Sermon Tone Analysis
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*John 11:36-45* \\ \\
There are few stories more riveting than those about people coming back from the dead:
* person underwater for hours but saved because of the coldness of the water
* person who had a heart attack and was revived
* Person saved through CPR
The riveting nature of these stories explains the popularity of the TV show Rescue 911.
But the account of resuscitation that we have before us today is more incredible than anything you have ever seen, experienced or heard about.
Imagine having buried a loved one, had a visitation service, the funeral, the burial.
Then Jesus comes to your home and asks if you would take him to where your loved one was buried.
You travel to the cemetery and the freshly filled grave.
Jesus commands that the casket be removed from the ground and opened!
What would you think?
Then Jesus calls your loved one by name and they sit up and get out of the casket and go home with you to live many more years of life.
Let's admit . . .
that would be unforgettable.
There are two other occasions in the New Testament where Jesus brought someone back to life.
Luke 7:11-15.....The widow's son from Nain; Luke 8:40-56 (Matt.
9:18-26; Mark 5:41,42) The daughter of Jairus.
Each of these incidents is staggering but none more so than the account of Lazarus.
In the first two accounts there was very little fanfare.
Jesus spoke simply and it was done.
This situation is different.
This leads us to the conclusions that this was more than a cool story about a dead guy coming back to life.
What was the purpose of this miracle?
Why did He delay?
Why the fanfare?
I'd like to suggest three things the raising of Lazarus does (other than restore Lazarus to his sisters).
I can only suggest that these may have been the reasons Jesus healed Lazarus the way He did.
!!! *A Powerful Proclamation of Deity*
What better evidence that someone is God than to raise someone who had been dead for four days?
There was no doubt what Jesus was attempting to do . . . .
no room for error . . .
no excuse possible.
He had them remove the stone so that everyone could see the lifeless body raise to life.
But we also see in v. 41,42 that Jesus' public prayer was designed to testify to His divine commission.
Through this public statement Jesus asserted: 1) that He was one with God and not a Son of Satan (as was an accusation).
2) That He was always heard by the Father because their wills were one.
There is no doubt who Jesus is claiming to be . . . . the Messiah, God in human form.
* Jesus was more than a great man
* Jesus was more than a superb teacher
* He was God in human flesh
But *Why is it important?*
* Because if Jesus is recognized as God *then His Word carries more authority* No longer can we view His words as the words of a wise man we can take or leave . . . .
they are the very oracles of God!
The reason people can sidestep the clear instruction from the Lord is that they have a faulty view of Jesus.
Because they see Him as "less than God" they have no trouble rationalizing His direction about
-sexual purity
-forgiveness
-the importance of a humble~/servant heart
-the importance of using possessions not being enslaved by them
* If Jesus is seen as God *His actions are more compelling *
A good man dying for a cause is laudatory.
A good man dying for us is moving and gratifying but God becoming man to bring us to Himself?
That's astounding!
That's life-changing!
* If Jesus is seen as God then *life is more meaningful*
Our life is not vain and empty because Jesus has shown us that there is life eternal.
Life is not all for nothing . . .
there is a goal, there is a purpose, there will be justice.
We are not a cosmic accident but creatures intentionally created by God.
How do we know?
Because Jesus said so.
Ask yourself honestly: When you talk about Jesus, which Jesus are you talking about?
!!! *A Vivid Demonstration of Sufficiency*
When Jesus commanded the tomb to be opened Martha's reacted quickly: "Lord, by this time the tomb will stink!
The body would certainly have begun to decay.
Jesus, this isn't a very good idea."
The Lord responds firmly, yet lovingly: "Martha didn't I tell you that if you would only believe, you would see the Glory of God?"
Let me diagram what Martha had done:
*Resurrection Power Lazarus' Tomb*
Martha believed in resurrection power but saw it existing in a certain realm only (in the box).
Since Lazarus' dead body lay outside that box, Martha concluded that there was nothing Jesus could do.
When Lazarus walked out of the grave Jesus exploded Martha's Box and she saw that His power extends to EVERY situation.
Tell me, what in your life, have you concluded is beyond the Lord's power?
What seems "hopeless".
What is it that seems irreparable?
A disease, a relationship, a business crisis?
Consider: (Gen.
18:14; Jeremiah 32:27) - "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Ephesians 3:20) "he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" God's hands are NOT tied.
!!!!
Why is this important?
* Because *God's sufficiency is your basis for hope.*
no matter how dark the sky . . . . .
God can bring you through.
No matter how hopeless. . . .
.God can bring a miracle.
Do you believe this truth?
Have you ever said:
"There's nothing left to do but pray . . . .
." (This is a bad thing?)
OR....
"They are in God's Hands now..." (Implying they are not always in God's hands.
But even more importantly . . . .
that's not a DEMOTION.
Jesus tells Martha, "Only believe".
Jesus is saying, "Martha, trust me."
Things may not be as you wished (Martha wanted Lazarus to not die).
But things will (if you trust Him) lead you to see God's hand in your life.
* Because *some of you need to hear God's summons to faith*
Is anyone here NOT "stressed" by something?
The Bible says,"Be anxious for NOTHING but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
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