John 11 Jesus is Lord over death. “Are you certain you understand that if you proceed and press the 'yes' button on the next screen that you will die?”

John 11John 11

Jesus is Lord over death

“Are you certain you understand that if you proceed

and press the 'yes' button on the next screen

that you will die?”Euthanasia Computer

NATURALCAUSES

BSEC CCL No. 222155

John 11

  11Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 22This Mary, whose This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 33So the So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

  44When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." glorified through it." 55Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Lazarus. 66Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. where he was two more days.

  77Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

  88"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

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  99Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. world's light. 1010It is when he walks by night that he It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." stumbles, for he has no light."

  1111After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." up."

  1212His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 1313Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. thought he meant natural sleep.

  1414So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 1515and for and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." believe. But let us go to him."

  1616Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

John 11 NIV

The time for God’s glory The time for God’s glory Jesus’ good friends needed him

Lazarus of Bethany was dying This sickness will not end in death He loved Martha… So, when he heard… he

stayed… two more days A return to Judea – the beginning of the

end Are there not 12 hours of daylight? The night time is fast approaching (John 9:4,5) Jesus remains fully in control of his destiny

(John 10:18)

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  1717On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. in the tomb for four days. 1818Bethany was less than two miles Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, from Jerusalem, 1919and many Jews had come to Martha and and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 2020When When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. him, but Mary stayed at home.

  2121"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. brother would not have died. 2222But I know that even now But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." God will give you whatever you ask."

  2323Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

  2424Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." resurrection at the last day."

  2525Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 2626and and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" believe this?"

  2727"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

  John 11 NIV

If only…If only… Lord, if you had been here my brother

would not have died. How often had both sisters said this already? Did Lazarus die because Jesus wasn’t there? Remember the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8)

How often do you say if only… ? Remember that if only… means if only God… A few verses from Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Jesus’ response to Martha’s Jesus’ response to Martha’s faithfaith He brings words of comfort

Your brother will rise again I am the resurrection

There are only glimpses of the resurrection in the OT There was a live debate between Jewish teachers Physical Resurrection is no longer just a teaching it is

made visible and concrete in Jesus’ own person: He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; Jesus … has destroyed death and has brought life and

immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10b) …and the life

For the believing soul, eternal life has already started 26whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

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  2828And after she had said this, she went back and called her And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." asking for you." 2929When Mary heard this, she got up quickly When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. and went to him. 3030Now Jesus had not yet entered the Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. him. 3131When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. to mourn there.

  3232When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." here, my brother would not have died."

  3333When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. and troubled. 3434"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.       "Come and see, Lord," they replied.       "Come and see, Lord," they replied.

  3535Jesus wept. Jesus wept.   3636Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"   3737But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes

of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"John 11 NIV

Jesus’ response to Mary’s griefJesus’ response to Mary’s grief She falls at his feet

In Luke 10 she sits at his feet listening to him teach

In John 12 she kneels at his feet to anoint him In the place of humility and dependence

He sees her weeping and the others He is deeply moved in spirit and troubled

He is indignant Jesus wept

Revealing his humanity – a man of sorrows Perhaps for what lay ahead of him Some saw his love Some mistakenly thought he was weeping at his

own powerlessness

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3838Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 3939"Take away the "Take away the stone," he said. stone," he said.       "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by       "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days." days."

  4040Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" would see the glory of God?"

  4141So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 4242I knew I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." me."

  4343When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" "Lazarus, come out!" 4444The dead man came out, his hands The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. face.       Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let       Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."him go."John 11 NIV

Jesus’ power over death Jesus’ power over death revealedrevealed Take away the stone

Lazarus has been dead 4 days Even Martha’s faith falters Jesus gently reminds her of his message

Jesus thanks the Father for hearing his prayer For the sake of the unbelieving spectators

Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out Take off the grave clothes and let him go

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  4545Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, had seen what he did, believed in him, 4646but some of them but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

John 11 NIV

If only…If only… If only God would show himself If only God would come down to

earth If only God would understand

what it is to be human

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John

1:14)

If only…If only… If only God would deal with all the

suffering and pain and death

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces

(Isaiah 25:8)

If only…If only… If only someone could come back and

tell us what lies beyond the grave Rich Man in Hades

“if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent…”

Abraham“If they do not listen to Moses and

the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises

from the dead.”(Luke 16:30,31)

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Jesus said to her, Jesus said to her,

"I am the resurrection and the life. "I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me will live, He who believes in me will live,

even though he dies; even though he dies;

and whoever lives and believes and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. in me will never die.

Do you believe this?Do you believe this?““

Yes, Lord," she told him, Yes, Lord," she told him,

"I believe that you are the Christ, "I believe that you are the Christ,

the Son of God, the Son of God,

who was to come into the world."who was to come into the world."