Death Denied

JOHN 11:1–4 (KJV 1900)

1 NOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS SICK, NAMED LAZARUS, OF BETHANY, THE TOWN OF MARY AND HER SISTER MARTHA.

2 (IT WAS THAT MARY WHICH ANOINTED THE LORD WITH OINTMENT, AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR, WHOSE BROTHER LAZARUS WAS SICK.)

3 THEREFORE HIS SISTERS SENT UNTO HIM, SAYING, LORD, BEHOLD, HE WHOM THOU LOVEST IS SICK.

4 WHEN JESUS HEARD THAT, HE SAID, THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED THEREBY.

THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD

IS SECOND IN SHEER POWER AND AWE ONLY

TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS HIMSELF.

OF ALL THE MIRACLES THAT JESUS PERFORMED,

NO OTHER MIRACLE REVEALED HIS ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY LIKE THIS ONE.

ALTHOUGH OTHER INSTANCES APPEAR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

WHERE JESUS RAISE THE DEAD,

NON-COMPARE TO THE DRAMA AND DECISIVENESS IN THE STORY OF THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.

IT PROVES THAT EVEN DEATH THAT WHICH MANKIND FEARS THE MOST

POWER PALE TO THAT OF JESUS

IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ON THE DIETY OF JESUS

IN ADAM ALL DIE

DEATH IS BOTH THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN AND THE PASSAGE THROUGH WHICH IN GODS TIME WE ALL MUST PASS TO INHERIT THE EVERLASTING LIFE THAT HE OFFERS.

ROMANS 6:23 (KJV 1900)

23 FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

SIN IS ESSENTIALLY, DISOBEYING GODS LAW

THE PENALTY OF SIN IS DEATH

MOSES IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS.

HE DIED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE JORDAN

BECAUSE OF HIS DISOBEDIENT AND KADESH.

HOWEVER, IT’S APPEARANCE ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION REVEALED THAT MOSES PASSED THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE IN THE ETERNAL PROMISE LAND

DEATH IS BOTH THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN AND THE PASSAGE THROUGH WHICH IN GODS TIME WE ALL MUST PASS TO INHERIT THE EVERLASTING LIFE THAT HE OFFERS.

GOD TOLD ADAM THAT THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE THAT ID IN THE MIST OF THE GARDEN YOU SHALL SURLY DIE

SIN AND DEATH (LEXHAM SERVEY OF THEOLOGY)

Lexham Survey of Theology Sin and Death

Death is the unnatural divorce of the immaterial soul and the physical body, resulting from the separation between God and humanity, brought about by sin.

Fashioned from the physical dust of the earth, humanity was made a “living soul” (1 Cor 15:45), after the “living God” (Deut 5:26) “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). This union of the physical and spiritual, which distinguished humanity from the rest of creation, was entirely dependent upon the relational intimacy between humanity and its Creator—the dissolution of which would naturally disrupt the union. Adam and Eve had been warned by God that their disobedience would result in physical death (Gen 2:16–17; cf. Ezek 18:4).

GOD CREATED ADAM IN PERFECTION AND SINLESSNESS WERE NOTHING WITH BLEMISHED OR EVIL

INCLUDING THEIR NAKEDNESS

HOWEVER, WHEN ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD SPECIFICALLY MAN THEY BECAME ASHAMED AND MAKE IT WHICH CAUSED THEM TO TRY TO HIDE FROM GOD

ADAM WAS THE FIRST MAN EVER, BUT HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST MAN TO EVER BLAME GOD IN HIS SAYING HE SAID THE WOMAN WHICH THOU GAVE ME

IN ESSENCE HE’S BLAMING GOD

AND IT REMINDS ME OF ALL OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE RIOTS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND THEN JUST CRIME IN GENERAL HOW SOME TRY TO BLAME THE LAW OF THE LAND AS THE REASON TO WHY THEY DISOBEY THE LAW

SO, SIN IS PASSED DOWN TO ALL MANKIND THROUGH ADAM

AND SEPARATING MANKIND FROM GOD PAUL STATED “FOR ALL HAVE SEND AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD”

AND THE RESULT OF SIN BRINGS DEATH AND WITH IT SICKNESS AND DISEASE THEN PRETTY MUCH ALL THAT IS WRONG IN THE WORLD COMES FROM SIN

SICKNESS AND DEATH IT DISTRESSES FAMILIES

THIS IS THE SCENE AT BETHANY WHERE LAZARUS DIES

IT’S A SCENE OF LAMENTATION AND SORROW LAZARUS’S SISTERS AND THEIR GUEST WEEP FOR THEIR BELOVED BROTHER AND FRIEND

A CLOUD OS SORROW SEEMED TO HANG OVER THIS COMMUNITY

THAT MOURNED FOR HIM

DEATH SEEMS SO FINAL AND IT IS EXTREEMLY PAINFUL

EVEN WIN THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN IN DEATH HAS LEFT US THE WORLD AND WE CAN BE CONFIDENT IN THE UNCHANGING LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HIS UNQUESTIONABLE LOVE FOR LAZARUS AND HIS SISTER DID NOT STOP DEATH FROM CLAIMING LAZARUS BUT HE DID COME TO MINISTER TO THEM ACCORDING TO HIS PERFECT TIMING.

HIS LOVE MAY NOT STOP US FROM LOSING FRIENDS AND LOVE ONES BUT WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT HIS LOVE WILL KEEP US THROUGH EVERY LOSS AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE CERTAINLY HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS.

SO, MARY AND MARTHA SENDS A MESSAGE TO JESUS AND LAZARUS CONDITION

THEY SEEN MANY TIMES WHERE JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES OF HEALING AND THEY MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN PRESENT WHEN JESUS ROSE THE FIRST TWO BACK TO LIFE SO THEY HAD CONFIDENCE ENOUGH THAT JESUS WAS THERE FIRST CHOICE, THEIR FIRST RESORT.

TOO MANY TIMES WHEN WE FACE ISSUES IN LIFE WILL YOU GO TO JESUS AS A LAST RESORT, WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THESE SISTERS THAT JESUS SHOULD ALWAYS BE OUR FIRST RESORT

BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED

HIS BLOOD CLENSES AND DELIVERS US

SO, WE SHOULD PRAY WITHOUT CEASING AND WITHOUT FAINTING FOR HE IS OUR EVER-PRESENT SOURCE OF HELP

ACTS 12:5–11 (KJV 1900)

5 PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON: BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM.

6 AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.

7 AND, BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS.

8 AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDALS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME.

9 AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION.

10 WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND THE SECOND WARD, THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH UNTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD: AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH ONE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM.

11 AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD HATH SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE JEWS.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 (KJV 1900)

17 PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

LUKE 18:1 (KJV 1900)

1 AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM TO THIS END, THAT MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, AND NOT TO FAINT;

HEBREWS 4:15–16 (KJV 1900)

15 FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.

16 LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

WE NEED TO TRUST THAT JESUS WILL PROVIDE IN OUR TIME OF NEED BUT WE ALSO NEED TO TRUST HIS TIMING

SO YOU SEE KEEPING LAZARUS FROM DEATH

WOULD NOT HAVE FULFILL JESUS PURPOSE IN THIS CASE JESUS ALLOW DEATH TO HAVE ITS LIBERTY FOR A TIME APPEARING TO HAVE THE FINAL WORD

AS IT FOLLOWED ITS COURSE AND CLOSE ITS COLD FIST AROUND LAZARUS IN AN UNYIELDING AND SEEMINGLY PERMANENT GRASP

HOWEVER GOD HAS THE LAST WORD

WHEN DEATH WAS SMUGLY CERTAIN OF IT’S VICTORY AND LOSE AND GRIEF HAD SETTLED IN AS DEATH HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FLICKER OF HOPE

GOD WAS GLORYFEID.

SOME THINGS WITHIN US NEED TO DIE IN ORDER FOR GOD TO BE GLORIFIED

Galatians 5:24–25 (KJV 1900)

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

PROVERBS 3:5 (KJV 1900)

5 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING.

OUR FINITE MIND CANNOT N OT UNDERSTAND GODS GOD’S PURPOSE

SO WE SHOULD NEVER ASSUME TO KNOW HOW GOD IS GOING TO BRING THINGS TO PASS

IF WE DO WE RUN THE RISK OF ALLOWING OUR OWN SELFISH NATURE TO GET IN THE WAY OF GODS PLAN

PRAYERS ARE SOMETIMES DIVINELY DELAYED

GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS ANSWER OUR PRAYERS ACCORDING TO OUR TIMETABLE.

AT TIMES IT IS IN BOTH GODS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DELAY THE ANSWER.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A DELAY IN THE ANSWER THAT GOD GIVES US OR SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS NO.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL HE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR TEST TO GO BEYOND THAT WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO ENDURE AND HE WILL MAKE AWAY OF ESCAPE IN EVERY SITUATION

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (KJV 1900)

13 THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.

SOMETIMES WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE FIREY TRIAL IT IS SO TO PURIFY US

SOMETIMES IT IS BECAUSE ONLY IN THOSE EXTREEMLY HEATED SITUATION WHEN THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL THAT WE CAN SEE GOD AS THE 4TH MAN IN THE FIRE AND NOT ONLY US, BUT THOSE ALSO WHO HAVE THROWN US IN WILL SEE GOD IN OUR SITUATION AND GOD WILL RECEIVE THE GLORY.

JOHN 11:4 (KJV 1900)

4 WHEN JESUS HEARD THAT, HE SAID, THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED THEREBY.

WHEN WE SUBMIT OURSELVES TO JESUS

WE ARE SAYING GOD USE ME FOR YOUR GLORY.

YOUR SITUATION IS NOT MEANT TO KILL YOU, BUT TO PROSPER YOU AND THE GOSPEL

Lazarus [laz-uh-rus] (Λάζαρος = אלעזר, “One Whom God Helps”)1

WHEN WE SUBMIT TO GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO USE US FOR HIS GLORY WE WILL BE SHOCKED AT WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOUR SITUATION