Jesus, Lazarus, and You

Psalm 24 / John 11:32–44

Why is Jesus delaying?

John 11:5–6 ESV

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

John 11:32 ESV

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:41–42 ESV

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

It is because of His love for us

We often don’t understand it

He delays in order to bring people to faith

Romans 2:4 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

The Lord Jesus loves us such that He was willing to be our representative in life, death, and resurrection.

What His love does NOT lead Him to do is leave us unchanged.

Everything about Jesus, even His tarrying is about loving and rescuing us!

Lazarus DID come forth, and was Unbound

John 11:43–44 ESV

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

This IS a picture of Salvation (both conversion, and sanctification)

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Romans 8:6–7 ESV

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

This is owing to Jesus’ power and authority

Psalm 24:10 ESV

10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

This displays Lazarus’ obedience, enabled by God

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

When Jesus said “it is finished”, He did NOT mean that His working for rescuing lost sinners was finished, but rather that He had accomplished everything in life such that His death and resurrection were perfect and sufficient for rescuing everyone who would come to Him.

What are you to do?

John 11:44 ESV

44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Come Out

No one can come to the Lord who is not being awakened to do so

John 3:8 ESV

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

All whom the Lord calls to Himself, He enables to come

Help Unbind Others

We cannot raise the dead; only God can, so we shouldn’t try

We who have been unbound can help others

The love of God, shown in Christ Jesus in this narrative as well as His entire life, death, and resurrection, is the perfection of grace and mercy to convert and rescue those who are dead in sin and trespasses, and bound by deadly sin. Praise be to God that the gospel call still goes forth in preaching, and especially by God’s Spirit to come alive and be free from the sin that binds us!