Love in the Midst of Sorrow
Introduction: John gives us seven miracles to show that Jesus is God. Seven is the perfect number, no doubt Jesus preformed many more than the six we have looked at in John’s gospel but John is building a case against the Gnostics. The Gnostics said that Jesus became the Christ and was not the Christ at crucifixion. John is proving that Jesus is God and his greatest proof is in the miracle we are going to look at today.
John 11:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
The difference between a house and a home
Jesus had no house.
Luke 9:58 (NKJV) 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
But the house of Lazarus was a home
We do not know who Lazarus’ mother and father were or if they lived there – but we known that this was one place were Jesus was welcome and could find peace
We do not know if Lazarus was married or if he had a wife what her name was
He was probably not married but was single and lived with two single sisters, Martha and Mary
John tells us it was not Mary Magdalene who anointed the Lord’s feet, nor a prostitute by Mary the sister of Martha – some have conjectured that she was in love with Jesus
The sisters sent a message and did not use Lazarus’ name only “he whom you love” – that was enough!
They did not ask Jesus to come – they believed that he would – it is not possible that one could love a friend and desert him
The time for God’s Glory- is connected to the Cross!
John 7:37 - 39 (NKJV) 37On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 12:23 - 28 (NKJV) 23But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
ILL: It was Lazarus’ sickness and death that brought Jesus back to Jerusalem and to the cross. Bethany is less than two miles from Calvary! To go to Lazarus was to take the first step which would end on the cross. Lazarus being sick did not bring God glory – the Cross did!
Time enough but not to much
John 11:5 - 15 (NKJV) 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
Why did Jesus wait?
One answer is that Jesus waited so that there would be no doubt that Lazarus was really dead.
Another answer is that the miracle would be more impressive
Jesus moved on His own initiative not on any one else’s – He is God and you do not direct what He does or when He does it!
John 2:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
John 7:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
ILL: My wife’s father, Steve Roberts, said he was going to die on his 81st birthday. He died 28 days before. I told the people at his funeral that God did not let him die on the day he had planed so the God would still be God!
Jesus is eternal – He always was He always will be
Revelation 1:4-8 (NKJV) 4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who £loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us £kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, £the Beginning and the End,” says the £Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
C. What is time with God?
2 Peter 3:8 - 9 (NKJV) 8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
ILL: “Are there not 12 hours in a day”
A day cannot finish before it ends and nothing will shorten or lengthen it. – If you choose to serve God your day cannot finish until God wishes it to end
There is time enough to do everything you should do
But since there are only 12 hours they should not be wasted
ILL: I have noticed when I desperately need something from God, He usually shows up at the last moment!
The Courage of Thomas
John 11:16 (NKJV) 16Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
ILL: Yes this is the disciple called “doubting Thomas.” It was easier for Thomas to be able to die with Jesus than to live with the resurrected Christ.
The funeral
John 11:17 - 32 (NKJV) 17So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
What the Jews believed about death
Psalms 6:5 (NKJV) 5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?
Psalms 30:9 (NKJV) 9 “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?
Psalms 88:3 - 5 (NKJV) 3 For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draws near to the grave. 4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength, 5 Adrift among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And who are cut off from Your hand.
Psalms 88:10 - 12 (NKJV) 10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah 11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Psalms 115:17 (NKJV) 17 The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV) 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
The Jewish death ceremony
The Procession: The women went first because it was a woman who brought death into the world by her sin
Memorial speeches of deepest sympathy
No food to be eaten in the presence of the dead
All furniture in the house reversed
Three days of weeping – no anointing – no shoes
Everyone expected at the home
The Greatest Knowledge of Who Jesus is
John 11:20 - 27 (NKJV) 20Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Death is separation
1 Corinthians 15:20 - 28 (NKJV) 20But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
B. Jesus gives eternal life
John 3:10 - 21 (NKJV) 10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
V. Jesus proves who He is
John 11:33 - 44 (NKJV) 33Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” 38Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
We have to be freed from the penalty of sin
Take off the rotten grave cloths
James 1:16 - 21 (NKJV) 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Conclusion: - Many Believed
Love permits pain and sorrow
Love leaves prayers unanswered
Love comes at length with blessings which are indescribably, immeasurably glorious
