Bound Not By Time

Scripture:

The New Revised Standard Version The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,a “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarusb was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there

The New Revised Standard Version The Death of Lazarus

so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

I will finish verse 14 later in the sermon.

Upsetting the equilibrium (Conflict) - Why would Jesus allow for such suffering and for his disciples to be put in harm’s way?

Knowing that Lazarus was dead, why would Jesus ever say “I am glad I was not there”?

Jesus could have healed Lazarus

The scene of weeping

Why would he make those he love wait for His presence? Why would he postpone a miracle?

Thomas was willing to go regardless of the consequences

Analyzing the Discrepancy - How does this matter of timing effect us today?

If I had been one of the twelve, I would have looked at Jesus like he was crazy! To enter into a land where people wanted to kill me without an army would be suicide. Jesus didn’t see it that way.

For Jesus, this was a miracle that could wait at least two days. Imagine if that was your son, daughter, or parent. Imagine they had COVID-19 and you need Jesus to show up with a miracle in hand for them, but they passed before he arrived on scene. How would you feel

Expound

Now I’d like everyone to think of a physical need within their family:

Imagine if you had Jesus tell you that a “terminal illness” would not lead to death, but His glory

That’s a tall order on anyone’s faith

I know I’d be questioning God all day about his timing!

Disclosing the Clue to Resolution - Jesus chose his timing based on the impact it was to have!

Fishing - Timing is Key

Think about this - have you ever tried to catch fish in the middle of the day. For you more experienced fishermen and women out there, have you ever tried to catch fish while the tide isn’t moving? You probably didn’t do to well when the water was still.

When fishing, we fish when the chance of catching is at its highest. We choose our timing based on an intentional purpose.

Could Jesus had been lining up his target to cast?

Could he have been intentional with his timing?

A clue to these questions falls in the last part of verse 15:

“so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Experiencing the gospel

King James Version Psalm 62

5  gMy soul, wait thou only upon God;

For my expectation is from him.

Ps 62:5

David

Trust in God alone

God was the summit of David’s desires

Isaiah 40:31 KJV 1900

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa 40:31

John records 7 miracles in which to provide faith to all who would hear. However, Jesus shows his power in chapter 11 through reaching beyond life into the afterlife - a territory that belonged to God alone.

Jesus’ power over death!

The scene at the tomb

The New Revised Standard Version Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Jesus shows his power over death! This was the glory of God in which would save all humanity from their sin. As the consequence for sin is death - relate to the garden.

Anticipating the consequences

Today you don’t have to live in a dead tomb of sin; you can be redeemed by Jesus!

Maybe God hasn’t moved on a situation you’ve been praying for, God could be planning something powerful to reveal His glory

When His glory is revealed, this is wonderful within our lives! It may be difficult, but God will sustain us through what we must go through