief, also challenges her to have a shift in perspective.

II. A Shift in Perspective

Lazarus’ death and Martha’s grief have set the stage for this sixth great “I AM” statement recorded for us in the gospel of John. This profound proclamation that Jesus is not only the bread of life.... He is not only the Light of the world… He is not only the door and the good Shepherd.... No… Jesus is life itself.... Life incarnate...... The life giver and the very re-animator of life.

Jesus met Martha on the road… heart broken with grief.... confused at why her brother had to die.... struggling with the reality that Jesus was able to heal..... but didn’t.....

Once Jesus reveals that the timing of everything was so that she and others might believe.... and shares the divine truth that He is life incarnate and wherever He is… there is life. Jesus asks her… Martha… Do you believe this?

This is a pivotal moment… when Jesus is challenging Martha with a needed perspective shift.

Notice Jesus didn’t ask Martha… “do you know this”.... He asked her “Do you believe this?”

By asking this specific question, Jesus is helping Martha’s perspective to change from a logical faith driven by a head knowledge about God.... to a godly faith, which is driven by a person’s whole-hearted embracing of God.

Martha’s response is monumental. It is a Spirit filled proclamation of faith further revealing the truth of Christ.

Martha answers in verse 27,

John 11:27 ESV

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Why was Martha allowed to suffer grief? Why was Martha put through the refining fire of the loss of a loved one?

This woman… a remarkable woman of faith.... a woman who was one of Jesus’ favorite people.... came face to face with spiritual difficulties..... asked Jesus the hard questions… and was met with loving compassion by Christ.

Martha struggled with only seeing things from a human perspective. She struggled with only being able to see as far as the horizon. But, Jesus helps her to refocus her gaze on Him and challenges her to rise above her circumstances… and strive to see the circumstances of life from God’s perspective.

It is interesting that Jesus does not speak to Martha about feelings… but He does speak to her about faith.

While it is true that we should feel the freedom to express our feelings to God… coming before Him freely..... bearing our hearts… asking the hard questions...

It is also true that as Christians, we are not to base our faith… our decisions, and our preferences on our feelings.... but on something much more concrete.... on our belief in Christ.

Did you notice that Jesus did not ask Martha, “Do you feel better now? Have you found my words comforting? Are you more optimistic now?”

That is what we do.... our culture has become so focused on feelings.... that many times we unknowingly elevate feelings over faith. Many times Christians will yield to how they feel about something far sooner than they will truly take a sacrificial stand for the faith.

In this passage, we can see from the words of Jesus, that it was not really important how Martha felt… but it was vitally important what she believed.

Feelings can be deceiving. They come and go. But, faith is our anchor fixed in the foundation of Christ.

One author said it well when he wrote, “To believe the words of Jesus is to believe the One whose promises are absolutely trustworthy.” (Boice)

Our perspective as Christians.... the decisions we make.... how we live our lives… must be based on our belief in Christ.... not on our feelings, opinions or preferences.

The culture of the over inflated importance of feelings has crept into the way we talk… and unfortunately into the way that we live.

If you were to monitor yourself this week, you might be shocked at how often you or others around you use the phrase, “Well I just feel that we should do this or that”.... “ I feel that we should....”. — You will be surprised at how often that phrase is used in our culture.

(When we were in Liberia and my conversation with Stefan)

When our feelings shape our faith… we can only see as far as the horizon and we are in danger of growing cold in the very faith we claim to possess.

But, when our faith, firmly planted on the foundation of Christ, shapes our feelings.... we are able to look past the horizon… see past the circumstances we are in and view life from God’s perspective....

What issue are you struggling with right now in your life? (mask wearing, racial issues, gender issues, authority issues, constitutional issues, etc…)

I challenge you to think about whatever issue it is that you are defending or fighting against and examine whether you are struggling with it because it is a truly biblical faith based issue.... or if you are struggling because it is really an issue driven by personal feelings, opinions, or preferences.

There are so many things that can be used to divide us....

Let’s defend truly Biblical faith based issues with our whole heart,..... but keep personal, opinion, and preferential issues private.

Jesus asked Martha about her faith… not feelings. “do you believe this?” She was being asked, Martha, ‘do you believe this revelation that I am sharing with you?’

We are being asked the same thing. Do you believe this?

Do you believe the divine revelation that God has shared with us? Do you believe all that is written in this book? In the Bible?

Are you basing your perspective on a faith that flows from a belief in God’s divinely inspired Word?

What would it actually mean if you were to answer yes… to that very specific question?

In his commentary on the Gospel of John, James Montgomery Boice helped to explain what all we are actually saying we believe in… when we say that we believe all that is written in the Bible. Let me share with you what he wrote....

So, if you say yes to this question… I believe all that is written in the Bible.. this is what you are in fact agreeing to… You are saying… Yes,

“I believe in one great God, who has made this earth and has placed me upon it. I believe that I am sinful. I believe that this same God in love and wisdom sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for me that I might be saved. I believe that Jesus existed with God and as God from the beginning, that he became man, that his death was a substitutionary death for me by which my sin has been removed as far as the east is from the west and on the basis of which my sin will be held against me no more. I believe in Christ’s historical, literal, and bodily resurrection, by which God has demonstrated that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is acceptable to him as an all-sufficient atonement for the sin of his people and in which he has also given a foretaste of the coming resurrection of all who believe on him.

I believe in the person and power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that he opens blind eyes to see Christ and moves rebellious wills to embrace him to their salvation. I believe that he illuminates the written Word of God so that those who are saved can understand it and obey it. I believe in the fellowship of the saints. I believe in the church. I believe in God’s providence, by which nothing enters the life of the Christian that is not the product either of God’s direct or permissive will. I believe that God chastises his children. I believe that he is determined to perfect the character of Jesus Christ in all who are united to Christ by faith. I believe that Jesus will one day return from heaven even as he was seen to go into heaven—bodily and in time. I believe that in that day there will be a final resurrection of believers to the life of heaven and of unbelievers to judgment. In hell there will be suffering. In heaven there will be a life of blessing prepared in advance by God for those whom he has chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.”

There is probably much more that could be said.... but at the very least… as a Christian… whether you are struggling with doubt.... imperfect faith, suffering, difficulties.... no matter what your feelings are.... the Christian should be able to trust Christ enough to rise above their circumstances.... and say with their whole heart… Lord Jesus, I am not perfect.... I struggle with understanding… I struggle with belief… I struggle with assurance… I struggle with seeing things from your perspective… but, Yes, I believe everything that is written in your Book!

Friend, that is our foundation as believers. Faith! Our belief in Christ and trust in His Word!

Do you believe this? Specifically? Do you believe this?

If you really believe all that is written in the Bible, then you will stop allowing your preferences.... your opinions… your feelings.. to dictate your actions and decisions.

If you are basing your decisions or your actions on your opinions, your feelings, your preferences.... then you are not living your life according to a godly perspective. You are merely looking as far as the horizon.

Jesus, seeing things from a divine perspective, helps Martha to work through some of her doubts, and misgivings… as He helps her to move from a head knowledge about God… to a whole-hearted embracing of the truths of Christ.

Martha is not now somehow miraculously perfect after talking with Jesus. She will still express doubt, here in chapter 11 in fact.

Martha’s faith was not perfect.... but, now it is refocused towards the right perspective.

Even though Martha would still mourn… and struggle with feelings of sadness… she could be comforted by the truth that where Jesus is… there is life.

Conclusion/ Application:

Are you comforted by that truth today? The truth that where Jesus is… there is life?

Jesus said, 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.”

Jesus taught Martha in this text that her faith in Christ was more important than her feelings or any religious head knowledge she possessed.

That same truth… is true for us.

Here is a truth you can take home today....

Our faith in Christ is more important than our feelings or any religious head knowledge we may have.

What are you struggling with right now? What hard questions do you need to ask God?

What aspects of your current perspective need to be refocused?

Can you honestly say that you are living your life with a truly biblical and godly perspective?

It is so easy to get caught up in what is happening right now.... that we loose perspective about what will happen in the future....

There is a lot going in our world right now..... and from a human perspective… it’s pretty overwhelming. Our culture and communities are being bombarded with issues of gender, race, health, elections… and so on....

As Christians, it is important that we strive to see and live beyond the horizon. We need to embrace and trust in God’s perspective… and stop living as if our limited human perspective is all that there is. ...

This passage that we have looked at today shows us how our Heavenly Father deals with us in the midst of the problems we face.

This event teaches us about perspective.

What perspective do you have today?

Christian, I hope that you can honestly say that you have peace… even in the midst of all of the worlds controversies.... because you believe with all of your heart that “Where Jesus is… there is life”!

And that your faith in Christ is more important than your feelings and any religious head knowledge that you may possess.

I hope that you can rejoice in the hope that a truly Biblical and Godly perspective gives.

If you are here today and you don’t have that peace… or if you struggle with belief. Please talk with me before you leave today.

More importantly, when we pray here in a moment talk with God about your insecurities, your doubts, your misunderstandings..... God is more patient with us, than we realize.

If God is working in your heart, don’t leave here today without getting things settled.

I’ll be down front while we sing the great modern hymn… In Christ alone!

If you would like someone to pray with you… or you would like to talk about what God is doing in your heart.... either come talk with me while we sing… or see me after the service.

Let’s Pray: