The Fourth Sunday of Easter

SERMON

INI

Text: John 11:1-44

[In view of the length of this text, the entire history of Jesus’ miracle of the raising of Lazarus, it will not be printed out in its entirety, but rather will be referenced throughout the sermon. Those reading this sermon are referred to their personal Bibles.]

In Christ Jesus, whose claim to possess “all authority…in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) is no idle boast, dear fellow redeemed:

How can you tell whether someone claiming to represent God really does represent God or is simply a false prophet? In Old Testament times God gave His people a simple method to do this. He told them that if anyone claimed to represent God and said that something would happen and it did not—it was obvious he was a false prophet (cf. Deuteronomy 18:22). God also said, should someone claiming to represent God actually perform signs or miracles, they still should not believe him if what he preached conflicted with the clear Word of God (cf. Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Jesus Christ came into this world claiming to be from God and to represent God. He claimed that His Father in heaven sent Him to be this world’s Savior (cf. John 3:16). He claimed to be “the light of the world” (John 8:12), to be the “bread of life” (John 6:48), to be the only way to the Father (cf. John 14:6), and in our text to be “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). How do we know that these claims of Jesus are true? Why should we not simply join so many people in our world today who view Jesus as just one of many other religious teachers and Christianity as just one of many ways to God? The answer is two-fold and employs the simple method God gave His people ages ago—Jesus performed mighty miracles to confirm the truth of His message, a message that did indeed conform to the entire word of God. Let us consider today the history surrounding what is one of Jesus’ greatest miracles—the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and let us believe with absolute confidence that JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!

I.

As such He is to be glorified by every aspect of our lives, even our deaths! The history of this miracle begins with these words, “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha…. Therefore the sisters sent to Him (Jesus) saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’ 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.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again…. Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.’” (Verses 1, 3-7, 11-15)

The little town of Bethany lay two miles southwest of Jerusalem. Whenever Jesus went there, He was sure to visit his friends—Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. It was only natural, therefore, for Mary and Martha to think of Jesus when their brother became ill. They sent for him, assuming that he would come and knowing that he was able to help. Jesus, however, did something that seems initially somewhat strange. He announces mysteriously that Lazarus’ sickness was “not to death” but then He remained where He was for another two days until Lazarus died. Questions regarding Jesus’ lack of action no doubt arose among the disciples once they heard of Lazarus’ death, but there was no question that Jesus both understood and was in command of the situation. God’s purposes would be fulfilled by this situation as Jesus explained—Lazarus’ sickness and death occurred “for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

My dear friends, if things beyond our control, such as sickness and death, can be and are used by God to His own glory and that of His Son, our beloved Savior, how much more ought not we strive to have every word and action in our lives serve that same blessed purpose? The Bible urges us, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Jesus Himself promises us, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). JESUS can make that promise because He IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! He deserves and is to be glorified by every aspect of our lives, even our deaths!

II.

As the resurrection and life He promises that if we die, we will live again and never die! When Jesus neared the outskirts of Bethany, four days after Lazarus’ burial, Martha came out to meet him, while Mary remained at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus responded, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha responded, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” It was in response to Martha’s expression of faith that Jesus then made a most wonderful statement, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (Verses 21-26) What is Jesus saying? He is saying that He has power over life and death. He is saying that we may well die before He returns on Judgment Day, but that every believer who dies in this world will live again.

There is no question, my dear friends, that when our believing friends or relatives die and are buried, they will live again. In fact, their souls go immediately to God’s presence in heaven. Solomon assures us in Ecclesiastes, “The dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (12:7). Beyond this, however, Jesus says that those who have been given spiritual life through the Spirit’s mighty act of conversion and therefore believe in Jesus will “never die!” Jesus is not here speaking of physical death any longer, but rather is speaking of eternal death in hell. When you and I are led by the Spirit to believe in Jesus we can and are to have the confidence that everlasting life in ours—a gift of God’s grace!

Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” Martha’s response is heart-warming: “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (Verses 26-27) Martha did not know what Jesus was planning to do that day, but she knew who He was and willingly and joyously placed her hope and confidence in His saving name!

My dear friends let us follow Martha’s fine example! The world has no answer for death. Oh, the world says flowery things about those who die, but you can see the fear and the hopelessness in the eyes of the unbeliever as the end of life approaches and uncertainty regarding the future increases. JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! He promises that if we die, we will live again and never die!

III.

He also shares our sorrow and comes to address our greatest needs! Having completed their conversation, Martha quickly went to bring Mary to Jesus. Those mourning with her, assumed she was leaving the house to go to her brother’s tomb. When Mary met Jesus she “fell down at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’” (Verse 32) Mary’s comment reveals both faith and confusion—faith in Jesus’ power to heal, but a failure to understand the extent of that power. For Mary the grief she was experiencing blinded her eyes to the possibilities Jesus’ presence offered. Jesus, seeing the distress caused by sin and its consequence death, “groaned in the spirit and was troubled!” (Verse 33) Seeing the pain suffered by those He loved—those for whom He had come as both Friend and Savior, “Jesus wept!” (Verse 35) Jesus’ tears were not shed in frustration over an inability to deal with this crisis, but rather the result of His compassionate love for human beings and His intense desire for their welfare. But Jesus knew exactly what He intended to do. He was planning to address the great need facing these mourners and intended to delay no longer. He asked, “Where have you laid him?”

My dear friends, Jesus knows our sorrows. He walks with us each day. He knows every nook and cranny of our lives and His intent is always to heal. The writer to the Hebrews says, “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:14-15). What sorrow is presently causing you great distress? Is it the sickness of a friend, the death of a relative, the hurt of a broken relationship, the stress of financial shortfalls, the aches and pains of growing old? Know that when you call upon the Lord, He will deliver you! (cf. Psalm 50:15) Your Jesus will come to you and address that need. He comes through His word and assures us that His word will make us complete and equip us thoroughly for every good work (cf. 2 Timothy 3:17). He comes to us through His angelic hosts, for they will protect us “lest (as the Psalmist says) you dash your foot against a stone” (91:12). He comes with power directly to guard and protect us, for He promises, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! He shares our sorrow and comes to address our needs!

IV.

He, finally, has absolute power over even the greatest of our enemies! Those standing by wondered why Jesus had not come earlier to help Lazarus, for after all He had opened the eyes of the blind—surely he could have removed a fever. Little did they expect the demonstration of power they would now witness. Jesus, upon reaching the grave site, ordered the stone covering the door removed. Martha objected, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” (Verse 39) Why had Jesus delayed coming? There was to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Lazarus was indeed dead. Jesus, with kindness and understanding, replied, “Did I not say to you, that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (Verse 40) Jesus, then turning to the grave lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 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.” (Verses 41-42) Having said this He cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!” (Verse 43) What happened? Lazarus came forth wrapped in the clothes of death, but alive because JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!

My dear friends, there was professor once years ago, an avowed atheist, who was invited to address an audience in a large university auditorium. The professor’s presentation was intended to demonstrate that the Bible and Christianity were patently false. He centered his final argument on this miracle and suggested that Jesus was a fraud. He claimed that Lazarus had never died, but had arranged with Jesus to pretend He had died so that Jesus’ fame and consequent fortune would increase through a supposed miracle. His evidence, he explained, was that Jesus cried out to Lazarus by name, the use of Lazarus’ name being the pre-arranged cue for Lazarus to know that Jesus had finally arrived. He then challenged those listening to demonstrate the fallacy of his thinking. Everyone was silent for a time until an older gentleman near the rear of the auditorium stood up and said simply, ‘If Jesus had not used Lazarus’ name every tomb in the cemetery would have been opened and all of the dead there would have risen! JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! He has absolute power, my dear friends, over even the greatest of our enemies—even over death! Therefore as you contemplate your futures, both here in this world and after you leave this world, do not do so with a fearful heart, but rather with boldness and confidence in your dear Savior, Jesus! Amen.

Soli Dei Gloria!

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting