LAZARUS COME FORTH
John 11:1-48
INTRODUCTION
1. Nature of Miracles – instantaneous, complete, infinite variety, not necessarily requiring faith
2. Purpose of miracles in general is to glorify God and confirm His word
3. Purpose of Jesus’ miracles was to manifest His glory (John 2:11)
4. His glory will emanate from His followers (2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 4:13)
LOVE AND COMPASSION (v. 1-6, 17-19, 28-36)
1. He loved them
a. Lazarus was he whom Jesus loved (v. 3)
b. Mary was the one “who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word” (Luke 10:39)
c. Even distracted Martha was loved by Him (Luke 10:40-42)
2. “Many of the Jews” had compassion like Him and consoled the grieving. Whether they were wailing out of “duty” or in sincerity is not clear but nonetheless they were “consoling her”
3. Jesus was “deeply moved” and “troubled” (v. 33)
a. “Deeply moved” means indignation as elsewhere used (Matt. 9:30; Mark 1:45; 14:5). We do not know why He was moved but we do know that He was.
b. “Troubled” means agitated or disturbed or stirred up.
4. Jesus wept (v. 35)
a. Only time this word is used and implies to shed tears silently
b. The other time Jesus wept it was audible wailing over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)
c. Explained “So the Jews were saying, ‘See how He loved him!’” (v. 36)
5. Love and Compassion is the driving force behind Kingdom work
FAITH AND COURAGE (v. 7-10, 16, 20-27, 32)
1. Jesus went back to Judea
a. Where “the Jews were just now seeking to stone” Him.
b. But Jesus had faith and knew that it was still day time and His hour had not yet come (see John 9:4; Luke 22:53)
2. The courage of Thomas
a. Thinking that Jesus may very well be killed, decided to go with Him
b. Paul had similar courage and faith (Acts 21:13; 1 Cor. 9:15)
3. The faith of Mary and Martha
a. “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died”
b. “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”
c. “Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?...Yes, Lord”
4. Faith and Courage is what keeps us going in Kingdom work
POWER AND MIGHT (v. 4, 11-15, 37-44)
1. For the glory of God
a. Jesus permitted Lazarus to die so that God would be glorified
b. “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (v. 40)
2. So that you may believe (v. 15, 25-26, 40, 42, 45, 48)
3. Power even over death
a. He is the Resurrection and the Life (v. 25-26)
b. Acts 2:24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power”
c. Phil. 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection”
d. That is separation of body from soul (spiritual) and us from God (physical)
i. Heb. 9:27 “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment”
ii. Heb. 2:14 “through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil”
iii. Rev. 1:18 “the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades”
iv. Rev. 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power”
4. We have this same power and might available toward us (Eph. 1:18-21).
5. Power and Might is the strength behind Kingdom work that makes it effective
ONLY TWO RESPONSES: BELIEF or REFUSAL (v. 45-48)
1. “Many of the Jews” who came to Mary believed
a. Those who had come to console and comfort her
b. This shows the sensitive heart they had
2. Some went and told on Him
a. Those who are looking for a reason to condemn will always have informers
b. No amount of evidence will convince them that refuse to believe (Luke 16:29-31)
3. The chief priests and Pharisees refused to believe
a. They would have lost their “place” (power and prestige)
b. They would have lost their “nation” (physical rule)
4. Jesus always divides those who are His and those who aren’t
a. He is always a threat to those seeking high positions and physical rule
b. He is always accepted by those with a tender and humble heart
5. LAZARUS, COME FORTH
a. Lazarus had a stench from being dead for four days. But Jesus “cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’”
b. You were dead in your trespasses and sins but when Jesus told you to “come forth” and you obeyed His voice, you were made alive and “the man who had died came forth.” No longer are you bound by Satan, sin or the fear of death. For Jesus “unbound you and let you go.”