John 11:28–37 Sermon
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28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 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. 32 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.” 33 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. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we covered John 11:17-27.
First, we spoke of the consolation of Mary and Martha.
Lazarus, who was their brother, had been in the tomb for four days.
They lived in Bethany which was about 2 miles from Jerusalem and many of the Jews were there with Mary and Martha consoling them because of their brother who had died.
Jesus was north from where they were and when He had heard about Lazarus being ill, He had remained where He was for two more days. Then when He knew Lazarus had died He decided to go to where Lazarus was.
Martha heard Jesus was coming so she had went to Him.
Then she said in verse 21,
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
Which was true if Jesus would have healed Lazarus from his illness.
Then in verse 22,
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Martha knew that Jesus could ask God anything and that God would give it to Him.
Most likely Martha had heard of Jesus performing miracles which were many according to John 21:25.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Jesus took His time to get there and it was for a reason.
The reason being that Jesus wanted them to see the glory of God.
Jesus told Martha that her brother would rise again and her response was,
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
She had thought that Jesus was talking about a future event where there would be those who’d be raised to everlasting life and everlasting shame and contempt (Daniel 12:2).
But Jesus was not talking about a future event. He was speaking about Himself as the resurrection and the life!
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Jesus pointed to Himself as the object of faith.
He continued in verse 26,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
And her response showed that she had believed!
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Which is the point of the John writing this account.
31 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.
Martha came to this knowledge of Jesus prior to Lazarus being raised which is the point of the miracle in the first place.
It wasn’t to raise someone from the tomb it was to raise someone from being dead in sins.
Martha said this about Jesus proving that God had done a work in her already!
Outline
Outline
1. The Teacher calls (v.28-29)
1. The Teacher calls (v.28-29)
2. The Teacher greatly troubled (v.30-33)
2. The Teacher greatly troubled (v.30-33)
3. The Teacher weeps (v.34-37)
3. The Teacher weeps (v.34-37)
1. The Teacher calls (v.28-29)
1. The Teacher calls (v.28-29)
Verse 28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
Verse 28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
Throughout all the gospels we see Jesus being called Teacher.
Teacher (didaskalos) was used to describe someone who was recognized in instructing others. Specifically it was used to speak of someone who could instruct others with the law.
Moses, Elijah and many of the prophets in the Old Testament were called teachers.
It essentially meant that one was a Rabbi which means teacher (we see Jesus being called this in John 1:38).
Nicodemus said that Jesus was in fact a teacher from God (John 3:2).
Jesus when washing His disciples feet in John 13 said in verse 13,
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
Jesus when He had resurrected was called Rabboni in Aramaic by Mary Magdalene (John 20:16).
Here is what is interesting about this. The issue here for Martha and Mary was that there brother had died.
And they called Jesus Teacher not miracle worker. Or the One who had done signs and wonders.
They knew of what He had done when it comes to healings but the title they gave Him and addressed Him by was teacher (didaskalos).
Question: Why am I pointing this out?
This is being pointed out because Jesus is being addressed by what He had taught and not what He had done.
But the miracles were done to prove that He was who He said He was!
Nicodemus said in John 3:2,
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
We see here that Nicodemus and some of his peers saw the miracles Jesus did as the reason why He must have come from God. But even Nicodemus Himself did not recieve the testimony about Jesus (John 3:11).
So even though Nicodemus saw the works Jesus did and believed Jesus came from God, He didn’t receive the testimony that Jesus had been given by others and also from Himself.
But that wasn’t the case with Martha. Remember what she had said in verse 27,
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
With saying this, she would go and tell her sister Mary that Jesus (the Teacher) was calling for her.
Then in verse 29,
Read Verse 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.
Read Verse 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.
The first time they had heard of Jesus coming in verse 20, it was Martha who had gone to Him while Mary remained seated at the house.
But now Jesus had called for her and when she had heard about Him calling for her, she rose quickly and went to Him.
Notice still that Jesus had not yet entered into the village where they were.
We saw that when Jesus had received the news of Lazarus being ill that He would remain where He was for two more days (John 11:6).
But Jesus knew what would happen at the end. In fact He said in verse 4,
4 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.”
Jesus (the Teacher) called for Mary and she quickly rose to go to Him.
And though Jesus knew about the end result we see Him greatly troubled by the sorrow Mary had for her brother.
2. The Teacher greatly troubled (v.30-33)
2. The Teacher greatly troubled (v.30-33)
Read Verse 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.
Read Verse 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.
We do not know exactly where Jesus was. We just know that it was near the village where they lived.
Read Verse 31 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.
Read Verse 31 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.
Here, because Martha spoke to Mary privately (v.28) the Jews there didn’t know exactly where Mary was going.
Read Verse 32 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.”
Read Verse 32 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.”
Remember that it was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair (John 11:2).
She loved Him. Both Martha and Mary did. And they had sent a message to Him that their brother Lazarus was ill.
Lazarus died and there were people there consoling them.
When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went to meet with Him but Mary remained.
Martha also said to Jesus in verse 21,
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
They both said this. Probably because of how long it took Jesus to get there.
You’d think because He loved Lazarus that He would quickly go to them but at the news of Lazarus being ill Jesus remained where He was for two more days.
It was because Jesus knew the outcome and the reason for Lazarus being ill and then dying.
4 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.”
Even though Jesus knew that this would be the outcome notice something in verse 33.
Read Verse 33 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.
Read Verse 33 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.
This is probably one of the most significant insights into the heart of Jesus.
He knew without a doubt that Lazarus would live even after dying and yet we see that He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.
The actual text doesn’t include the word deeply but it is implied because of what “moved” meant.
Here to be moved meant to have an intense, strong feeling of concern. It meant to feel strongly about something
Jesus felt a strong, intense concern for those who were weeping.
And when it says He was greatly troubled it meant that Jesus was experiencing emotional turmoil.
Question: So how could Jesus experience this when knowing that the ultimate outcome would be that God would be glorified?
It’s important to remember what we have in our Articles of Faith,
Article 4 - God The Son
4-1. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Word, the eternal and true God who is of one substance and equal with the Father. He took on Himself man's nature, with all of its essential properties except sin...
Jesus took on Himself man’s nature. He was fully and truly God and fully and truly man.
Because He was a man it would follow that He would experience what any man would have experienced when seeing people who are in sorrow and pain.
He felt an intense strong feeling of concern over their pain and sorrow.
He was emotional over their weeping and pain. Which shows us His heart and compassion for people even while knowing the ultimate outcome.
This is helpful for us because Jesus experienced this without sin.
For us, experiencing sorrow and pain over the loss of a loved one or for others who are hurting does not mean that we are doubting. It just means that we have hearts.
Jesus the God Man has a heart. And He sympathizes with us in our weaknesses.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
We see Jesus throughout the gospels being moved with compassion.
Jesus had compassion over the crowds (Matthew 9:36)
He had compassion over the crowds and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14)
He fed four thousand out of compassion (Matthew 15:32)
When He had seen a great crowd who were like sheep without a shepherd He had compassion on them (Mark 6:34)
He had compassion on the widow who’s son died (Luke 7:11–17)
Sovereignty does not mean not having emotion.
Jesus who perfectly followed God the Father was deeply moved and troubled because they were weeping.
What we cannot say is that Jesus had mood swings. That what we do because we have sinful desires.
But Jesus does not experience emotions outside of His divine nature. Jesus is fully and truly God, and He did not experience these emotions apart from Him being God the Son.
Everything Jesus experienced in the incarnation was rooted in His divine nature. Which shows us that God the Son had genuine compassion but without sin.
He was moved and troubled which would compel Him to act on their behalf.
What we have to be careful with is that though Jesus experienced this here in our text, it is not a change in His divine nature.
Nor is it a contradiction of emotions in His heart as a man. Jesus was sinless.
What Jesus experienced here was compassion and empathy to those in pain. He shared in their sufferings. And sought to comfort them.
The impassability of God is that God does not experience pain or pleasure due to the actions of others. So in His divine nature we do see that there is no change. In Jesus as fully man we see Him responding to people which is not a contradiction.
Hypostatic Union is the union of the two natures (Divine and human) in the person of Jesus.
We should never separate the two when speaking of Jesus but we can point out distinctions which is what I am doing today.
Specifically, with the response we see here with Jesus being moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.
This is happening because Jesus is indeed truly and fully man!
Let us not forget that what He was about to do was not mainly alleviate them of their sorrow. It was so that God would be glorified.
4 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.”
Yes, Jesus acted out on Him being moved and troubled over their need to be consoled, but Jesus never lost sight of divine priority.
There was a plan! And the plan was for God to be glorified.
This should be the same for us!
Jesus because He was moved and troubled for them He would express that in Him weeping also. Showing His emotions to them.
3. The Teacher weeps (v.34-37)
3. The Teacher weeps (v.34-37)
Read Verse 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
Read Verse 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
Read Verse 35 Jesus wept.
Read Verse 35 Jesus wept.
Jesus here literally shed tears.
This was showing Jesus being moved and troubled over what was going on.
This again is not a lack of trust but a sign of compassion over their hurt in the death of Lazarus.
Jesus genuinely loved them and He expressed that love in being moved and troubled to the point of weeping with them.
This is an outward expression proving His humanity and also the ability to do it without sin.
The Jews who were there saw Him weeping and said in verse 36,
Read Verse 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
Read Verse 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
He in fact did!
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
He showed this with what He experienced with being moved and troubled but...
Read Verse 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Read Verse 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
And there lies again our problem.
The problem being that they did not see the divine plan allowing for Lazarus to die from his illness.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
His concern for the glory of God did not mean a lack of concern for Mary and Martha.
It was because He had prioritized the glory of God so that they would have exactly what they needed. Namely, the truth of Jesus being believed.
Which seems to not be the case with those who were questioning Jesus in verse 37.
It may have seemed late to everyone but for God it was exactly what He wanted to do. He wanted to show that this illness would not lead to death. It would be for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses
He is a compassionate God who knows our pain and He knows what we need most.
Even if a healing happens or not, God knows what we need. Which ultimately is not physical healing but a saving believe and knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
God may look like He’s not timely but trust me He knows what we need and when we need it!
And what we need most is to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And be believing this we will have life in His name!