Morning Sermon September 9, 2018

“Life vs. Death” John 11

I. See Jesus setting the stage for the display of His resurrection power, why?

1. For God’s and His glory –

When 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." (John 11:4 NKJ)

2. For the increase of His disciple’s faith –

Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." (John 11:14-15 NKJ)

3. For the faith of those standing by –

Then 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. ⁴² "And 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." (John 11:41-42 NKJ)

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Note, this prayer is public, God had already heard and answered Jesus’ prayer!

How does Jesus set the stage?

4. When Jesus got the message from Lazarus’ sisters, He DELAYED Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." (John 11:3 NKJ)

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (John 11:5-6 NKJ)

A. The delay resulted in Lazarus’ death –

Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14 NKJ) Meaning a more glorious miracle, not just a healing!

B. The delay resulted in Lazarus being dead four days, meaning he was already buried / meaning his body would be rotting, stinking –

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. (John 11:17 NKJ)

Jesus 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." (John 11:39 NKJ)

...by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. John 11:39 K J V

C. The delay seems to have given more people an opportunity to witness this miracle –

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. ¹⁹ And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. (John 11:18-19 NKJ)

II. See Jesus’ power and glory displayed in this miracle –

(John 11:25 NKJ)

(John 11:40 NKJ)

1. Here we have another “I AM” statement –

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58 NKJ)

2. He has been claiming God as His Father –

When 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." (John 11:4 NKJ)

3. The Jews wanted to stone Him for these CLAIMS –

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59 NKJ)

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. (John 10:31 NKJ)

The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." (John 10:33 NKJ)

The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" (John 11:8 NKJ)

From stinketh, to LIFE, is only in God’s power

⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And 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."

(John 11:43-44 NKJ)

If His other miracles did not prove Him to be the Son of God and the Great I AM, His raising Lazarus, conquering death and corruption, shows Him truly God.

III. See the results, the responses to this miracle –

1. Many believed -

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. (John 11:45 NKJ)

2. Others were hardened against Him –

(John 11:46-51 NKJ)

Note what Jesus’ enemies are saying:

1. “This Man works many signs” :47 meaning they acknowledge His miracles
2. “If we let Him alone… everyone will believe” --- isn’t this the natural, normal response you would expect from seeing great miracles? Even they expected it!
3. The high priest prophies Jesus’ death but not in a way that is to his credit.

The same sunshine and rain that makes flowers bloom and grow also makes manure stink! Earlier in this passage Jesus said Lazarus “sleeps”

¹¹ These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." (John 11:11 NKJ)

Though He new he was physically dead - Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14 NKJ)

Physically Martha said - he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

1. From God: What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus –

(Revelation 1:5 NKJ)

2. From themselves: if we kill Him they thought they would keep their place in the nation –

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25 NKJ)

IV. Application –

1. Jesus is all about LIFE - "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJ)