Power over Life and Death John 11. How long can I hold my breath?

Power over Life and DeathPower over Life and Death

John 11John 11

How long How long can I hold can I hold my breath?my breath?

Who or what has power over life Who or what has power over life and death?and death?

Viruses and BacteriaViruses and Bacteria

Shaman and Witch DoctorsShaman and Witch Doctors

Doctors and ScientistsDoctors and Scientists

Political RulersPolitical Rulers

Atomic EnergyAtomic Energy

Insurance CompaniesInsurance Companies

The The IllnessIllness and Death of and Death of LazarusLazarus (11:1-16)(11:1-16)

The The IllnessIllness and and DeathDeath of Lazarus of Lazarus (11:1-16)(11:1-16)

A delay here does not in any way compromise the A delay here does not in any way compromise the love Jesus has for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (3, 5).love Jesus has for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (3, 5).

God’s sovereign timing is perfect even if sometimes God’s sovereign timing is perfect even if sometimes we think He’s too late to make a difference (6, 15).we think He’s too late to make a difference (6, 15).

Jesus is well aware of the situation at hand, Jesus is well aware of the situation at hand, demonstrating:demonstrating:

His divine omniscienceHis divine omniscience His unique relationship to God the Father as the incarnate His unique relationship to God the Father as the incarnate

divine Sondivine Son His clear understanding of His mission here on earth.His clear understanding of His mission here on earth.

The The IllnessIllness and Death of and Death of LazarusLazarus (11:1-16)(11:1-16)

Jesus said, “This sickness will not end Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”through it.”

——John John 11:411:4

Jesus is the Jesus is the ResurrectionResurrection and and the the LifeLife (11:17-45) (11:17-45)

Martha believes (as does Mary—verse 32) Martha believes (as does Mary—verse 32) that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died (21).not have died (21).

Even though Lazarus is dead, Martha still Even though Lazarus is dead, Martha still trusts in Jesus (22).trusts in Jesus (22).

Martha believes Lazarus will be raised from Martha believes Lazarus will be raised from the dead at the end of the age (24).the dead at the end of the age (24).

Jesus is theJesus is the ResurrectionResurrection and and thethe LifeLife (11:17-45)(11:17-45)

““I am the Resurrection and the Life” I am the Resurrection and the Life” (25).(25).

““He who believes in me will live even He who believes in me will live even though he dies”though he dies” (25).(25).

““Whoever lives and believes in me will Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”never die.” (26).(26).


““Yes, Lord, . . . I believe that you are the Yes, Lord, . . . I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was to come Christ, the Son of God who was to come into the world.”into the world.”

——John 11:27John 11:27

““You are the Christ, the Son of the living You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”God.”

— —Matthew 16:16Matthew 16:16


Two Important Two Important ImplicationsImplications::

Because Jesus has power over life and death, Because Jesus has power over life and death, His ability to raise Lazarus from the dead is a His ability to raise Lazarus from the dead is a clear indication of His divine nature.clear indication of His divine nature.

Because Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, Because Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, He demonstrates in advance His ability to He demonstrates in advance His ability to actuate His previous claim in John 10:17-18 to actuate His previous claim in John 10:17-18 to have authority over His own life and death.have authority over His own life and death.


Two Important Two Important DeclarationsDeclarations::

““Jesus Wept.”Jesus Wept.”

““Lazarus, Lazarus, come out!”come out!”

“Lazarus, come forth!”


““Therefore, many of the Jews who had Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.”Jesus did, put their faith in him.”

——John John 11:4511:45

The Political The Political PlotPlot to to KillKill Jesus Jesus (11:46-57)(11:46-57)

A Stark Contrast:A Stark Contrast:

The Faith and Joy of the Jewish PeopleThe Faith and Joy of the Jewish People

The Fear and Anger of the Jewish LeadersThe Fear and Anger of the Jewish Leaders


A Serious Irony:A Serious Irony:

Jesus has just raised a man from the dead.Jesus has just raised a man from the dead.

The Jewish leaders somehow believe they The Jewish leaders somehow believe they have the power and authority to kill Jesus.have the power and authority to kill Jesus.


““If we let him go on like this, everyone If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him and then the Romans will believe in him and then the Romans will come and take away both our place will come and take away both our place and our nation.”and our nation.”

——John John 11:4811:48


Jesus uses His supernatural power to Jesus uses His supernatural power to bring life out of death.bring life out of death.

The Jewish leaders want to use their The Jewish leaders want to use their earthly power to bring death out of life.earthly power to bring death out of life.

We far too often prefer to be little gods We far too often prefer to be little gods in this life rather than servants of the in this life rather than servants of the most high God in the next.most high God in the next.


““You do not realize that it is better for You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”than that the whole nation perish.”

——John John 11:5011:50


““[Caiaphas] prophesied that Jesus [Caiaphas] prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.”them together and make them one.”

— —John 11:51-John 11:51-5252

Conclusion and ApplicationConclusion and Application

In whom or what do you put your hope?In whom or what do you put your hope?

Wealth and Things?Wealth and Things?

Heritage and Fame?Heritage and Fame?

Denial and Plastic Surgery?Denial and Plastic Surgery?

False Religion or Personal Achievement?False Religion or Personal Achievement?

John 11:25-26John 11:25-26

““I am the resurrection and the life. He I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”believes in me will never die.”

““DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”

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Power over Life and Death John 11. How long can I hold my breath?

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