Our Hope in Life and Death

For centuries, Christians have used catechisms as a way of helping people understand our faith. One of those Catechisms is the Heidelberg catechism which was commissioned in 1563 “for the purpose of instructing the youth of the day and guiding pastors and teachers in their teaching duties.”

Heidelburg Catechism: begins with this question and answer.

Historic Creeds and Confessions (Question 1)

What is thy only comfort in life and death?That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; ….

there are so many things in which we can hope

jobs

family

marriage

friends

grades in school

money and finances

health and the health of our loved ones

political parties

hopes that don’t come to fruition can lead to despair and can even affect our outlook on the world and on God.

we might feel like God is not good when difficulties or even death happens.

today - as we continue our study in the book of John, we come to John 11, the famous story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back from the dead. Through this chapter, we get to learn this underlying truth...

Jesus cares about our pain but may not do what we want because there is a glorious outcome in the future, therefore we should keep our hope in Him alone!

If you have your Bibles, open them to John 11.

this chapter marks the end of the Book of Signs - as some commentators note it. These first 11 chapters primarily cover three years of Jesus ministry as he performed signs which pointed to his identity and mission. These signs also produced increasing levels of conflict with the religious leaders.

As we walk through the chapter, we’ll consider how the chapter elicits this truth, phrase by phrase. We’re not going to walk in a straight line through the passage - we’ll jump around a bit.

Firstly,

Jesus cares about our pain...

John 11:1-5 “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. (BTW - John has not yet mentioned this incident with Mary and Jesus - we’ll get to see that in the next chapter- but it’s clear that his audience was familiar with the story) So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

Jesus clearly had a relationship with them. We can learn more about it from the other gospels - especially Luke 10:38-42.

It’s clear from Martha’s message that she knew of His love for them.

A bit later in this chapter, we get greater glimpse of Jesus love for this family.

John 11:28-36 “When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 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.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!””

Jesus clearly was close to this family, but he was also “deeply moved” by their circumstance and pain.

Now, I don’t want to make this too much about us, but I do want you to grasp the significance of this.

Here is Jesus, the God of the universe, perfect, holy, just, creator - condescends himself to be incarnated into human flesh, because of the depth of God’s love and care for humanity - including you and me.

His love is so deep, and vast that he willingly took on our flesh to relate to our sinful condition. Then, he took the just punishment of our sinful condition - by dying on the cross. He then conquered that just punishment by rising from the dead three days later.

He cares for us in the pain of sin in which we live.

Then, beyond that, as we saw in this passage, Jesus demonstrates deep concern and care for Mary and Martha in their grief, their pain, their mourning. He is not trying to minimize it or rationalize it, he is identifying with it.

In light of eternity, Paul refers to some of our trials and pain as “momentary” and “light” (2 Cor. 4:17). In the moment, in the pain, those don’t feel light or momentary to us. They feel all encompassing - hopes dashed, potential extinguished, barriers abounding.

Jesus cares for us in our sinful condition and he cares in the midst of the pain that life brings.

In the movie Alladin, a street kid meets a genie. As they are getting to know one another, the Genie exclaims that he has “phenomenal cosmic power; itty bitty living space.”

In much the same way, Jesus has infinite cosmic concern; minute application of that concern in your life and mine.

Rest in that for a moment. Jesus cares about our pain.

While he cares for our pain, we have to remember that he...

...but may not do what we want ...

By inference, we can assume that Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could work miracles. They knew that he could heal Lazarus. They expected that he would come immediately. And yet John tells us...

John 11:6 “ So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

What?

I thought Jesus loved them? And yet he waited?

When Jesus finally did come, Martha expressed her desire, and yet even in her disappointment, there is hope...

John 11:20-22 “ So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.””

Her language hints that she believes Jesus can do something - but dares not to speak of it.

Mary too, as we saw earlier, had a similar response (John 6:32).

Even some of those who were mourning with Mary and Martha seemed to think that Jesus could have done something but now that time has passed.

John 11:37 “But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?””

It’s clear, they wanted Lazarus healed. They wanted Jesus to come promptly.

And yet Jesus waited and waited and waited.

I don’t know exactly how long it might have taken for Jesus to go from the other side of the Jordan, passed Jericho and up the mountains to Jerusalem then another few miles to Bethany - but it’s likely a bit of a journey - a full day or two at least.

John tells us that when Jesus finally got to the tomb, Lazarus had been in the grave for 4 days (John 6:39).

When we’re going through painful circumstances, whether a financial turmoil, physical illness, mental distress, drama at school, etc. -we may feel like we know what needs to be done. It makes sense, healing is the right answer in Lazarus’ situation - at least in our minds.

We do what we should, we take it to the Lord in prayer. We may even invite others in church to pray. We pray, and pray, and pray. We pray so much it feels like our prayers aren’t making it past the ceiling.

Jesus may answer in the perfect time, but he may wait...

...because there is a glorious outcome in the future

When Jesus does finally get to Bethany and sees Martha, she confronts him with her disappointment and hope and gives us a little insight into what this glorious outcome might be...

John 11:21-24 “Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.””

For Martha, she demonstrates complete confidence in a glorious future - in the resurrection of the last day - in eternal life. She knows she will see Lazarus again in eternity - she just wants to see Lazarus now.

After talking with Martha and Mary away from the tomb, Jesus finally makes it to the graveside and weeps on behalf of the family and over the death of Lazarus.

John 11:38-40 “Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?””

Jesus is finally ready to act. He’s finally ready to do something tangible as an expression of his care for them.

In the grander scheme of things, he’s finally ready to reveal more fully who he is.

John 11:41-44 “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 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.””

You see, if Jesus had healed Lazarus from afar or if he had come in time - this would have been just another of his many miracles.

By waiting - Jesus creates the opportunity to show that he has been sent from God. He’s able to make it clear. Lazarus is all dead and decaying. He’s not just mostly dead. He’s all dead.

Who but God can raise the dead?

Jesus raised a dead man to life.

Is Jesus God?

In John’s narrative, raising Lazarus becomes the final sign as John lays out his argument for us to put our faith in Jesus.

John 20:30-31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Waiting created an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed in Jesus.

There is a bigger story being told. We are simply one part of that.

In fact, Lazarus being raised from the dead caused some to put into motion the plans that would ultimately lead to the cross.

John 11:45-53 “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.”

This sign of raising Lazarus to life became a pivotal event in Jesus earthly life and ministry. His antagonists put into motion plans to put him to death - rightly believing that God would use Jesus death to unite the children of God. The religious leaders did not understand how the uniting would happen. They didn’t understand ultimately it would be necessary for Jesus to die - and rise from the grave - in order to fully pay for our sin and reconcile humanity with God.

Their plan was his destruction. God’s plan was His glorification as the risen sacrificial Lamb. Their plan was to retain power. God’s plan was salvation for people from every nation tribe and tongue.

For Martha and Mary - there was a temporary glorious outcome in the resurrection of Lazarus, but that pales in comparison to the glorious outcome that will be in the future resurrection, in eternity, when we get to be with Christ for ever! Lazarus’ resurrection brought temporary relief from the pain of his death. Jesus’ resurrection brought eternal relief from the just punishment of our sin

Jesus cares about our pain but may not do what we want because there is a glorious outcome in the future...

…therefore we should keep our hope in Him alone!

As Jesus was talking with Martha, before he raised Lazarus from the dead - he told her...

John 11:25-27 “...“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.””

I think part of what Jesus was calling her to is belief in him, satisfaction in him, delight in him, hope in him. Trusting that He is sufficient.

He is clearly pointing to a future resurrection and eternal life - because of faith in Him.

He is the object of our hope - not the fixing of a problem.

I wonder if Lazarus’ life had become a bit of an idol to Martha and Mary?

His death became a means to test their faith, their belief.

His resurrection became a source of confirmation that Jesus is sufficient -that he is enough.

As we look at the pain that God allows us to encounter I think it’s important to ask:

Is relief from this pain an idol?

Do I want relief, healing, restoration, peace - more than I want Jesus?

What if, instead of praying for relief from the pain, we prayed for a deeper understanding of Jesus through the pain. What if we were to ask for grace and strength to endure and glorify God through the process.

We may not ever get to understand the why behind certain challenges, but we do get to know the Who behind it all.

He is our hope!

There is an old African American spiritual that helps us remember that Jesus should be the object of our hope.

Give Me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

And when I am alone Oh, and when I am alone And when I am alone, give me Jesus

And when I come to die Oh, and when I come to die And when I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world But give me Jesus

Is Jesus your hope? Is he sufficient? Have you trusted in Him as your savior? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved!

Let’s pray.

Benediction

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Sources:

Beeke, Joel R. and Paul M. Smiley. Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 2: Man and Christ. Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2020.

Brannan, Rick. Historic Creeds and Confessions. Electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Lexham Press, 1997.

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993