Sermon Tone Analysis

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Introduction

We can certainly see the majesty and power of our Lord in this most amazing miracle.

There are other places in the gospel record where it shines through but not quite as bright as we see here in this miraculous resurrection of Lazarus.

We have taken several weeks to look at this chapter and we have noticed many important and helpful truths.

We have looked at:

The Priority of Prayer - as the immediate response of Mary and Martha was to send for Jesus in their hour of need

The Glory of God- Jesus reminded us in vs 4 - “this sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God” - oh how we need to remember that the events in our life (good or bad) are for his Glory!

The Resurrection and the Life - We pointed out that although we are headed for an eternal home in glory and a resurrection body, we need to pause to remember that Jesus is right here and right now.

We have but one opportunity to spend our life for him - once it is passed, the opportunity will never again come.

It is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve God because we get only one life!

Transition

When Jesus saved you he did something for you that if we are not careful we can forget.

We can get our eyes so focused on problems, people and petty things that we lose sight of the significance of our salvation.

The record of Lazarus being raised from the dead was an amazing display of the power of God.

A power, that with all of our human advancement we cannot duplicate.

No physician on earth has the power to defeat death.

With all of our advancements we may be quite able to delay it in many respects but no matter the medicine or procedure, death over this frail, sin cursed body, is inevitable.

As we look once again at the powerful Resurrection of Lazarus I want us to notice 3 important truths

I.

The Condition of Lazarus

The condition Lazarus was in, paralells the condition we were in before Jesus saved us - or possibly where you are at this morning

A.

He was Dead

“to the grave”

B. He was Decayed

“by this time he stinketh” v 39

In Bible times they did not embalm a body like we do today - so his condition at this point would have been quite gross

Illustration: Megan and her trip to Haiti - One of the comments she made to me was that it stunk so bad.

There were places that the stench was so difficult to endure that she was at the point of vomiting.

But the sad reality is that to the people who live there it does not bother them like it does us.

They are so familiar with the stench that they are not bothered by it.

Before Jesus found you - the stench of your sin did not bother you…you were literally decaying flesh and you were unaware!

C.

He was Doomed

“if thou hadst been here...” v 32

It was almost as if they had given up on Lazarus - they had accepted the fate - He was dead and nothing could be done about it!

Jesus could have helped at some point but now the situation is too far gone

Application: We need to be careful in our evaluation of people and circumstances - you may have lost family and friends who you think there is no hope for - you may think about yourself in these terms - I have sinned to much - I am to far gone - My situation is impossible - I cannot see a way out -

Can I remind you that we were all doomed before we met the risen Savior!

The Condition of Lazarus - now let’s look at.....

II.

The Call of Lazarus

A. It was a Personal Call

“Lazarus”

The Gospel is for the whole world - “whosoever will” - but God deals with individuals

Many people put off dealing with their condition because they are afraid to look honestly at themselves

Illustration: I remember when God was dealing with me about my lost condition - it felt like I was the only person he was focused on - like he was pointing out my sin and the penalty for it.

The I personally called on him to save me - It was me!

Song - It’s Me O Lord

It's me it's me O Lord

Standing in the need of prayer

It's me it's me O Lord

Standing in the need of prayer

Verse 1

Not my brother not my sister

But it's me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

Not my brother not my sister

But it's me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

Verse 2

Not the preacher not the deacon

But it's me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

Not the preacher not the deacon

But it's me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

Verse 3

Not my father not my mother

But it is me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

Not my father not my mother

But it is me O Lord standing in the need of prayer

B. It was a Precise Call

“come forth”

His call to us is just as precise

Illustration: I was talking with a woman just the other day and I asked her if she knew the Lord and her response was quite interesting - “I am very religious…I have been to all kinds of churches” I said well that’s nice but I am not asking about how religious you are or how many different churches you have been to .... “I attended Grand Canyon State University which is a Christian University....I have taken OT Survey and NT Survey....” On and on she went.

Nicodemus might have said the same thing - he was a Pharisee and he was clueless about his need to be born again!

C. It was a Powerful Call

So powerful was the call of Christ that when heeded it brings a person out of the grave!

The Condition of Lazarus, The Call of Lazarus … now I want us to notice

III.

The Change in Lazarus

When Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus everything changed!

Death reigned and decay had set in but still everything changed!

A. It brought Life

“and he that was dead came forth” v 44

This was not just a future quickening - it was an immediate change in position

Lazarus could embrace his family and friends and he could fellowship with Christ like never before

B. It brought Liberty

“bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound with a napkin .....loose him and let him go” v 44

After a man is saved he is still in his graveclothes, but he does not have to remain that way

C.

It brought Light

“and his face was bound...” v 44

The napkin covered his face so that light could not penetrate

Illustration: I was watching 60 minutes the other evening and it had a story about two doctors that are doing Cataract surgery in Kathmandu Nepal.

The population there has very limited access to medical care and due to a number of factors cataracts are very prevalent.

Not only does the disease affect the sight of the individual (eventually causing complete blindness), but it causes the life expectancy of the person to drop dramatically as well.

What is a simple thing to have corrected here in America, has devastating effects in this less developed nation.

These doctors have perfected the correction surgery to such a degree that they are able to literally line people up in an assembly line and cut out the cataract and insert the new lens in about 4 minutes a person.

A day or so later the persons sight is completely restored.

The news cameras filmed rooms full of people as they were being followed up on after surgery.

The protective eye patches were removed and the look on peoples faces was dramatic.