Certainty in Times of Doubt part 1

Introduction

Sometimes throughout my Christian walk I’ve doubted God’s love for me.

Even as a pastor, studying and preaching the Bible week-in-and-week-out, I’ve doubted His love and goodness.

As man, who has spent the majority of my adult life believing in Christ Jesus, serving His bride the church, educated with a high-level degree in pastoral ministry and theology, highly versed in correct and incorrect biblical interpretation; and yet, I still have found myself, more often than I’d like to admit, doubting God’s goodness and love for me.

I say this not as a badge of honor (it most certainly is not), but as a way of letting you know that I do not preach this particular message as a man who is unfamiliar with times of spiritual doubt.

In my case, my doubt has never been whether God exists or not; in fact, I can’t remember I time I didn’t believe that.

No, my doubt has been that He actual loves me, that He would actually show goodness to me.

In my darkest times, I have often found myself wondering if God put me on earth simply to be someone that is the example of what it means to not matter in the grand scheme of things, to work hard but fail at almost everything, to have little impact on the world around me.

Yes, I’m a man that loves to wallow in my own self-pity!

You’re times of doubt are probably different, but the reality is, many of us will experience times of doubt. Times where we wonder about God’s love and goodness.

If that’s you, this message this morning is for you.

This morning we are going to examine one of the most famous stories in John’s Gospel; the story of Jesus resurrecting His beloved friend Lazarus from the dead.

Because this is one of the great narratives in the NT, it doesn’t call for a ton of commentary. So, I’m going to do a lot more reading this morning than usual, stopping only to clarify things that need some context for us today.

After we read through this story, we are going to deal with a key question, which is:

Key Question: What can I be certain about, even in times of doubt?

Why do I mention being “certain”?

While faith and belief are better, more biblical words, for many today both are wrongly interpreted from a passive point-of-view.

But belief and faith are both certainties in the NT.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Thus, in times of doubt, we need to cling to those things which are certain!

One last thing before we jump into things:

I recently saw a t-shirt that said, “I don’t always listen to my wife, but when I do things tend to work out better.”

I decided to heed that advice this week and broken one very long sermon into two, less long sermons.

We will look at the first part this week, then, Lord willing, the second part next week.

Body: John 11:1-27

Verses 1-2

Interestingly, Mary anointing Jesus isn’t mentioned in John’s Gospel until chapter 12

Verses 3-4

But wait, Lazarus dies! How can Jesus say it does not lead to death?

Perspective.

The death of Jesus followers never leads to final death.

In Lazarus’ case, it would not lead to final death in this life.

In fact, their is a greater reason for Lazarus’ temporary death: so that God the Father and God the Son may be glorified. (More on that later.)

Verses 5-6

Wait, He loved them, yet He delayed?

As we will see, He delayed because He had a much greater show of His love and power in store.

Verses 7-8

The disciples remind Jesus: We can’t go to Judea, it’s dangerous!

Lord, help me never be so “wise” as to think I need to inform You of the way things are!

Verses 9-11

The point Jesus makes: My time is short, but that time isn’t up yet…it’s still “light.” Before long darkness will come, but for now I am completely safe.

His time has not come yet...

Sleep = euphemism for death

Again, however, essentially all who are in Christ who die are asleep until we are gathered together with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Verses 12-15

“…and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” What’s up with that?

Because they have already shown their struggles with doubt when it comes to their trip to Judea. So Jesus tells them, in essence, because Lazarus has died, now you will have an opportunity to have your faith in me strengthened.

Verse 16

Enter Doubting Thomas. He really will become an important character in John’s Gospel, although he has only a handful of things he says.

John uses Thomas’ story to drive home the major point of his Gospel, as we will see in chapter 20.

Thomas could probably be called Thomas the Pessimist.

This sounds like a willingness to die. But, from what we see of Thomas throughout John’s Gospel, it’s more likely a pessimistic statement.

Eeyore...

Here we see two examples of doubt.

Verse 17

What’s the significance of four days in the tomb?

Jewish deep mourning lasted four days because, it was believed that the soul of a person hovered over the body for four days before leaving.

And, the Jewish religious experts taught that someone couldn’t swoon for four days.

Thus, by all Jewish metrics, Lazarus was dead.

In other Gospels, Jesus rose people from the dead right after they died. But here, Lazarus was so dead that decomposition would have already begun.

Verses 18-22

Mourning was an important part of Jewish custom. To the point where people could be hired to mourn with the family.

Additionally, it seems as if the entire community is involved in this time of mourning.

Martha is disappointed that Jesus wasn’t there to prevent Lazarus from dying.

Now she asks that He will do something to help ease their suffering…she has no idea that Lazarus will actually be alive again before long.

Verses 23-24

Jesus assures her that Lazarus will rise again. She, agrees that Lazarus will rise again at the final resurrection.

She’s correct, but she’s also incorrect.

This is a different form of doubt, but doubt none-the-less.

Verses 25-26

She shouldn’t simply be looking for a future resurrection, but she was with the very One who has power over life and death.

How does a person receive the gift of eternal life? Through belief in Jesus.

Verse 27

She believes…but she’s not yet sure how great His power and authority truly is.

Faith…and doubt...

So What?

What can I be certain about, even in times of doubt?

You can be certain that God uses all life’s circumstances as opportunities for His glory and our good.

This passage reminds us that God can take even the worst of circumstances and do that which brings Him the most amount of glory and us the most good.

Therefore, when you face life’s varied circumstances; good, bad, or neutral; remember that God can use everything for His glory and our good.

Look for the good; trust without seeing; seek God’s glory...

You can be certain that God cares more about your faith than your circumstances.

Throughout this passage we see that Jesus cares deeply for the people involved. But, more than anything else, He cares about how our faith in Him grows in the midst of our circumstances.

Yes, He cares about your circumstances. But, He cares about your faith growing more.

We tend to dwell on our circumstances. God looks more at our faith.

It’s the difference to being stuck in the traffic jam and flying over the traffic jam...

Therefore, ask, “How is God challenging me to grow in my faith?” “In which areas might my faith be lacking?”

You can tell a lot about where your faith is at by your first reaction to bad circumstances...

You can be certain that God cares more about your future than you do.

I believe Thomas was only voicing what the other disciples were feeling. What they didn’t understand, however, was that Jesus cared about their future.

In fact, He knew what they would do in service to the Lord.

Here’s a truth you should cling to: Before you were conceived, God knew the moment you would be born, the moment you would die and all points in-between. And your time on earth matters to Him.

Missionary Henry Martyn: “I am immortal until God’s work for me to do is done. The Lord reigns.”

Therefore, stop being an Eeyore when bad things happen.

Realize that God has an amazing future for you; possibly in this life, but for certain in His kingdom with Him!