Jesus is Lord over death 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?” Euthanasia Computer Euthanasia Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

NATURAL CAUSES

7Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."  1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."  4When 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." 5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.  7Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."  8"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"   John 11 BSEC CCL No. 222155

9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight  9Jesus 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. 10It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."  11After 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."  12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."  16Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11 NIV BSEC CCL No. 222155

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) Jesus’ friends lived very close to Jerusalem, just two miles outside the city. Jesus had probably stayed in their house many times whilst he was ministering in Jerusalem Jesus had withdrawn to about 20 miles from Jerusalem 10:40 the place beyond the Jordan where John baptised 1:28 Bethany beyond the Jordan Day 1 – messenger comes to Jesus Day 2 – messenger returns to Bethany Day 3 – Jesus waits another day then departs Day 4 – Jesus arrives in Bethany According to The sense of the original Greek word translated Yet by NIV is actually v5,6 “Jesus loved… SO he stayed” Roman days were always 12 hours. Jesus suggests that the end of the day is coming John 9:4,5 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. Jesus lay down his life of his own accord John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. Thomas went on to found the church in India

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."  23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"  27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."   John 11 NIV BSEC CCL No. 222155

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? Was it because Jesus wasn’t there that Lazarus had died? Centurion said to Jesus “Only say the word” If only… God 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 faith 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. 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 The Sadducees denied it, the Pharisees taught it 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 Isa 26:19 19 But your dead will live;        their bodies will rise.        You who dwell in the dust,        wake up and shout for joy.        Your dew is like the dew of the morning;        the earth will give birth to her dead. Daniel 12:2 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:13  13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." Hosea 13:14  14 "I will ransom them from the power of the grave ;        I will redeem them from death.        Where, O death, are your plagues?        Where, O grave, is your destruction?

36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"  28And 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." 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When 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.  32When 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."  33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked.       "Come and see, Lord," they replied.  35Jesus wept.  36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"  37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" John 11 NIV BSEC CCL No. 222155

Jesus’ 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 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 Word for weeping means a loud weeping, a lamentation Although she says little tears and cries pouring out her distress before Jesus He is deeply moved in spirit and troubled He is indignant at the ravages of sin in the world he has created sin brings death as its wages (Rom 3:23) Satan uses the fear of death as a terrible weapon to enslave people

38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39"Take away the stone," he said.       "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days."  40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"  41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I 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."  43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The 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." John 11 NIV BSEC CCL No. 222155

Jesus’ power over death revealed 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 Take away the stone Lazarus has been dead 4 days According to Jewish legend, the spirit hovered over the corpse three days before departing for Sheol Even Martha’s faith falters CSI can be fairly gruesome but I’m glad it isn’t very realistic and I’m particularly glad I can’t smell some of the scenes. Putrefaction is not a pleasant process. Jesus gently reminds her of his message "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Jesus prays For the sake of the unbelieving spectators Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out Hogwash. A sick man, four days without food and water, and bound from head to toe would have little chance of survival in a rock tomb. Jesus states emphatically that Lazarus was dead (11:14). How coincidental that Jesus arrives in the nick of time to shout his friend out of his coma. Another miracle of extraordinary timing. In addition, Lazarus’s body would have been handled to make it ready for burial. They would have noticed that the body was still warm, a sure sign of life.

 45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. John 11 NIV BSEC CCL No. 222155

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14) 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 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 someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent…” 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)

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, 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?“ Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." Jesus is Lord over death – point to wall BSEC CCL No. 222155