Raising the Dead

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.

34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Introduction: I stumbled across an article once that showcased the messages left on a number of funny tombstones.

Here lies Lester Moore; Four slugs from a .44; No Les No More. -- Tombstone Arizona

-- Dentist's Tombstone--

John Brown is filling his last cavity.

I told you that I was sick! -- Georgia Cemetary, USA

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake; Stepped on the gas instead of the brake. -- Pennsylvania Tombstone, USA

The children of Israel wanted bread, And the Lord sent them manna, Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna. -- England Tombstone

Here lies Ezekial Aikle Age 102 The Good Die Young.

In a Thurmont, Maryland cemetery: Here lies an Atheist All dressed up and no place to go.

Here lies my wife, I bid her goodbye. She rests in peace and now so do I.

Dear Departed brother Dave he chased a bear into a cave

Here Lies Good Old Fred. Great big rock fell on his head.

Here lies Clyde whose life was full until he tried to milk a bull

Here lies the father of 29. He would have had more but he didn't have time.

Tonight we continue our series entitled “Eyewitness News” as we take a look at another story of someone who had an eyewitness encounter with Jesus.

Tonight we’ll be reading one of my favorite passages from scripture in John 11: the story of when Jesus raised a man named Lazarus from the dead.

Thesis: We are all condemned to death by our sin, until Jesus steps in!

Transition: 4 Truths from Lazarus’ Encounter with Christ

I. He Was Dead

a. (John 11:14) Before Jesus shows up on the scene, Lazarus is already dead.

b. In the same way, before Jesus shows up in our lives, we are already dead.

c. The unsaved person is not just sick; he or she is spiritually dead.

Colossians 2:13 (NLT) You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away…

d. When a person is physically dead, she does not respond to such things as food, temperature, or pain.

e. When a person is spiritually dead, he does not respond to spiritual things. She has no interest in God, the Bible, Christians, or church.

f. God warned Adam that disobedience would bring death.

i. Physical death (the separation of the spirit from the body)

ii. Spiritual death (the separation of the spirit from God).

g. Revelation 20:14 calls hell the second death; that is eternal death.

h. So we see here in this verse that before Jesus shows up, Lazarus is already dead.

i. We, like Lazarus, are also dead before Christ shows up.

II. He Was Decayed

a. (John 11:39) When Jesus shows up at Lazarus’ tomb, he has already been dead for 4 days. He is already decaying inside the tomb.

b. There are three resurrections recorded in the Gospels, apart from that of our Lord Himself.

i. (Luke 8:49–56) Christ raised a twelve-year-old girl who had died.

ii. (Luke 7:11–17) a young man who had been dead several hours.

iii. And here in John 11, he raises an older man who had been dead for 4 days.

c. What does this mean to us? They represent a picture of 3 different types of sinners.

i. The little girl. Children are sinners, as we are all born into sin. But open corruption has not yet set in.

ii. The young man.Young people are sinners whose outward corruption begins to show.

iii. The older man. Adults are sinners whose definite outward corruption can be seen.

d. The point is that all three were dead.

i. One person cannot be “more dead” than another.

ii. The only difference is in the degree of decay.

iii. The same is true for everyone walking on the earth today. The reality is that

1. the good moral person that doesn’t know Jesus is just as dead as the:

2. the murderer on death row who doesn’t know Jesus.

3. The only difference is the level of decay

e. Before Jesus shows up, we all, like Lazarus, regardless of how good of a person we are, are dead and decaying!

III. He Was Raised and Given Life

a. (John 11:41-43) This is where the story takes a miraculous turn!

b. Jesus shows up on the scene and raises Lazarus from the dead and gives him life!

c. The sisters’ friends could only sympathize and weep; it took Christ to give the man life.

d. How did Christ give him life? By the power of His word.

i. This is the way He raised all three of the dead.

John 5:24 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

John 11:25 (NLT) “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

e. Why did Christ raise Lazarus?

i. Because he loved him (verse 5)

ii. Because it brought glory to God

f. For the same reason, Jesus saves us, and raises us from our spiritual death and gives us life!

g. We deserve to die and go to hell, but because of His great love, He rescued us.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT) Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

h. When Jesus shows up on the scene, we are given new life!

i. We are not just given a warm tingly feeling, we are given new life!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

j. Keep in mind that salvation is not a set of rules; it is life.

k. When dead sinners hear the voice of the Son of God (the Word) and believe, they are given eternal life (John 5:25).

l. To reject that Word is to be dead forever.

IV. He Was Set Free

a. (John 11: 34) They didn’t have caskets or coffins in those days. Jewish custom was to tightly wind the dead body with what was called graveclothes, a special type of cloth that you would wrap the body in for burial.

b. Lazarus was bound hand and foot and could not free himself.

c. So even though he was raised from the dead and given new life, he was still bound by the graveclothes of his former death!

d. Many of us in this room are still bound by the old grave graveclothes of our former death.

i. I don’t call it our former life because it is not until Christ shows up that we truly live.

ii. Some of us are still bound to our:

1. addictions

2. bad relationships

3. depression

4. anger

5. demonic oppression

6. the list goes on

e. But Jesus wants to free us from our bondage! He wants to free us from the graveclothes of our former death!

f. Just as he instructed Lazarus to be “unwrapped and let go” the bible tells us to shed off our former ways and no longer where the clothes of death, but the clothes of life in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:1-17 (NLT) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Conclusion: We are all born. We all die. The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. But Jesus came so we wouldn’t have to die. Though our physical body will one day pass away we have, through Jesus Christ, the opportunity to live for eternity with Him! No more pain, no more tears.

Though you may be dead and decayed like Lazarus, you can be raised and given life. And you can be set free from that which binds you.

Perhaps this mans tombstone would of read “Here lies Lazarus, beloved brother.” But when Jesus showed it read “Here was a man, once dead, now alive, and set free, and I will live forevermore with my God.”