Lazarus - Part 1 (John 11:1-27)

Daniel L. Arter

The Gospel according to John • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

John 11:1–27

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Transcript

Announcements

Bible Study & Prayer times are still currently suspended until further notice. I’m keeping them suspended until we can finish up the remaining renovations to the Activity Room. Once those renovations are complete, we’ll be restarting our Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer times, I’ll keep you posted on when they’ll restart.

We’re looking for volunteers in several ministries, particularly with outreach and evangelism, music, and reading Scripture and leading prayer during services. If you’d like to help with outreach, evangelism, or music, please speak to Natalie as soon as possible; if you’d like to help with reading Scripture or leading prayer during services, please talk with me as soon as possible. In addition, we still need a treasurer starting immediately. You must be a member in good standing with the ability to utilize a computer; and you must be willing to work on behalf of the church with the bank. Contact me if you’re interested as soon as possible.

Clearly, renovations on the new building are coming along well. I’m sure you’ve noticed that not everything is complete, however, I was confident enough that we could have our service here despite everything not being complete—I’m hoping that having our service here today will (1) encourage everyone that we’re moving forward with the renovation work and it’s a good way to show everyone that we have our own home now: but also (2) I’m hoping that it compels everyone to seek ways in which they can help to finish the work:

We do have more painting and cleaning that needs done—the Activity Room and kitchen are both completely unfinished, they both need painted and they’ll both need cleaned multiple times.

The foyer of the building needs painted and we actually need to get a light put in there, so if anyone can find a fixture that’ll look nice with an exposed box like that, please let me know as soon as possible.

Speaking of lights, we have several lights in the Activity Room that either have dead bulbs or dead ballasts—we’ll need someone to climb up there and check them. As of right now, because the lights don’t work the way they should, it feels almost like you’re walking into a terrifying room in a scary movie, particularly at night, so we should fix that as soon as possible.

The rest of the trim and flooring throughout the building should be done either this week or next week.

We need some help cleaning up the grid on the drop-ceiling, which should probably just be as simple as taking a sponge and wiping it down.

We need help painting the front of the building, I’m sure you’ve noticed that the paint is chipping on one side of the window and it just looks rough on the other side of the window.

All of the interior painting, I’m hoping to get done on Monday and Tuesday of this week and the exterior paint should be done by next week.

Let me give you some house keeping information, just so you aren’t lost when you come in

There are two restrooms in the building, (1) is just off to the side (my right; your left), the second is in the hallway to your left. Let me suggest that until everything is complete in the hallway restroom, utilize the larger restroom just off of the auditorium.

After the service, if you want to take a look at the Activity Room and the Kitchen, please feel free to, but be aware that neither rooms are complete and they’re both covered with equipment, tools, and materials (so please be careful if you go back there).

As always, please remember to worship the LORD through your giving. To help you give, we have three different ways for you to do so: (1) right at the entrance, there is a black offering box through which you would give cash and check gifts—checks should be written to Grace & Peace; and if you want a receipt for your cash gifts, please place it in an envelope with your name on it; (2) debit, credit, and ACH transfers can be done either by texting 84321 with your $[amount] and by following the text prompts; or by visiting us online at graceandpeacepa.com and selecting giving in the menu bar. Everything you give, goes to the building up of our local church and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Repentance and Adoration

Call to Worship (Psalm 31:19-24)

Our Call to Worship this morning is the ending of Psalm 31, which is the end of David’s Psalm, in which he writes a lament concerning the situation of his life. He speaks of great distress in his life, to the extent that he’s certain that he’s going to die, but he commits himself to the LORD. In the last six verses, he ends this psalm with a final section of praise and worship of God. Please stand and read with me Psalm 31:19-24—I’ll read the odd-numbered verses, please join me in reading the even-numbered verses.

Psalm 31:19–24 ESV

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 23 Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Congregational Singing

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

To God Be the Glory

I Will Glory in My Redeemer

Scripture Reading (John 11:1-44)

I’ve asked Stacey to read our Scripture Reading this morning; and this week, I’ve chosen to read John 11:1-44, which includes our passage for this morning’s sermon. I’ve asked for us to read this full text, because it’s important for us to keep our sermon in context; and since I can’t preach through all of John 11:1-44 in one sitting, the next best thing, would be fore us to read the full text together and then split that text in two. You’ll probably be familiar with the passage in the sense that you’ll recognize the historical account as the resurrection of Lazarus. This week, we’ll be focusing on the events that lead up to the resurrection; and next week, we’ll focus on the resurrection itself. Stacey, will you read John 11:1-44 for us?

John 11:1–44 ESV

1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 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.” 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. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus 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. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” 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?” 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 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.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 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.”

Sermon

Introduction

As we continue in our series in the Gospel according to John, we find ourselves in a passage concerning another miracle that Jesus performed during his earthly life, and this miracle happens to be one that is significant for two primary reasons: (1) Jesus literally resurrects someone from the dead—and this isn’t like what we would consider a medical miracle today, where someone was brought from the brink of death, or someone technically died but was able to be brought back. This death, was one that was confirmed by the people, they knew he was dead; and they had buried him in a tomb before Jesus even arrives in Bethany. (2) This miracle is significant because there are obvious foreshadows to Jesus’ own death, burial, and resurrection. You can’t read the account of Lazarus’ death, burial, and resurrection without thinking of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Like the other miracles that we’ve studied in the Gospel according to John, the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus, which is found in John 11, had a specific purpose and the author tells us what the purpose of the record of Lazarus’ resurrection is interspersed throughout the chapter. Unlike some of the other miracles that we’ve studied in the Gospel according to John, this passage is rather long, which is why we read all of it for Scripture reading this morning. As we look at Lazarus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we’re going to split the text into two parts with us working through Vs. 1-27 today and Vs. 28-44 next week; but before I get ahead of myself, let’s read the text for this morning. John 11:1-27.

John 11:1–27 ESV

As we study this text, we’re going to split it into three parts, which provide for us some key points that the passage makes: (1) Vs. 1-6, Lazarus’ illness was for the glory of God. This might sound odd to you because often when we’re sick or suffering with any form of illness we don’t consider that as necessarily a good thing, but what Jesus tells us in Vs. 1-6, is that whatever ailment that Lazarus suffered from was intended to bring glory to God. (2) Vs. 7-16, Lazarus’ death was for the peoples’ belief, which again might sound odd, because we don’t typically think of death as a positive thing, but Jesus teaches us in Vs. 7-16, that Lazarus died and Jesus was glad that he wasn’t there to save him from death, so that [they] may believe; and (3) Vs. 17-27, closes off this week by Jesus making a proclamation about himself that he uses Lazarus’ resurrection to confirm, which will end off this week in a little bit of a cliff hanger because the passage itself continues, but we won’t have time to study the rest this morning. This morning’s message will give us a better understanding of the purpose of Lazarus’ death, burial, and resurrection; and what should occur as we study the passage, is that we ought to see that even in situations that seem out of control (including death), Jesus is still in control—so in these seemingly out-of-control situations of life, we ought to see that God is using it all for his glory and we should be compelled to stand firm in our belief in Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Illumination

Lazarus’ illness was for the glory of God (1-6)

John 11 starts with giving us a bit of information about what is happening, it gives us the setting. The Bible says that a “Certain man was ill” his name was Lazarus, he was from the village of Bethany where Mary and Martha lived.

It makes sense that Mary and Martha are mentioned, because Vs. 2 says “it was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.”

Now if you’ve been following along with us as we’ve studied the Gospel according to John, you might be thinking that we actually haven’t gotten to the point in which Mary anoints the Lord and cleans his feet with her hair, and you’d be completely correct in that assessment. That doesn’t actually happen until chapter 12, but remember, John was written after the life of Jesus as a historical record.

So, as John writes these details, he doesn’t always go chronologically, and occasionally he assumes that the reader will know some details, so he can write that it was Mary who anointed the Lord even before she does it in this particular book, because he assumes that the reader might already know about Mary anointing the Lord.

So this is Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus, who is ill

We don’t really know what caused his illness, but whatever the illness was caused tremendous suffering for him, so much so that the sisters sent word to Jesus that, “[the one] whom you love is ill.”

In this passage, the word that’s translated as love is phileo, which is a brotherly sort of love. This tells us that Lazarus and Jesus had a relationship with one another that went beyond Jesus loving him like God loves all people, Jesus thought of Lazarus like his brother.

Jesus cared for Lazarus and knowing that this illness was severe enough that Mary and Martha felt the need to alert Jesus, makes Jesus’ response a little odd—maybe even absurd. It definitely isn’t how we would expect someone who claims to care for someone else to respond at the news of their illness.

Vs. 4, “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. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

Jesus’ initial response is to make the claim that “this illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God.”

Which might not sound odd at first, until you realize that Jesus in Vs. 14, “told [his disciples] plainly, ‘Lazarus has died.’” It isn’t just that Lazarus is ill, it’s very literally that Lazarus has died and Jesus, being omniscient knows that Lazarus has died.

When Jesus makes the statement then that “this illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God” he tells us that he has something else in mind here. Jesus doesn’t mean that the illness that Lazarus has is not fatal, because clearly it is in that it resulted in Lazarus’ death, what Jesus means is that Lazarus’ illness is not meant to result ultimately in death.

Lazarus might be dead now, but he isn’t going to remain dead.

Rather through Lazarus’ illness, God will be glorified and the Son of God will be glorified through it.

Which is a different way to think of illness than how we normally think of illness. When we typically think of those who are unwell or when we think of suffering with tremendous illness, our normal thoughts are to pity those who are sick and to hope that we never have to be as sick.

But in the case of Lazarus’ illness, Jesus makes the statement that Lazarus’ illness is “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Let me suggest that we ought to think of all of life’s difficulties in a similar light.

Consider Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Many of us have that verse memorized and we recite it to ourselves, but many of don’t know what Paul is calling good in Romans 8 because we don’t know what Romans 8:29-30 says. Romans 8:29-30 continues the idea that all things work for the good of those who love God, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Did you catch what Paul is stating in Romans 8? All things work for good for those who love God—what is the good that Paul is referring to? The conformity of the believer into the image of his Son. Or in other words, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose, all things are working in order for you to be more like Jesus.

Wouldn’t that include illness? Wouldn’t that include deaths of those around us? Wouldn’t it include anything that makes life difficult or stressful? All things work for good for those who love God and for those who are called according to his purpose.

All of life’s difficulties occur to make us more like Christ (James 1 teaches the same) for the glory of God.

Lazarus’ illness and momentary death had a purpose and that purpose was for the glory of God so that Jesus could be glorified through it.

This point is so profound, that there’s a detail in Vs. 5-6 that you might not have noticed. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

Coming from a purely human standpoint, this details is downright odd—it is unusual. If you received word that your closest friend was on his death bed, what would you do?

Would you sit down and eat a few meals? Would you take a nap? Would you go about your regularly scheduled day? No, probably not. You would do whatever you could to reach out to that person or if you lived close enough you would go and see that person. If you were particularly close to someone, you might travel great distances to visit a friend on their death bed.

What does Jesus do? “When he heard that Lazarus was ill,” and clearly this was an illness that warranted sending someone a notice (remember, this was during the first century, Mary and Martha didn’t text Jesus, they sent a messenger to find him). When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, “He stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” What did Jesus do?

He went about his regularly scheduled day—he ate a few meals, he slept, and he showed no level of urgency whatsoever.

You could only imagine what the disciples might have thought. Lazarus is so sick that messengers were sent to notify Jesus, and Jesus doesn’t seem to be concerned whatsoever.

Lazarus is so sick that messengers were sent to notify Jesus, but Jesus claims that Lazarus isn’t going to die, that Lazarus’ illness is all for the glory of God and for the glory of the Son of God.

Lazarus’ illness was for God’s glory and the glorification of the Son of God.

Lazarus’ death was for the peoples’ belief (7-16)

Nevertheless, because Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he and his disciples traveled to Judea to see them. Now, here’s the issue, remember that chronologically, where we’re at in the Gospel according to John, involves Jesus constantly being opposed by the Jewish people, and Judea is the region in which Jerusalem is.

Logically, it makes sense then, that Jesus who faces opposition from the Jewish leadership, shouldn’t go into Judea and the disciples mention this. Vs. 7-8, “Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?’”

Again, what the disciples say is actually logical. Because they’re looking at everything from a human standpoint—we were just in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication in John 10. Jesus made the claim to give eternal life because he and the Father are one, and immediately the people attempted to stone him. Why would someone go back there?

And yet, Jesus still wants to go back to Judea to see Martha and Mary (and the disciples don’t know it yet, but to resurrect Lazarus).

Jesus answers their concern “why would you go back to where they want to kill you?” With this statements in Vs. 9, “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. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’”

Which let’s be honest, seems a bit vague and unusual of a response, but consider Jesus’ response figurative in nature.

Jesus has already utilized the idea of light and darkness; and even the author John utilizes the same imagery in the opening paragraphs of the Gospel according to John—and we know that there is symbolism behind the idea of night and day in the book thus far.

When Jesus asks, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” He’s utilizing the Jewish idea of day being 12 hours and night being 12 hours, so he isn’t speaking of days in the same sense that we speak of days today.

And he’s pulling out this point that during the day, there’s light so someone walking in the day won’t stumble; and anyone walking at night risks stumbling due to the lack of light.

Living in a rural area, we can relate to the lack of light causing stumbling, but remember, this is figurative language. So, the question is, when Jesus refers to the light, what exactly is he referring to? Think all the way back to John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Jesus is the light that he’s referring to in this statement that he’s making in John 11:9-10, which means what Jesus is literally saying in this passage is; “If anyone walks with me, he does not stumble, because he see Jesus. But if anyone walks without Jesus, he stumbles, because Jesus in not in him.”

Considering that Jesus refers to himself as the light, we can deduce that Jesus is telling his disciples that going to the region of Judea, going to Bethany to see Martha, Mary, and Lazarus isn’t actually dangerous whatsoever because they’re following Jesus.

Edwin Blum, “His disciples knew that His going to Judea, would be dangerous. So they tried to prevent Him from going. Jesus spoke in a veiled way to illustrate that it would not be too dangerous to go to Bethany. In one sense He was speaking of walking (living) in physical light or darkness. In the spiritual realm when one lives by the will of God he is safe. Living in the realm of evil is dangerous. As long as He followed God’s plan, no harm would come till the appointed time. Applied to people then, they should have responded to Jesus while He was in the world as its Light. Soon He would be gone and so would this unique opportunity.”

Jesus then makes this statement in Vs. 11, “‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (which is a Jewish way of saying someone has died, but his disciples misunderstand him), but I go to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’”

It is of note, that in Vs. 14, when Jesus says “Lazarus has died,” this shows us his omniscience—the fact that he knows all things.

Because up to this point in the text, no one has told Jesus that Lazarus has died—from the conversation between him and the messenger, all that was told to him was that Lazarus was ill.

However, if you look ahead to Vs. 17, “When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.” Chronologically, what this means is that Lazarus died before he even received the message that Lazarus was sick.

But since it would take time for messages to be sent back and forth, the most recent message that Jesus had received, was of Lazarus’ illness, not his death.

The only way that Jesus could know that Lazarus was dead, is by being God; and by knowing all things.

And then Jesus says something interesting, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.”

Jesus isn’t saying that he’s glad or grateful for Lazarus’ death itself. For Jesus to make that statement would actually seem harsh and calloused, what Jesus is saying is that he was glad that he wasn’t with Lazarus when he died in order to prevent the death.

Because Jesus knew from vs. 11, that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

What Jesus is saying is that he’s glad that he couldn’t prevent Lazarus’ death because now the disciples will witness the miracle of Jesus raising someone from the dead, which should be a tremendous boost to their faith. Jesus is glad for the death of Lazarus not because Lazarus died, but because now there will be another opportunity for the faith of his disciples to be strengthened.

Lazarus’ death was for the peoples’ belief; just like his illness was for the glory of God and the glorification of the Son of God.

Jesus uses Lazarus’ resurrection to confirm his identity (17-27)

Read with me the last eleven verses, which we won’t spend as much time on today because we’ll spend more time on it next week as we tie it into next week’s passage.

John 11:17–27 ESV

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Jesus and his disciples arrive in Bethany of Judea and they find out that Lazarus had already died and had been entombed. But remember, Jesus already knew that Lazarus had died.

The Bible continues and tells us that Bethany was near Jerusalem and because of Lazarus’ death, many Jewish people came to visit Martha and Mary to console them, grieve with them, and encourage them.

So, when Jesus came to Bethany, he and his disciples weren’t the only people there visiting Mary and Martha, which means that what Jesus is going to do in the resurrection of Lazarus, is going to be seen by more people than just Jesus’ disciples, Mary, and Martha.

News of Jesus’ arrival had spread to Bethany before he had arrived, so Martha had heard of Jesus’ coming and went out to meet him, but Mary stayed home. Why Mary chose to stay home isn’t explained.

In Vs. 21, we see Martha making this statement 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.”

There’s a bit of reproach or blame that’s coming out in Martha’s words. There’s a sense of disappointment in what she says and how she says it—if you had been here, my brother would not have died, which shows that Martha had faith in Jesus at least to some extent. Her statement that “whatever you ask from God, God will give you” can be likened to how when we face tremendous difficulties in life, we’ll quote Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to them that love God.”

It’s doubtful, that she actually anticipated the resurrection or resuscitation of her brother, because when Jesus tells her, “Your brother will rise again” she assumes that he’s speaking in a spiritual sense, and when he chooses to go to the tomb and tells them to open it, Martha protests because of the odor of Lazarus’ decomposing body.

It’s very unlikely that she thinks that Jesus is going to resurrect Lazarus in Vs. 21, it’s probably more of her consoling herself. So, when Jesus says “Your brother will rise again,” Martha assumes that he’s speaking spiritually and she says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

And then Jesus ends this section of our passage by stating, “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?’ [and Martha responds] ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Jesus ends this section of the passage by trying to teach Martha—she’s thinking from an abstract, spiritual principle. In the last day, he will rise again, but Jesus is trying to get her to think from a personalized belief in him. This is the fifth of Jesus’ “I am” statements. This started in John 6 when Jesus claims to be the bread of life, it continued in John 8 when Jesus claims to be the light of the world. John 10:7, Jesus says, “I am the door” and 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”

And as he makes this claim, “I am the resurrection and the life,” he’s going to substantiate that claim through the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus, but there’s some more detail that we need to learn from this passage beyond Jesus simply claiming to be the resurrection and the life.

Jesus says, “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.” This statement involves three claims that are vital to the Christian faith:

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, which means that God has given him the ability to bestow resurrection on whomever he wills.

People who believe in him, though they die physically, will still live—as Martha says, in the last day, all who believe will be resurrected.

People who live and believe in him will never die. Obviously speaking not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual death. It is through the saving work of Jesus Christ that the believer is no longer separated from Almighty God. That includes the fact that death will no longer break our relationship with God.

Edwin Blum, “Jesus’ words about life and death are seemingly paradoxical. A believer’s death issues in new life. In fact, the life of a believer is of such a quality that he will never die spiritually. He has eternal life, and the end of physical life is only a sleep for his body until the resurrection unto life. At death the spiritual part of a believer, his soul, goes to be with the Lord.

Jesus says all of this, and he simply asks Martha, “Do you believe this?” To which she replies, “Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

The resurrection of Lazarus, which we’ll read more in-depth next week is utilized by Jesus for this purpose, it confirms who Jesus is; and by Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, Jesus confirms that he is truly the resurrection and the life; and it confirms that Jesus can make the claim that all who believe shall never die, because Jesus is in control of life everlasting.

Lazarus’ resurrection confirms Jesus’ identity as the resurrection and the life; Lazarus’ death was for the people’s belief; and Lazarus’ illness was for the glory of God. Which sets us up in a sort of cliff-hanger because we aren’t actually going to see the resurrection of Lazarus until next week. Until then, the question is, now that we know that Lazarus’ resurrection had more purposes than just being a miraculous event, how can we apply it to our lives today?

Application

Lazarus’ illness was for the glory of God (1-6)—at the first part of the chapter, we read about Lazarus’ illness, but we didn’t really get any details about his illness. All that we know is that it was a severe illness that compelled Mary and Martha to send a messenger to Jesus to give him the news of Lazarus’ condition. Jesus makes this statement that, “[Lazarus’] illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it,” and that is where our application for this section lies:

Our lives are often stressful, busy, and overwhelming (and that’s during a normal day). On the worst days, we find ourselves angry, embittered, depressed, anxiety-ridden, and fearful. I’d imagine, that Lazarus’ suffering with as severe as it was, constituted for multiple worst days—he was probably depressed, fearful, embittered, and anxious.

Mary and Martha, though not suffering with illness, were probably feeling similar emotions on top of their normal everyday busyness and stress—because of Lazarus’ illness and death, they were probably also depressed, anxiety-ridden, and fearful. When situations like this occur, emotions are to be expected.

However, let me point out what Jesus says. “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.”

Our application for this section is simple, we need to fundamentally change the way we think of situations in our lives. Instead of thinking of illness as just an illness that we need to suffer through; instead of thinking of the death of a loved one as something we just need to struggle with; instead of thinking of all of life’s difficulties as just problems that we can’t control; we need to do two things:

We need to realize that Jesus is in control, regardless of these difficulties—Jesus is sovereign, he is all-powerful, he has all-authority. He knows what you’re going through and considering Romans 8:28, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” What Romans 8:28-29 teaches is that God is utilizing everything in your life for your good, to make you more like Jesus Christ—that includes severe illness, that includes the death of loved ones, that includes every tough situation in your life. That doesn’t make it any less difficult as you’re suffering and struggling through it, but it is encouraging to know that Jesus is in control.

Secondly, because Jesus is in control and because we know that he utilizes all things to make you more like Christ, we need to do what James 1 teaches during trials of life: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

During life’s greatest difficulties, we can have confidence in Jesus because Jesus is in control; and we can have joy in Jesus, because Jesus utilizes various kinds of trials in your life to mature you as a believer.

And as you continue to be matured through life’s great difficulties, you will bring glory to God; and you will glorify Jesus Christ.

Stop thinking of life’s difficulties as just something to suffer through; think of them as opportunities for you to bring glory to God through your response. You can bring glory to Jesus through life’s struggles if you recognize that Jesus is still in control and if you count it all joy when you face trials of various kinds. You can glorify God by submitting to him during life’s difficulties and by allowing him to use your struggles in life to mature you.

Stop thinking of life’s difficulties as just something to suffer through; think of them as opportunities for you to glorify God.

Lazarus’ death was for the people’s belief (7-16)—in the mid-section, we read about the disciples trying to stop Jesus from returning to Judea for concern of his life. Jesus makes the statement that if they follow him, they’ll be safe until the appointed time, but then he also says something that might seem calloused at first, until you understand it better. “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that i was not there, so that you may believe.”

Now in this section, that belief is not the same initial belief that we talk about when we speak of salvation.

We know that because he’s speaking to his closes disciples. This is a strengthening of one’s faith that Jesus is referring to—or in other words, he’s saying, I’m glad I couldn’t heal Lazarus before his death because now you’ll have the opportunity to be strengthened in your faith.

Likewise, do you realize that God utilizes difficulties in your life to help strengthen your faith? That doesn’t necessarily mean that Jesus is causing those difficulties, but what it does mean is that part of the sanctifying process is you being rooted and grounded in your faith because of your response to great difficulty in life.

How do we get strengthened in our own faith when we face difficulties in life?

Let me encourage you to look at Vs. 9-10. The disciples are worried for Jesus’ life, but Jesus makes the claim that those who walk in the light during the day, won’t stumble because they can see in the light.

C.S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.”

In other words, our faith is strengthened when we face difficulties in life, when we allow those difficulties to drive us back to Jesus; and as we run back to Jesus, we’re able to view the world around us better because we aren’t allowing the difficulties of life to cloud our lives, but we’re seeing everything from God’s perspective.

Difficulties in life can be used to strengthen our faith if when we face those difficulties, we run to Jesus.

The question then is, how do we run to Jesus when we face great trials in life?

First off, reject the world’s idea of what to do when life is hard—the world teaches us to turn to alcohol or to turn to substances when we’re faced with great trouble. The issue is that when we do this, the troubles return as soon as the substances leave our bodies. The world teaches us to turn to interpersonal relationships when we’re face with great trouble—that can refer to intimate relationships or it could refer to great friendships, but the issue is that when we do this, we’re putting our hope in someone who is just as fallible as you are. The world teaches us to turn to exercise, to go on a long drive, to sit in the rain, to do so many different things to try and cope with hardship in life; but in reality, what we really need when we face hardships in life is Jesus.

So, the proper response when life is difficult—when someone rejects you, when you lose your job, when any number of things happens isn’t to run to the world’s solutions, but to run to Jesus.

You do that through the ordinary means of grace—you pray, you read your Bible, you spend time with like-minded believers, you serve others, you seek the truth of God and you commune with him.

Allow your struggles in life to cause you to be strengthened in your faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus uses Lazarus’ resurrection to confirm his identity (17-27)—in the last few verses of the text, we see that Jesus utilizes what will be the resurrection of Lazarus to confirm that he is in fact the resurrection and the life and that true belief in Jesus as the Christ is what provides the resurrection and the life. Our last bit of application is this:

Seek life through Jesus alone and allow him to utilize you, your struggles in life, and your faith to confirm who he is to other people.

We serve the resurrection and the life; and his names is Jesus—let him use your life to show other people who he is.

Put simply, John 11:1-27 teaches us to: (1) stop thinking of life’s struggle as something to just suffer through, think of them as opportunities to glorify Jesus; (2) you glorify Jesus during your struggles in life by running to him and by being strengthened in your faith; and (3) as God works in you through your struggles, let him use you, your struggles, and your faith to confirm who he is to other people.

We serve the Jesus and we can do that even when life is hard. We glorify Jesus, and we can do that even when we’re struggling. We show people Jesus, even through life’s greatest trials. We exist to bring glory to him.

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