John 11:1-16

I am the Resurrection and the Life Part 1

John 11:1-16

Walking in the midst of trial.

Jesus makes a major transition in His ministry in John 11. He has been teaching and ministering in outlying areas beyond the Jordan because the Jews were trying to kill Him.

Jn. 10:40-41 tells us that Jesus was ministering in the place where John the Baptist had been baptizing in an area called Bethany beyond the Jordan in the region of Perea. Many people came out to Jesus there and believed in Him.

Then Jesus get’s word that His friend Lazarus died. So Jesus decides to go to Bethany where he is. The problem is that this is near Jerusalem (about 2 miles outside the city walls) where the Jewish leaders are who want to put Him to death.

Jesus however knows that His Father is working and is aware that He is being lead toward the cross. But the journey to the cross is through Bethsaida and through the sorrow of His friends death. Jesus has a tremendous trial ahead of Him and He faces it head on with trust in His Father and

How can we walk through Trials

A. Seek God’s glory John 11:1-4 - *key idea (v.4) “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, in that the son of God may be glorified through it.

This is similar to what Jesus said about the man born blind. John 9:3, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

Notes from John 9:3 sermon - It is God' plan that the spiritual corruption brought about by mankind's rebellion and sin would be manifested in our physical bodies. In Gen. 3, when mankind rebelled against God, the curse was spiritual death, but this death was manifested in the body by physical death. All sickness, all physical disability, all suffering ultimately is the consequence of the curse of sin. Jesus is now heading to Bethany to show the world that He is master of all things, even sin and death.

Jesus viewed everything He did not through the shadow of the cross, but in the light of the resurrection.

S.M. Lockridge

It’s Friday. Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running Like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know That Sunday’s a comin’.

It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in scarlet. They crown him with thorns. But they don’t know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit’s burdened. But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands To the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet To the cross. And then they raise him up Next to criminals. It’s Friday. But let me tell you something Sunday’s comin’.

Hebrews 12:2 - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. Walk in the day John 11:5-10 * key idea - walking in the light is figurative for doing the work God calls one to do.

Jesus indicates that He has an appointed work to do and an appointed time to do it in. Jn. 7:28-29

John 9:4 - “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 9

I must work the works of him that sent me, &c.—a most interesting statement from the mouth of Christ; intimating, (1) that He had a precise work to do upon earth, with every particular of it arranged and laid out to Him; (2) that all He did upon earth was just “the works of God”—particularly “going about doing good,” though not exclusively by miracles; (3) that each work had its precise time and place in His programme of instructions, so to speak; hence, (4) that as His period for work had definite termination, so by letting any one service pass by its allotted time, the whole would be disarranged, marred, and driven beyond its destined period for completion; (5) that He acted ever under the impulse of these considerations, as man—“the night cometh when no man (or no one) can work.”

Walking in the day is akin to doing what we are supposed to do. To walk in the day is to hear and obey the word of God.

Jn. 14:31 - But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

To disobey the Father is like walking in the night where there is no light to guide the way. A person who walks in the night does not have the light because they are not obeying God, they are relying on their own ability to guide themselves and thus they stumble.

** Advice from Pastor Dale - the best thing I can do as a parent is walk as closely as possible with God, learning His word, obeying Him, being led by the Holy Spirit.

C. Trust God to work John 11:11-16

His friend is dead. The place He needs to go is dangerous. and the cross is on the horizon. Yet, Jesus is confident, at peace, and is anxious to see His Father do an amazing work.

Jesus is determined that He will do what God has instructed Him to do and trust that His Father will be in sovereign control the entire time.

Luke 9:51 - Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

We know that Jesus is the Son of God, but He is also a man who is subject to every weakness that we face as human beings.

Jesus made up His mind He is resolved that He will unconditionally trust His Father and do whatever He tells Him.

Is. 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.