If only…Even now

Where is God When life goes bad And he seems absent?

Does God actually have a plan?

Now a man named Lazarus was sick Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick”

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick” Expectation?

When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death 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 glorified through it”

When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death 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 glorified through it” Jesus knows the outcome Physically and Spiritually

Jesus knows the outcome Physically and Spiritually What does that say about Trusting God?

Why does God need glory (praise)?

God’s glory is never about his need, but ours It’s about revealing his nature so that we can recognize, know and glorify him as God in our lives

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Messengers: He said it won't end in death. Something about God's glory Messengers: He said it won't end in death. Something about God's glory. Jesus stayed.

Have you ever been there? You call out and God is nowhere to be found?

Maybe he doesn't really care Maybe he's afraid Maybe our faith is misplaced

So…Jesus says the sickness will not end in death

So…Jesus says the sickness will not end in death And…Lazarus dies

How do Mary and Martha feel?

We have a right to expect That God will love us (God is love) We have no right to dictate How his love must be shown

Disillusionment: presuming upon God actions consistent with our expectations of love

Disillusionment: presuming upon God actions consistent with our expectations of love God owes me… If he existed… It’s not fair…

What’s missing? Humility

What’s missing? Humility Perspective

What’s missing? Humility Perspective Submission (Shepherd)

Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" What's the operative word?

"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" What's the operative word?

Jesus is in control No one ever takes he life He lays it down When he's good and ready

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

"I am the light of the world"- Jesus Jesus has the timetable The light stays lit Until Jesus says different

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 up.”

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

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

He's dead, Jim!

God is constantly trying to teach his followers That we can trust him

"Lord, help me see beyond the what I can see with my eyes To the One I can trust with my heart"

“For God’s glory… so that you may believe” Belief is a direct consequence of the revealing of God’s glory

“For your sake I’m glad I was not there…” Lazarus suffered death in order to be a blessing to others “Lord, how can you use my situation for your glory and others’ benefit?”

Eggs of Steel!

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

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Is she right?

Is she right? Does it change anything?

We all have "If Onlys"

“If onlys” are barriers to:. - Walking with Jesus “If onlys” are barriers to: - Walking with Jesus - Growing spiritually - Living life “to the full”

“If onlys”:. - Tied to the past, backward focused “If onlys”: - Tied to the past, backward focused - Regret or accusation - Live in the unreality of what might have been - Are full of guilt or anger

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

"Even nows" give God room to work:. - Present-to-future perspective "Even nows" give God room to work: - Present-to-future perspective (forward-looking) - Are God-centered - Involve faith - Include acceptance and forgiveness

“Even nows” create paths for spiritual. growth: “Even nows” create paths for spiritual growth: - “What can I learn from it?” - “What can I do differently in the future?” - “How can my experiences help others?”

Am I willing to give up my “if onlys” for God’s “even now”?

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” “I believe in the right doctrine”

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Don't believe in a truth And miss The Truth

"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world”- vs. 23-27 Martha moves from faith in a religious tenet To faith in a Person

The point at which faith becomes real is when it is founded On the person of Jesus Christ

And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.

When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

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

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Deeply moved= enebrimeesato- connotes anger (to snort with anger)

Deeply moved= enebrimeesato- connotes anger (to snort with anger) God hates sin because it always ends in ruin, destruction, heartache

Deeply moved= enebrimeesato- connotes anger God hates sin because it always ends in ruin, destruction, heartache God’s anger moves him to the action of love= cross

Freebie: One way to measure character is, “What makes me angry Freebie: One way to measure character is, “What makes me angry?” “What does it motivate me to do?”

"Where have you laid him. " he asked "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!” But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

People-pleasing never works

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.

But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days”

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

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

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!” “Lazarus! This way out!"

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go" - vs. 40-44

Would that make you believe?

Not everyone does…

What’s the difference between Lazarus’ resurrection and Christ’s?

What if Jesus had simply answered Mary and Martha’s first request?

Never put a period where God has placed a comma

Never put a period where God has placed a comma Never put a period where God has placed a comma - Round 1- Christ was wrong and Lazarus is dead

Never put a period where God has placed a comma Never put a period where God has placed a comma - Round 1- Christ was wrong and Lazarus is dead - Round 2- There’s a guy walking around in grave-clothes

"If onlys" are periods that can define us "Even nows" are commas that can set us free

Jesus is alive Power over life and death He changes the period of death to the comma that brings triumph

What could he do In your life If you let go of the past and trusted him for today?