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“…and the Life…”

John 11:17-37

“I Am The Resurrection”

›The Sisters, Mary and Martha›Jesus was also concerned with the faith of these two, not just His disciples

›Each experience of Suffering should increase our faith– but that is not always the case

›This second message in the Lazarus series will teach us much about that growth

The Fifth “I Am” Statement…

17 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). 19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”23 “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

24 Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.” 28 Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”29 As soon as she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.

30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.32 When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at H is feet and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!” 33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved.

34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

John 11:17-40 (HCSB)

›Vv 11-17, about two miles by road from Jerusalem, 1.3 as the crow flies

›According to custom, Jews do not embalm bodies

›rather they wrapped up their corpse with strips of linen and spices by each limb to reduce the decomposing odor until they bury the bodies in the tombs almost immediately

The Setting…

›Another part of ancient custom for funerals, period of mourning up to 30 days

›The first 7 days, no bath, perfume, no shoes, no comb

›Family also hired professional mourners›They would wail loudly, b/c it was believed that the louder the noise made, the more the dead was loved and missed

The Setting…

›Vv 20-24, 27-32; Luke 10 gives us a clear picture of the temperament of the two

›They both said the same words to Jesus›But their postures were completely different›Martha ran to Him, active and erect; Mary fell at His feet, passive and prostrate

›They both were hurting and confused, but still believing in Jesus

The Sisters…

›What Martha said here is far more insightful than any of the comments by Jesus’ disciples, the Pharisees, or any religious leaders

›Martha needed intellectual and theological assurance and Mary needs emotional support

›Martha needed to know that Jesus was in control; Mary needed to know that Jesus cared

The Sisters…

› Jesus met each sister where she was…›One last thing before we go on›They didn’t understand the delay, evident by their common use of one word..

› Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways Myways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So areMy ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

›“IF”

The Sisters…

›Back to Vv 25-26, It is important to note that Jesus did not deny what Martha said about the future resurrection

›To begin with, He brought the doctrine of the resurrection into the light through this incident. The OT revelation about death and resurrection is not clear or complete.

› In fact, there are some passages in Psalms and Ecclesiastes that almost make one believe that death is the end and there is no hope beyond the grave

I Am the resurrection and the life…

›As apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church of Corinth, without the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our future resurrection, we are to be pitied.

› 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up-- if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

I Am the resurrection and the life…

›Don’t be dismayed by “when” this resurrection will happen either

›The first resurrection is at the rapture for the Church

›The second is that of the unrighteous dead at the Great White Throne Judgment

I Am the resurrection and the life…

›Vv 33-37, the key here, I believe is found in the original Greek texts

Why Jesus wept…

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

›Vv 33-37, the key here, I believe is found in the original Greek texts

›Why was Jesus angry?›These traditions?›Or the people who should have understood?

›Here’s why, I believe, Jesus wept›The Cross

Why Jesus wept…

›Where is your understanding of Jesus?›Do you truly know Him?›Or do you just think you do, as Mary and Martha thought

›I believe our un-belief makes Him weep today

›Will you believe today?

Take-Home