Life Out Of Death
Preaching
Preaching the Miracles
Cycle A
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it."
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." 8The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." 12The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; 15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." 23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24Martha said to him, "I know that 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, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 29And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; 34and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35Jesus wept. 36So 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?"
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, "Take away the stone. "Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." 40Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." 45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.
"Get a life!" is the new catch phrase for the 90s. It is said that it replaces the slogan of the 80s, "Have a nice day." Now, they say, the smiley stuff no longer works in the present when times are harder and people have to knuckle down and get serious about doing what they have to do.
"Get a life" - where does one get life? Is it earned? Is it a gift? In today's miracle, raising Lazarus from death to life, Jesus gave him life. Can anyone give life other than Jesus?
Why did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life? Why didn't he let him stay dead? Since Jesus and Lazarus loved each other, we can assume the dead Lazarus was in paradise. Moreover, the resuscitated Lazarus had to die again. It was only a temporary extension of physical life. Raising Lazarus caused Jesus only trouble. It aroused the religious leaders to put in motion a strategy to crucify Jesus. Did Jesus raise Lazarus just to comfort the sisters, Martha and Mary?
There must be a very good reason for Jesus' raising Lazarus. By bringing Lazarus out of death, he wanted the people to see the glory of God, to have faith in him as the Son of God and to reveal himself as the Life, with a capital "L." Previously, Jesus demonstrated in the miracle of giving sight to a man born blind (John 9) that he was the Light of the world. In this miracle Jesus demonstrates that he is the Life of the world.
The focus of the miracle is not upon Lazarus' being raised from the dead, nor upon Jesus' ability to raise the dead. Previously he raised Jairus' daughter and a young man at Nain. The point is the truth related to this miracle: eternal life is in Christ and by faith in him the believer is given eternal life.
Acclimation
The Situation
The brother of Martha and Mary, Lazarus, fell ill at his home in Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem. The three were special friends of Jesus who often stayed with them and had dinner in their home. Jesus and his disciples had gone to an area where John the Baptist used to preach. The sisters sent a message to him that the one he loved was sick.
When Jesus received the message, he assured his men that this happened for the glory of God. He waited two days and then announced he would return to Judea to wake up Lazarus from sleep. Knowing that Jesus' life was threatened, the disciples protested his plan and reasoned that if Lazarus was asleep, he would awaken. Then Jesus flatly told them Lazarus was dead.
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus already was four days in a tomb. Martha was the first to go to meet Jesus. She told him that her brother would not have died if he were present, but added that she knew that anything he asked of God, he would do it. Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise to life. "Yes," she said, "he will rise on the last day." Then Jesus made clear that eternal life begins now by believing and living in him. Did Martha believe this? Oh yes, she said she believed he was the Christ, the Son of God.
Martha returns to tell Mary that Jesus is asking for her. Mary runs to him and says the same: Lazarus would not have died if you had been here. She wept along with the other women who came with her. Jesus was so moved by their tears that he, too, cried. They went to Lazarus' tomb. When Jesus ordered them to remove the stone at the entrance, Martha warned Jesus that after four days in the tomb, the odor would be bad. When the stone was taken away, Jesus thanked God for always answering his prayers. Then, with a loud voice, he commanded Lazarus to come out. When he did, Jesus ordered that they should unbind him from the grave clothes. As a result not all, but many, believed in Jesus.
The Setting
The Scriptural Setting. As the ninth chapter of John is given to demonstrate by the healing of the man born blind that Jesus is the Light of the world, the 11th chapter demonstrates through the raising of Lazarus that Jesus is the Life of the world.
Only John tells the story of this miracle. Since it is so dramatic and important, the question is often raised why the Synoptic writers are silent about it. Did they not know about it or did they not think it was important enough to tell it? Or, is the story of Jesus' raising Lazarus a non-historical creation of John's mind?
The miracle occurs between the winter feast of dedication and the spring feast of the Passover. The raising of Lazarus took place shortly before the Passover. With his disciples Jesus had gone across the Jordan to the area where John the Baptist preached. It was there Jesus received the message that Lazarus was sick. After a delay of two days, Jesus returned to Bethany for the miracle. Then he went to a desert place in Ephraim to escape his enemies. Six days before the annual Passover, Jesus was back in the home of Lazarus and his sisters at Bethany. According to John, this miracle was Jesus' seventh and last miracle.
The people involved in the miracle were very dear friends. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. When he came to Jerusalem, he made his home with them. On one occasion Martha was perturbed with Mary for not helping her with the preparation of the meal (Luke 10:38-42). During the final week of his ministry Jesus again was in their home where Mary anointed him with expensive perfume (John 12:1-8). The love between Jesus and the family was mutual, for the sisters' message to Jesus simply said, "Lord, your dear friend is sick (11:3)."
The Church Year Setting. This miracle story was chosen for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Formerly it was named "Passion Sunday." Now we call the Sixth Sunday in Lent "Palm-Passion Sunday." It falls only two Sundays before Easter. What has the raising of Lazarus to do with the approaching passion and death of Jesus?
It is an appropriate choice for this Sunday, because it is closely related to the Passion. It occurred during the last two weeks of Jesus' earthly ministry. The miracle was the immediate cause of the plot to kill Jesus. Some observers of the miracle reported it to the religious leaders. They were alarmed that Jesus' popularity would cause the Romans to destroy their nation and temple. The high priest, Caiaphas, prophesied that it was better to kill Jesus than to have the nation destroyed. Consequently, both Pharisees and Sadducees made plans to kill Jesus and ordered the people to report Jesus' whereabouts that they might arrest him. The miracle was the starting point of the crucifixion. Regretfully the pericope stops at verse 45. It should continue through verse 53 in order to fit the miracle into the Lenten season.
Related Passages
1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah brings back to life a widow's son.
2 Kings 4:18-37 - Elisha revives the son of a Shunammite woman.
Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 - Jesus raises Jairus' daughter.
Luke: 7:11-17 - Jesus raises a young man at Nain.
Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha.
Luke 16:19-31 - The parable of Lazarus and Dives.
John 12:1-6 - Mary, Lazarus' sister, anoints Jesus.
Acts 9:36-43 - Peter raises Dorcas to life.
The Lectionary
Lesson 1 (Ezekiel 37:1-14). As Jesus' words bring Lazarus back to life, Ezekiel is commanded to preach the Word to the dead bones of people in Babylonian exile. In response to the Word, the bones become living bodies.
Lesson 2 (Romans 8:6-11). Paul writes that the Spirit gives life. Death is associated with the "flesh," the old Adam in human nature. The Spirit will raise up our mortal bodies even as Jesus raised Lazarus from death.
Gospel (John 11:1-45). The account of Jesus' raising Lazarus brings out the following truths:
1. Illness and death can be to the glory of God - vv. 4, 40.
2. The miracle can create faith in Christ - vv. 15, 42, 45.
3. Eternal life is believing in Christ - vv. 25-26.
4. Christ reveals his compassion for the sorrowing - vv. 33-36.
5. Jesus' power over death is demonstrated - vv. 43-44.
Liturgical Propers. In harmony with the Gospel lesson, the Psalm of the Day (Psalm 116:1-9) assures us, "Thou hast delivered my soul from death'' In the Prayer of the Day we pray for the Spirit to enable us to follow God's commands and to proclaim his love for us. The Hymn of the Day, "Glory Be To Jesus' is a Lenten hymn expressing glory to Jesus for his death on the cross and pouring out his lifeblood for the sin of the world. The Lessons and Propers harmonize on the theme of bringing life out of death by means of the Spirit and the Word.
Explanation
Lazarus (v. 1). The name, Lazarus, is a short form of "Eleazar" meaning "God helps." We know very little about Lazarus: his parents, occupation and his post-resuscitation life. All we know is that he had two sisters. The three were close friends of Jesus and their home was his home when he came to Jerusalem. The best thing about Lazarus was his love for Jesus and Jesus' love for him.
Love (vv. 3, 5). Love is all that needs to be said. Martha and Mary sent a message to Jesus: "He whom you love is ill." There is no request that he come and heal Lazarus. Love is enough, for love cares and helps. It is not that Lazarus and his sisters love Jesus, but that Jesus loves them. We love him because he first loves us. Grace comes first and we respond with love.
Stayed (v. 6). When Jesus received the message of Lazarus' illness, Jesus waited two days before going to Bethany. By that time Lazarus was dead. Why didn't Jesus go immediately just as a good pastor goes at once to a person in a crisis? Jesus had a sense of proper timing. At the Cana miracle, he said, "My hour has not yet come." When he refused his brothers' suggestion to go to Jerusalem, he said again, "My time has not yet come." Apparently Jesus waited for Lazarus to die so that in raising him people would see the glory of God and be led to believe in him as the Son of God.
Asleep (v. 11). Jesus announced Lazarus' death as his having fallen asleep. The disciples took this literally and said that there was no reason to go to him, for he would naturally awaken. Then Jesus explained that Lazarus was dead. To speak of death as a sleep gives hope and comfort. Sleep infers that a person in due time will awaken. If death is a sleep, we will awaken to a life with Christ. For a Christian, death is not a permanent condition, for death was conquered by the risen Christ.
Dead (vv. 14, 17, 39). Death is a reality. Lazarus was more than sleeping; he was really dead as dead can be. We often shy away from the word, "death," by referring to it as one who expired, or passed away or terminated. The fact is death. It is pointed out that Lazarus was dead four days. At the time Jews believed the soul stayed with the dead body for three days. On the fourth day, there was no hope for a return to life. Moreover, the reality of death was emphasized when Martha warned Jesus not to remove the stone away from the tomb, for by this time the odor would be most unpleasant. This miracle was not a hoax by claiming Lazarus was in a coma or unconscious. Because he was completely dead, raising him demonstrated the power and glory of God through Jesus.
Here (vv. 21, 32, 37). Both sisters confronted Jesus with "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Was this an accusation or complaint? Were they blaming Jesus for the death? Some of the friends asked, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Or, could the sisters' statement be an expression of their faith in Jesus' ability and willingness to heal? The truth of the matter is that all is well when Jesus is present. When Jesus is absent, all kinds of trouble exist.
Resurrection (vv. 24, 25). Here is the heart of the miracle story. Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life. He resurrects believers to eternal life. There is a difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Lazarus was resuscitated; Jesus was resurrected. To be resuscitated is to be brought back to life only to die again. Resurrection means to come back from death never to die again. The Greek word for life is zoe, meaning spiritual life. Another Greek word for "life" is psyche denoting natural, physical life. Jesus resurrects the believing dead to eternal life. His own resurrection confirms his power to resurrect.
Believe (vv. 27, 45). Jesus put Martha on the spot by a direct question, "Do you believe this?" Believe what? That Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that one who lives and believes in him will never die. After witnessing the miracle many of the people believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Eternal life is not a natural right of being human. It is a gift only to those who believe in Jesus as the Christ. To believe is to accept and trust in Jesus as the Lord of life.
Wept (vv. 33, 35). The death of Lazarus was a weeping affair for the family, friends and Jesus as it was for many funerals. Surely he did not weep because Lazarus was dead, for he knew he was going to bring him back to life. Seeing Mary and her friends weeping, out of sympathy Jesus wept with them. He identified with their sorrow. It expressed his total humanity, his love and compassion. Soon their sorrow turned into joy because Lazarus was restored to life.
Voice (v. 43). With a loud voice, Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb. The miracle was a miracle of words. Nothing was done, not even a touch, to raise Lazarus. It reveals the power of God's Word. We remember that the universe was created by God's saying, "Let there be ..." and there was! The Word of God has the power to resurrect the dead and to make all things new. The power of preaching is the power of the Word.
Unbind (vv. 39, 44). Jesus expects us to do what we can. If he had the power to raise the dead, surely by a word he could have told the stone to move away and the grave clothes to fall off. Rather Jesus commands friends to remove the stone away from the tomb and to untie the grave clothes. When an angel came into a prison to release Peter, the angel opened the doors of the prison but asked Peter to tie his own shoes! God expects us to do what we can while he always does his part.
Application
Relevance Of Revelation
1. Since death is universal, every person is affected by today's miracle. One day we will either face death with Lazarus or be among the bereaved with Martha and Mary. John 11:17-27 is probably read at funerals as often as Psalm 23. It is comforting to know that Jesus shares our sorrow as he wept at the grave of Lazarus. Today we need his help to face and overcome our grief by assuring us that those who die in him have eternal life. This miracle eventually applies to every person.
2. Today's miracle raises some questions for the preacher, questions that need to be answered before preaching on it. The questions result from the fact that only John reports this most important and dramatic miracle of raising Lazarus from death. Is this a historical reality or just an ideology? Did John manufacture this story to illustrate Jesus as the Life? Is this miracle only an extension of the parable of Lazarus and Dives? After due consideration, study and reflection, one, for the sake of effective preaching, needs to come to the conclusion that we can trust the record which tells us this was a true, real, historical event even if the synoptics do not report it.
3. This miracle is relevant to the church year and our preaching related to it. Today we face Jesus' declaration that he is the resurrection and the life. In two weeks (Easter) we celebrate the resurrection. In both cases we have the theme of being raised from the dead. The challenge is to avoid duplication and repetition of ideas. The difference between the two Sundays (Lent 5 and Easter) is the difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Jesus' resurrection confirms his power to raise the dead. If he himself was not raised, we would have trouble believing he raised another person. Both Sundays seem to be saying that there is life after death and that Christ can and will raise believers to life eternal.
Sermon Suggestions.
Minor Themes. In John 11 there are several excellent texts which may not harmonize with the overall theme of the day and may not blend with Lent 5. Nevertheless they are preaching possibilities.
1. Death as sleep (vv. 11-13). Jesus referred to Lazarus' death as a sleep. He said he was going to awaken him from his sleep. To consider death as a sleep makes it easy to think of one's own dying. It is as normal and easy as falling asleep. But, there is comfort in the concept, for when one sleeps, one always awakens. When we go to sleep in Jesus, we shall awaken to life with him in paradise.
2. Invitation to die (v. 16). There was no doubt in Thomas' mind when he called upon his fellow-disciples to follow Jesus to death. When Jesus announced he was going back to Bethany-Jerusalem where his enemies were plotting his death, Thomas wanted all to go with him to face the same fate. Bonhoeffer said that when Jesus invites us to discipleship, he invites us to die with him. Is the average Christian so fully and deeply committed to Christ as to be willing to sacrifice life for him?
3. The presence of Jesus (vv. 21, 32). Both Mary and Martha confront Jesus with the true statement, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." This was a conviction that Jesus had the willingness and power to restore the sick to health and thus prevented death. The absence of Jesus in our lives spells fear, worry, misery, failure and death. The presence of Jesus means life, peace and joy.
4. Jesus wants you (v. 28). Martha goes to Mary to tell her, "The Teacher (Master) is here and is calling for you." This is an excellent text for an evangelistic sermon. Jesus loves you enough to want you. He wants to help, to heal, to save you. You are important and precious enough to Jesus to be wanted. Why do we not respond quickly and immediately, like Mary, to go to Jesus and fall at his feet in adoration and commitment?
5. Jesus wept (v. 35). Jesus had real tears as he stood with Mary and Martha outside of the tomb of Lazarus. They were tears of love - "See, how he loved him (v. 36)!" They were not tears of sorrow, for Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus. The tears show that Jesus weeps with us when we weep over lost loved ones. He is perfectly human and is thoroughly compassionate.
6. Do your part (vv. 39, 44). Jesus expects us to do what we can to overcome our problems. What can one do when a loved one dies? Is there anything one can do to assist in a divine miracle? Jesus called upon Lazarus' friends to remove the stone in front of the tomb and to take off his grave clothes. Surely, if Jesus could bring a person out of death, he could have used his power to remove the stone and to unbind Lazarus. But, Christ wants our participation to do what we can to help.
Major Themes
1. A work of grace (v. 3). Here is the gospel! When Lazarus was deathly ill, Jesus was needed to cure him, but he had left for the wilderness of Judea. The sisters sent a message to him - not to come at once, not to cure Lazarus. The message was simply that the one he loved was sick. There was no request, no appeal, no demand - just a fact. Love was the reason for Jesus to come and help. It was not their love for Jesus, but his love for Lazarus. The gospel is the good news of prevenient grace - God in Christ comes to us when we need him because he loves us.
2. The glory of God (v. 4). Jesus saw the illness and death of Lazarus as an expression of the glory of God. By raising him from the dead, he showed the people the glory of God through God's power of resurrection. Jesus interpreted his passion and death as evidence of God's glory. His glory is manifest in his power over death and in granting eternal life to believers.
3. A promise of life (v. 23). One of the greatest promises of the Bible is the promise Jesus made to Martha: "Your brother will rise again." The promise is for life eternal. It is not necessarily a future gift, but a present one. Life comes when Christ is believed and accepted as the Resurrection and the Life. It is a life in Christ, and that life never ends even when physical death arrives.
4. Do you believe? (vv. 25-26). Jesus made the wonderful statement that he was the Resurrection and the great promise that Lazarus would rise to life. But for this promise to come true, faith is required: "Do you believe this?" Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? Do you believe Jesus can give eternal life and is the victor over death? Martha did, for she gave a confession matched only by Peter's at Caesarea Philippi - "I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God." Eternal life is not for unbelievers. For this reason, the conducting of a funeral for a non-believer is a very difficult task for a pastor.
5. Let there be life! (v. 43). Life comes out of death at the sound of Jesus' words, "Lazarus, come out!" He said it loudly and with authority. As God's Son, he had all power and authority even over death. God's Word is power to be and do. Let there be light, and there was light. Let there be life, and there was life. The Word of God is both word and deed. According to Isaiah, God's Word never returns void. It always accomplishes its purpose. This truth points to the power of preaching, teaching and reading the Word of God and to the necessity of hearing and reading it.
Sermon Structures
1. Dynamics of the Word (11:43). The Word of God has the power of God, a power greater than any human power. It was with a loud voice that Jesus spoke the word, "Lazarus, come out!" This same power is available today through God's Word. What the Word can do for you -
A. Bring life out of death.
B. Bring good out of evil.
C. Bring victory out of defeat.
D. Bring hope out of despair.
2. Christ and the Human Situation (11:1-45). The account of Jesus' raising Lazarus is a description of our human situation. The meaning and victory of our situation are in Christ and evidenced in the gospel story.
A. All are doomed to die - "Lazarus is dead." - v. 14
B. Someone cares - "Jesus wept." - v. 35
C. Life can be renewed - "Your brother will rise again." - vv. 25-26
D. Released to live and serve - "Unbind him." - v. 44
3. How Two Women Handled Grief (11:17-37). Mary and Martha experienced the death of their brother whom they loved. In this passage we see how two people of the same family handled bereavement.
A. Martha and her grief - reaction in reasoning
1. Believed God would answer Jesus' prayer - v. 22
2. Believed in a resurrection on the last day - v. 24
3. Believed Jesus is the Messiah - v. 27
B. Mary and her grief - reaction in feeling
1. Sat and waited - reflection - v. 20
2. Fell at Jesus' feet in adoration - v. 32
3. Wept to express her love - v. 33
4. Your Part in God's Miracles (11:38-44). Jesus did not perform the miracle of raising Lazarus by himself. He called upon friends who were at the cemetery. Of course, Christ could have done it all, but he wanted people to get involved by removing the stone and unbinding the mummified Lazarus. Indeed, God does 99 percent of it, but the one percent is also important and needed. You can have a part in a miracle -
A. By praying as Jesus did - v. 42
B. By obeying God's commands - vv. 39, 44
5. Life out of Death (11:1-45). Christ brings life out of death, not after death. Eternal life is a present possession for those in Christ.
A. The reality of death - vv. 14, 17, 39. Lazarus was dead for four days and his decomposed body caused a bad odor.
B. The greater reality of life - vv. 23-26, 44. The life Christ gives is true life consisting of love, joy and peace. It is life that never ends.
6. Death is Not so Bad (11:4, 25; Philippians 1:21). While most people fear and dread the prospect of death, others want to die. Some physicians are asked to help patients to die. Many are signing "living wills" authorizing medical authorities not to keep the terminally ill body alive by artificial means. For Christians death is not so bad because -
A. Death can be to the glory of God - v. 4
B. Death is overcome by the Resurrection - v. 25
C. Death is the entrance into heaven - Philippians 1:21
Illustration
Jesus wept. Every year the graduating class at a southern theological seminary poses for a class picture and a class motto is attached to the photo. One year the students could not agree on a scripture verse that properly described the class. In desperation they asked a professor for his suggestion. He offered John 11:35. The students scurried to find a Bible and see what the passage was. They read, "Jesus wept."
Death is not so Bad. Marta, a woman of the Third World, was a hollow person. She was 30 years old, the mother of seven, alone, uneducated and despairing. She made blouses to pay for her food. Lorenzo, her husband, came home drunk when it suited him. Water in the faucet was for only two hours daily. People stood in line for hours waiting to get water. Her children had parasites. She was asked, "Marta, what has been the happiest event in your life?" After a long time she answered, "Maybe when it ends."
Do Your Part. Jesus asked friends of Lazarus to remove the stone before the tomb and to untie him when he emerged from it. Mr. and Mrs. David Twitchell on July 4, 1990 were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of their two-and-a-half-year-old son, Robyn. As Christian Scientists they treated their son with prayer only and failed to secure medical help. They failed to do their part in the child's possible recovery.
Death as a Sleep.
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
- William Cullen Bryant, Thanatopsis
When Need. When Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus. Out of love for him, Jesus voluntarily went to the home in Bethany. In a typical group of 100 people a survey reveals:
33 have marriage and home problems
50 have emotional problems
20 suffer from bereavement
20 have nervousness and anxiety
3 to 8 struggle with a sense of guilt over homosexual feelings or practices.
Do it for Love. The message sent by Lazarus' sisters to Jesus was that the friend he loved was sick. Love was enough to bring help from Jesus. For years friends held a birthday party for an aged person. Each year they gave her knick-knacks for her house. On her 90th birthday a friend asked what she wanted for her birthday this year. "Give me a kiss," was the reply, "so I won't have to dust it." Just the kiss is all - a kiss of love.
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." 8The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." 12The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; 15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." 23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24Martha said to him, "I know that 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, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 29And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; 34and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35Jesus wept. 36So 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?"
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, "Take away the stone. "Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." 40Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." 45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.
"Get a life!" is the new catch phrase for the 90s. It is said that it replaces the slogan of the 80s, "Have a nice day." Now, they say, the smiley stuff no longer works in the present when times are harder and people have to knuckle down and get serious about doing what they have to do.
"Get a life" - where does one get life? Is it earned? Is it a gift? In today's miracle, raising Lazarus from death to life, Jesus gave him life. Can anyone give life other than Jesus?
Why did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life? Why didn't he let him stay dead? Since Jesus and Lazarus loved each other, we can assume the dead Lazarus was in paradise. Moreover, the resuscitated Lazarus had to die again. It was only a temporary extension of physical life. Raising Lazarus caused Jesus only trouble. It aroused the religious leaders to put in motion a strategy to crucify Jesus. Did Jesus raise Lazarus just to comfort the sisters, Martha and Mary?
There must be a very good reason for Jesus' raising Lazarus. By bringing Lazarus out of death, he wanted the people to see the glory of God, to have faith in him as the Son of God and to reveal himself as the Life, with a capital "L." Previously, Jesus demonstrated in the miracle of giving sight to a man born blind (John 9) that he was the Light of the world. In this miracle Jesus demonstrates that he is the Life of the world.
The focus of the miracle is not upon Lazarus' being raised from the dead, nor upon Jesus' ability to raise the dead. Previously he raised Jairus' daughter and a young man at Nain. The point is the truth related to this miracle: eternal life is in Christ and by faith in him the believer is given eternal life.
Acclimation
The Situation
The brother of Martha and Mary, Lazarus, fell ill at his home in Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem. The three were special friends of Jesus who often stayed with them and had dinner in their home. Jesus and his disciples had gone to an area where John the Baptist used to preach. The sisters sent a message to him that the one he loved was sick.
When Jesus received the message, he assured his men that this happened for the glory of God. He waited two days and then announced he would return to Judea to wake up Lazarus from sleep. Knowing that Jesus' life was threatened, the disciples protested his plan and reasoned that if Lazarus was asleep, he would awaken. Then Jesus flatly told them Lazarus was dead.
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus already was four days in a tomb. Martha was the first to go to meet Jesus. She told him that her brother would not have died if he were present, but added that she knew that anything he asked of God, he would do it. Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise to life. "Yes," she said, "he will rise on the last day." Then Jesus made clear that eternal life begins now by believing and living in him. Did Martha believe this? Oh yes, she said she believed he was the Christ, the Son of God.
Martha returns to tell Mary that Jesus is asking for her. Mary runs to him and says the same: Lazarus would not have died if you had been here. She wept along with the other women who came with her. Jesus was so moved by their tears that he, too, cried. They went to Lazarus' tomb. When Jesus ordered them to remove the stone at the entrance, Martha warned Jesus that after four days in the tomb, the odor would be bad. When the stone was taken away, Jesus thanked God for always answering his prayers. Then, with a loud voice, he commanded Lazarus to come out. When he did, Jesus ordered that they should unbind him from the grave clothes. As a result not all, but many, believed in Jesus.
The Setting
The Scriptural Setting. As the ninth chapter of John is given to demonstrate by the healing of the man born blind that Jesus is the Light of the world, the 11th chapter demonstrates through the raising of Lazarus that Jesus is the Life of the world.
Only John tells the story of this miracle. Since it is so dramatic and important, the question is often raised why the Synoptic writers are silent about it. Did they not know about it or did they not think it was important enough to tell it? Or, is the story of Jesus' raising Lazarus a non-historical creation of John's mind?
The miracle occurs between the winter feast of dedication and the spring feast of the Passover. The raising of Lazarus took place shortly before the Passover. With his disciples Jesus had gone across the Jordan to the area where John the Baptist preached. It was there Jesus received the message that Lazarus was sick. After a delay of two days, Jesus returned to Bethany for the miracle. Then he went to a desert place in Ephraim to escape his enemies. Six days before the annual Passover, Jesus was back in the home of Lazarus and his sisters at Bethany. According to John, this miracle was Jesus' seventh and last miracle.
The people involved in the miracle were very dear friends. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. When he came to Jerusalem, he made his home with them. On one occasion Martha was perturbed with Mary for not helping her with the preparation of the meal (Luke 10:38-42). During the final week of his ministry Jesus again was in their home where Mary anointed him with expensive perfume (John 12:1-8). The love between Jesus and the family was mutual, for the sisters' message to Jesus simply said, "Lord, your dear friend is sick (11:3)."
The Church Year Setting. This miracle story was chosen for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Formerly it was named "Passion Sunday." Now we call the Sixth Sunday in Lent "Palm-Passion Sunday." It falls only two Sundays before Easter. What has the raising of Lazarus to do with the approaching passion and death of Jesus?
It is an appropriate choice for this Sunday, because it is closely related to the Passion. It occurred during the last two weeks of Jesus' earthly ministry. The miracle was the immediate cause of the plot to kill Jesus. Some observers of the miracle reported it to the religious leaders. They were alarmed that Jesus' popularity would cause the Romans to destroy their nation and temple. The high priest, Caiaphas, prophesied that it was better to kill Jesus than to have the nation destroyed. Consequently, both Pharisees and Sadducees made plans to kill Jesus and ordered the people to report Jesus' whereabouts that they might arrest him. The miracle was the starting point of the crucifixion. Regretfully the pericope stops at verse 45. It should continue through verse 53 in order to fit the miracle into the Lenten season.
Related Passages
1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah brings back to life a widow's son.
2 Kings 4:18-37 - Elisha revives the son of a Shunammite woman.
Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 - Jesus raises Jairus' daughter.
Luke: 7:11-17 - Jesus raises a young man at Nain.
Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha.
Luke 16:19-31 - The parable of Lazarus and Dives.
John 12:1-6 - Mary, Lazarus' sister, anoints Jesus.
Acts 9:36-43 - Peter raises Dorcas to life.
The Lectionary
Lesson 1 (Ezekiel 37:1-14). As Jesus' words bring Lazarus back to life, Ezekiel is commanded to preach the Word to the dead bones of people in Babylonian exile. In response to the Word, the bones become living bodies.
Lesson 2 (Romans 8:6-11). Paul writes that the Spirit gives life. Death is associated with the "flesh," the old Adam in human nature. The Spirit will raise up our mortal bodies even as Jesus raised Lazarus from death.
Gospel (John 11:1-45). The account of Jesus' raising Lazarus brings out the following truths:
1. Illness and death can be to the glory of God - vv. 4, 40.
2. The miracle can create faith in Christ - vv. 15, 42, 45.
3. Eternal life is believing in Christ - vv. 25-26.
4. Christ reveals his compassion for the sorrowing - vv. 33-36.
5. Jesus' power over death is demonstrated - vv. 43-44.
Liturgical Propers. In harmony with the Gospel lesson, the Psalm of the Day (Psalm 116:1-9) assures us, "Thou hast delivered my soul from death'' In the Prayer of the Day we pray for the Spirit to enable us to follow God's commands and to proclaim his love for us. The Hymn of the Day, "Glory Be To Jesus' is a Lenten hymn expressing glory to Jesus for his death on the cross and pouring out his lifeblood for the sin of the world. The Lessons and Propers harmonize on the theme of bringing life out of death by means of the Spirit and the Word.
Explanation
Lazarus (v. 1). The name, Lazarus, is a short form of "Eleazar" meaning "God helps." We know very little about Lazarus: his parents, occupation and his post-resuscitation life. All we know is that he had two sisters. The three were close friends of Jesus and their home was his home when he came to Jerusalem. The best thing about Lazarus was his love for Jesus and Jesus' love for him.
Love (vv. 3, 5). Love is all that needs to be said. Martha and Mary sent a message to Jesus: "He whom you love is ill." There is no request that he come and heal Lazarus. Love is enough, for love cares and helps. It is not that Lazarus and his sisters love Jesus, but that Jesus loves them. We love him because he first loves us. Grace comes first and we respond with love.
Stayed (v. 6). When Jesus received the message of Lazarus' illness, Jesus waited two days before going to Bethany. By that time Lazarus was dead. Why didn't Jesus go immediately just as a good pastor goes at once to a person in a crisis? Jesus had a sense of proper timing. At the Cana miracle, he said, "My hour has not yet come." When he refused his brothers' suggestion to go to Jerusalem, he said again, "My time has not yet come." Apparently Jesus waited for Lazarus to die so that in raising him people would see the glory of God and be led to believe in him as the Son of God.
Asleep (v. 11). Jesus announced Lazarus' death as his having fallen asleep. The disciples took this literally and said that there was no reason to go to him, for he would naturally awaken. Then Jesus explained that Lazarus was dead. To speak of death as a sleep gives hope and comfort. Sleep infers that a person in due time will awaken. If death is a sleep, we will awaken to a life with Christ. For a Christian, death is not a permanent condition, for death was conquered by the risen Christ.
Dead (vv. 14, 17, 39). Death is a reality. Lazarus was more than sleeping; he was really dead as dead can be. We often shy away from the word, "death," by referring to it as one who expired, or passed away or terminated. The fact is death. It is pointed out that Lazarus was dead four days. At the time Jews believed the soul stayed with the dead body for three days. On the fourth day, there was no hope for a return to life. Moreover, the reality of death was emphasized when Martha warned Jesus not to remove the stone away from the tomb, for by this time the odor would be most unpleasant. This miracle was not a hoax by claiming Lazarus was in a coma or unconscious. Because he was completely dead, raising him demonstrated the power and glory of God through Jesus.
Here (vv. 21, 32, 37). Both sisters confronted Jesus with "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Was this an accusation or complaint? Were they blaming Jesus for the death? Some of the friends asked, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Or, could the sisters' statement be an expression of their faith in Jesus' ability and willingness to heal? The truth of the matter is that all is well when Jesus is present. When Jesus is absent, all kinds of trouble exist.
Resurrection (vv. 24, 25). Here is the heart of the miracle story. Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life. He resurrects believers to eternal life. There is a difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Lazarus was resuscitated; Jesus was resurrected. To be resuscitated is to be brought back to life only to die again. Resurrection means to come back from death never to die again. The Greek word for life is zoe, meaning spiritual life. Another Greek word for "life" is psyche denoting natural, physical life. Jesus resurrects the believing dead to eternal life. His own resurrection confirms his power to resurrect.
Believe (vv. 27, 45). Jesus put Martha on the spot by a direct question, "Do you believe this?" Believe what? That Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that one who lives and believes in him will never die. After witnessing the miracle many of the people believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Eternal life is not a natural right of being human. It is a gift only to those who believe in Jesus as the Christ. To believe is to accept and trust in Jesus as the Lord of life.
Wept (vv. 33, 35). The death of Lazarus was a weeping affair for the family, friends and Jesus as it was for many funerals. Surely he did not weep because Lazarus was dead, for he knew he was going to bring him back to life. Seeing Mary and her friends weeping, out of sympathy Jesus wept with them. He identified with their sorrow. It expressed his total humanity, his love and compassion. Soon their sorrow turned into joy because Lazarus was restored to life.
Voice (v. 43). With a loud voice, Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb. The miracle was a miracle of words. Nothing was done, not even a touch, to raise Lazarus. It reveals the power of God's Word. We remember that the universe was created by God's saying, "Let there be ..." and there was! The Word of God has the power to resurrect the dead and to make all things new. The power of preaching is the power of the Word.
Unbind (vv. 39, 44). Jesus expects us to do what we can. If he had the power to raise the dead, surely by a word he could have told the stone to move away and the grave clothes to fall off. Rather Jesus commands friends to remove the stone away from the tomb and to untie the grave clothes. When an angel came into a prison to release Peter, the angel opened the doors of the prison but asked Peter to tie his own shoes! God expects us to do what we can while he always does his part.
Application
Relevance Of Revelation
1. Since death is universal, every person is affected by today's miracle. One day we will either face death with Lazarus or be among the bereaved with Martha and Mary. John 11:17-27 is probably read at funerals as often as Psalm 23. It is comforting to know that Jesus shares our sorrow as he wept at the grave of Lazarus. Today we need his help to face and overcome our grief by assuring us that those who die in him have eternal life. This miracle eventually applies to every person.
2. Today's miracle raises some questions for the preacher, questions that need to be answered before preaching on it. The questions result from the fact that only John reports this most important and dramatic miracle of raising Lazarus from death. Is this a historical reality or just an ideology? Did John manufacture this story to illustrate Jesus as the Life? Is this miracle only an extension of the parable of Lazarus and Dives? After due consideration, study and reflection, one, for the sake of effective preaching, needs to come to the conclusion that we can trust the record which tells us this was a true, real, historical event even if the synoptics do not report it.
3. This miracle is relevant to the church year and our preaching related to it. Today we face Jesus' declaration that he is the resurrection and the life. In two weeks (Easter) we celebrate the resurrection. In both cases we have the theme of being raised from the dead. The challenge is to avoid duplication and repetition of ideas. The difference between the two Sundays (Lent 5 and Easter) is the difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Jesus' resurrection confirms his power to raise the dead. If he himself was not raised, we would have trouble believing he raised another person. Both Sundays seem to be saying that there is life after death and that Christ can and will raise believers to life eternal.
Sermon Suggestions.
Minor Themes. In John 11 there are several excellent texts which may not harmonize with the overall theme of the day and may not blend with Lent 5. Nevertheless they are preaching possibilities.
1. Death as sleep (vv. 11-13). Jesus referred to Lazarus' death as a sleep. He said he was going to awaken him from his sleep. To consider death as a sleep makes it easy to think of one's own dying. It is as normal and easy as falling asleep. But, there is comfort in the concept, for when one sleeps, one always awakens. When we go to sleep in Jesus, we shall awaken to life with him in paradise.
2. Invitation to die (v. 16). There was no doubt in Thomas' mind when he called upon his fellow-disciples to follow Jesus to death. When Jesus announced he was going back to Bethany-Jerusalem where his enemies were plotting his death, Thomas wanted all to go with him to face the same fate. Bonhoeffer said that when Jesus invites us to discipleship, he invites us to die with him. Is the average Christian so fully and deeply committed to Christ as to be willing to sacrifice life for him?
3. The presence of Jesus (vv. 21, 32). Both Mary and Martha confront Jesus with the true statement, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." This was a conviction that Jesus had the willingness and power to restore the sick to health and thus prevented death. The absence of Jesus in our lives spells fear, worry, misery, failure and death. The presence of Jesus means life, peace and joy.
4. Jesus wants you (v. 28). Martha goes to Mary to tell her, "The Teacher (Master) is here and is calling for you." This is an excellent text for an evangelistic sermon. Jesus loves you enough to want you. He wants to help, to heal, to save you. You are important and precious enough to Jesus to be wanted. Why do we not respond quickly and immediately, like Mary, to go to Jesus and fall at his feet in adoration and commitment?
5. Jesus wept (v. 35). Jesus had real tears as he stood with Mary and Martha outside of the tomb of Lazarus. They were tears of love - "See, how he loved him (v. 36)!" They were not tears of sorrow, for Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus. The tears show that Jesus weeps with us when we weep over lost loved ones. He is perfectly human and is thoroughly compassionate.
6. Do your part (vv. 39, 44). Jesus expects us to do what we can to overcome our problems. What can one do when a loved one dies? Is there anything one can do to assist in a divine miracle? Jesus called upon Lazarus' friends to remove the stone in front of the tomb and to take off his grave clothes. Surely, if Jesus could bring a person out of death, he could have used his power to remove the stone and to unbind Lazarus. But, Christ wants our participation to do what we can to help.
Major Themes
1. A work of grace (v. 3). Here is the gospel! When Lazarus was deathly ill, Jesus was needed to cure him, but he had left for the wilderness of Judea. The sisters sent a message to him - not to come at once, not to cure Lazarus. The message was simply that the one he loved was sick. There was no request, no appeal, no demand - just a fact. Love was the reason for Jesus to come and help. It was not their love for Jesus, but his love for Lazarus. The gospel is the good news of prevenient grace - God in Christ comes to us when we need him because he loves us.
2. The glory of God (v. 4). Jesus saw the illness and death of Lazarus as an expression of the glory of God. By raising him from the dead, he showed the people the glory of God through God's power of resurrection. Jesus interpreted his passion and death as evidence of God's glory. His glory is manifest in his power over death and in granting eternal life to believers.
3. A promise of life (v. 23). One of the greatest promises of the Bible is the promise Jesus made to Martha: "Your brother will rise again." The promise is for life eternal. It is not necessarily a future gift, but a present one. Life comes when Christ is believed and accepted as the Resurrection and the Life. It is a life in Christ, and that life never ends even when physical death arrives.
4. Do you believe? (vv. 25-26). Jesus made the wonderful statement that he was the Resurrection and the great promise that Lazarus would rise to life. But for this promise to come true, faith is required: "Do you believe this?" Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? Do you believe Jesus can give eternal life and is the victor over death? Martha did, for she gave a confession matched only by Peter's at Caesarea Philippi - "I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God." Eternal life is not for unbelievers. For this reason, the conducting of a funeral for a non-believer is a very difficult task for a pastor.
5. Let there be life! (v. 43). Life comes out of death at the sound of Jesus' words, "Lazarus, come out!" He said it loudly and with authority. As God's Son, he had all power and authority even over death. God's Word is power to be and do. Let there be light, and there was light. Let there be life, and there was life. The Word of God is both word and deed. According to Isaiah, God's Word never returns void. It always accomplishes its purpose. This truth points to the power of preaching, teaching and reading the Word of God and to the necessity of hearing and reading it.
Sermon Structures
1. Dynamics of the Word (11:43). The Word of God has the power of God, a power greater than any human power. It was with a loud voice that Jesus spoke the word, "Lazarus, come out!" This same power is available today through God's Word. What the Word can do for you -
A. Bring life out of death.
B. Bring good out of evil.
C. Bring victory out of defeat.
D. Bring hope out of despair.
2. Christ and the Human Situation (11:1-45). The account of Jesus' raising Lazarus is a description of our human situation. The meaning and victory of our situation are in Christ and evidenced in the gospel story.
A. All are doomed to die - "Lazarus is dead." - v. 14
B. Someone cares - "Jesus wept." - v. 35
C. Life can be renewed - "Your brother will rise again." - vv. 25-26
D. Released to live and serve - "Unbind him." - v. 44
3. How Two Women Handled Grief (11:17-37). Mary and Martha experienced the death of their brother whom they loved. In this passage we see how two people of the same family handled bereavement.
A. Martha and her grief - reaction in reasoning
1. Believed God would answer Jesus' prayer - v. 22
2. Believed in a resurrection on the last day - v. 24
3. Believed Jesus is the Messiah - v. 27
B. Mary and her grief - reaction in feeling
1. Sat and waited - reflection - v. 20
2. Fell at Jesus' feet in adoration - v. 32
3. Wept to express her love - v. 33
4. Your Part in God's Miracles (11:38-44). Jesus did not perform the miracle of raising Lazarus by himself. He called upon friends who were at the cemetery. Of course, Christ could have done it all, but he wanted people to get involved by removing the stone and unbinding the mummified Lazarus. Indeed, God does 99 percent of it, but the one percent is also important and needed. You can have a part in a miracle -
A. By praying as Jesus did - v. 42
B. By obeying God's commands - vv. 39, 44
5. Life out of Death (11:1-45). Christ brings life out of death, not after death. Eternal life is a present possession for those in Christ.
A. The reality of death - vv. 14, 17, 39. Lazarus was dead for four days and his decomposed body caused a bad odor.
B. The greater reality of life - vv. 23-26, 44. The life Christ gives is true life consisting of love, joy and peace. It is life that never ends.
6. Death is Not so Bad (11:4, 25; Philippians 1:21). While most people fear and dread the prospect of death, others want to die. Some physicians are asked to help patients to die. Many are signing "living wills" authorizing medical authorities not to keep the terminally ill body alive by artificial means. For Christians death is not so bad because -
A. Death can be to the glory of God - v. 4
B. Death is overcome by the Resurrection - v. 25
C. Death is the entrance into heaven - Philippians 1:21
Illustration
Jesus wept. Every year the graduating class at a southern theological seminary poses for a class picture and a class motto is attached to the photo. One year the students could not agree on a scripture verse that properly described the class. In desperation they asked a professor for his suggestion. He offered John 11:35. The students scurried to find a Bible and see what the passage was. They read, "Jesus wept."
Death is not so Bad. Marta, a woman of the Third World, was a hollow person. She was 30 years old, the mother of seven, alone, uneducated and despairing. She made blouses to pay for her food. Lorenzo, her husband, came home drunk when it suited him. Water in the faucet was for only two hours daily. People stood in line for hours waiting to get water. Her children had parasites. She was asked, "Marta, what has been the happiest event in your life?" After a long time she answered, "Maybe when it ends."
Do Your Part. Jesus asked friends of Lazarus to remove the stone before the tomb and to untie him when he emerged from it. Mr. and Mrs. David Twitchell on July 4, 1990 were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of their two-and-a-half-year-old son, Robyn. As Christian Scientists they treated their son with prayer only and failed to secure medical help. They failed to do their part in the child's possible recovery.
Death as a Sleep.
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
- William Cullen Bryant, Thanatopsis
When Need. When Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus. Out of love for him, Jesus voluntarily went to the home in Bethany. In a typical group of 100 people a survey reveals:
33 have marriage and home problems
50 have emotional problems
20 suffer from bereavement
20 have nervousness and anxiety
3 to 8 struggle with a sense of guilt over homosexual feelings or practices.
Do it for Love. The message sent by Lazarus' sisters to Jesus was that the friend he loved was sick. Love was enough to bring help from Jesus. For years friends held a birthday party for an aged person. Each year they gave her knick-knacks for her house. On her 90th birthday a friend asked what she wanted for her birthday this year. "Give me a kiss," was the reply, "so I won't have to dust it." Just the kiss is all - a kiss of love.
