2021 Spring Conference

JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION

John 11:17-44

Key Verses 25, 26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Introduction

Atheists point out that we better focus on this present life because everything will stop at the time of our death. Then they try hard to improve the quality of their earthly lives. During this pandemic, vaccination is said to be the country's best hope to get beyond the pandemic. Then everything would be okay. But after vaccination for all Americans, still people will suffer from sin and death. Unless we overcome eternal condemnation, we are destined to face God’s judgment and eternal death. So Jesus rescued us by His death and resurrection. He has power over death. He declares, “I am the life and resurrection.” Praise Jesus!

1. Read verses 17-24. What happened when Jesus arrived in Bethany? (17-19)? What does Martha’s greeting reveal about her? (20-22) What did Jesus say, and how did Martha understand his response? (23-24)

1-1, Read verses 17-24.

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When 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. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

1-2, What happened when Jesus arrived in Bethany? (17-19)?

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

• Jesus intentionally waited for Lazarus to die before going to him. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, they found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 4 days.

• Bethany was less than 2 miles from Jerusalem and many Jews came to comfort Martha and Mary in the loss of their brother.

1-3, What does Martha’s greeting reveal about her? (20-22)

20 When 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. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

• Upon hearing that Jesus was coming, Martha went out to meet him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha seemed disappointed in Jesus. “Lord,” she said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

• Martha added words of faith and hope: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” But in her heart she felt it was too late.

1-4, What did Jesus say, and how did Martha understand his response? (23-24)

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

• Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” But she interpreted in a general sense that he will rise again on the last day..

• Jesus did not mean this in a general sense of something that would happen in the distant future. Jesus meant it more immediately.

2. Read verses 25-37. What did Jesus say about Himself? (25-26) What can we learn from His declaration? How did Martha respond? (27-28)? As soon as she realized Jesus had arrived, what did Mary do and what did she say? (29-32) How did Jesus lead and help her? (33-37) Why might Jesus have wept? (35)

2-1, Read verses 25-37.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

28 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.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 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.

32 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.”

33 When 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.

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

2-2, What did Jesus say about Himself? (25-26)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

2-3, What can we learn from His declaration?

• Jesus did not claim to have resurrection and life, or understand secrets about resurrection and life.

• Instead Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life. To know Jesus is to know resurrection and life; to have Jesus is to have resurrection and life.

• “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” Jesus boldly challenged Martha to trust that He was the source of eternal life.

• Jesus presented Himself as the champion over death. The believer will never die, but simply make an instant transition from an old life to a new life(John 5:24).

• Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are forever with the Lord. They are with their Lord in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into an eternal life.

• Jesus does not of course mean that the believer will not die physically. Lazarus was dead even then, and millions of Jesus’ followers have died since. But He means that he will not die in the sense in which death locks us eternally.

• Death comes to the ungodly man as an execution, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace.

• Do you believe this? Jesus challenged Martha not to debate or intellectual assent, but to belief. She must believe Jesus was who He said He was and that He could do what He said He could do.

• Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

• This is Jesus’ claim and promise. Whoever believes in Jesus, whoever receives him, whoever trusts in him, will live forever, even though they die.

• This is Jesus’ promise. It sounds too good to be true. But it is true for whoever accepts it. But you must accept it. No one can accept it for you.

• Simply believe. Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. I believe and trust in you. I commit myself, my life, to love, follow and obey you.

• Forgive my sins and make me a new person, a child of God. Come and live in me, through your Holy Spirit. In your holy name. Amen.

2-4, How did Martha respond? (27-28)?

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

28 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.”

• Martha replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

• At this point, Martha went and called her sister Mary aside and said to her, “The Teacher is here, and is asking for you.”

2-4, As soon as she realized Jesus had arrived, what did Mary do and what did she say? (29-32)

29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 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.

32 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.”

• Then Mary got up quickly and went to him, outside the village. She fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

• These words were the same words that Martha had said to Jesus. The words “if only” are words of sorrow, regret, helplessness, frustration and even anger.

• Their words did not encourage or build up one another. Rather, their words only made themselves more regretful and sorrowful.

• We should be careful of the words we choose. Sometimes our words plant doubt or sorrow, rather than giving hope and encouragement.

2-5, How did Jesus lead and help her? (33-37)

33 When 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.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

2-6, Why might Jesus have wept? (35)

• Jesus wept. They interpreted that Jesus’ tears had to do with His love for Lazarus. The Jews there 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?”

• No doubt, Jesus was fully human. Jesus shared our humanity. Jesus understands us. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Jesus not only understands and empathizes with us—Jesus loves us.

3. Read verses 38-44. What did Jesus say when he reached the tomb? (38-39a) Why did Martha protest, and how did Jesus correct her again? (39b-40) What does Jesus’ prayer reveal about the purpose of raising Lazarus? (41-42) How did Jesus raise Lazarus? (43-44)

3-1, Read verses 38-44.

38 Jesus, 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 odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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.”

3-2, What did Jesus say when he reached the tomb? (38-39a)

38 Jesus, 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.

• 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.

• Jews were not supposed to go near the dead or their graves, or it would make them unclean.

3-3, Why did Martha protest, and how did Jesus correct her again? (39b-40)

“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.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

• Martha objected, “But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days”.

• Maybe Martha assumed that Jesus wanted to see the dead body to pay his last respects. In the normal way of nature though, Lazarus’ body would have already begun to decompose.

• Jesus corrected her by saying, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

• From time to time, we are discouraged by things happening in the world—wars, poverty, famines, diseases, disasters.

• So much of the news that is reported is bad news. These things make us fearful and quite aware of our own mortality.

• Jesus’ rebuke to Martha is also a rebuke to any such fears and doubts that we have: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

• Jesus would soon go to the cross. The cross was before him. He could not escape or avoid it. He would not run and hide. Jesus overcame fear and doubt because he saw the glory of God. Hebrews 12:2b says, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus saw the “joy set before him.”

• Jesus prayed just before his arrest, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (Jn 17:5). One who believes can see the glory of God. Without faith one will see gloom and doom, disappointment and death.

3-4, What does Jesus’ prayer reveal about the purpose of raising Lazarus? (41-42)

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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 they took away the stone, 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”.

• Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, prayed to his eternal Father in heaven. Jesus did not need to pray.

• But he prayed so the people would know that he came from heaven and the Father in heaven sent him. Jesus was saying and doing just what the Father wanted him to say and do.

3-5, How did Jesus raise Lazarus? (43-44)

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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.”

• After he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Perhaps some thought it was a joke. But it was no joke.

• “The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” Jesus gave life to the dead, because he is the resurrection and the life. In him was life. Through him all things were made.

Conclusion

Jesus gives life to the dead. Apart from Jesus Christ, all people are dead in sin. Ephesians 2:1-5 reads, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Again, Paul wrote also in Colossians 2:13, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins…” When Jesus calls your name, he calls you out of death into life, out of darkness into light, out of selfishness into love. Jesus is calling us daily out of fear into peace, out of doubt into a life of hope and purpose in him.

One word: Lazarus, Come Out!