"I am the Resurrection" John:11:25
"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This
Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured
perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” John:11:1-7
At first the disciples misunderstand the words and actions of Jesus, until he makes it plain to them that their friend Lazarus was now dead.
"After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, (11-14a)
Jesus Arrives
As Jesus arrives to a place near the village of Bethany the home of his friend Lazarus. His friend was now dead and at first appearance it would seem that Jesus was too late to do anything that would help.
His purpose at first, was not understood by the disciples but Jesus tells them and us, that his delay was ultimately for their good.That even Jesus' absents or what may have looked as an unwillingness to act was for their good to build belief in them.
"and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”(15)
Jesus, as he makes his way to the tomb of Lazarus, he finds that many are there ahead of him all attempting to comfort Martha and Mary.
"On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was less than two miles
from Jerusalem,and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother." (17-19)
Martha
When it is reported that Jesus was coming Martha goes out to meet him while Mary stays at home. The grieving Martha meets Jesus it is at the moment, small consolation to her that Jesus is come. Martha is under the impression that Jesus is too late that he is powerless of the grave. She knew that as long as Lazarus was alive there was hope, but now in her grief she can see no help from Jesus. Lazarus is dead beyond hope, yet she in some way professes to understand that Jesus' presences will have some impact .
"“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (21-22)
Jesus points her to the certainty that he is not too late to help them, even if at first appearance it may seem so. Martha at first does not understand that Jesus can act even in her present that seems beyond hope.
"Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (23-24)
I Am
Jesus then tells her that even death and the grave are powerless in light of who Jesus is. That Jesus is never too late to help , there is always hope because of Jesus.
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life" (25a)
Jesus speaks these words to Martha even before his own resurrection. This tells us that the resurrection is not just something that happened, it is who Jesus is. The Resurrection of Jesus just shows us what has eternally and always will be true.That Jesus is the Resurrection , that is who Jesus is.
It means that Jesus can resurrect any situation not just just from the grave. That Jesus can reach into any seemingly "dead" situation and restore "life" to it, to us.
Jesus asks Martha if she accepts this truth.
"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?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (25b-27)
Mary
Martha returns to their home and tells her sister that Jesus wants to speaks to her. She then comes to him.
"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.”
When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him." (28-30)
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.
Then the Jews 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?”(33-37)
Come Forth
Once at the tomb Jesus demonstrates that in any circumstances he is never too late to act and bring life , even if we are facing death. Here Jesus has entered a families time of mourning and loss they are filled with grief. Lazarus is dead. There is an air of hopelessness. Jesus tells them to open the tomb to this they at first object seeing that Lazarus has been dead four days. Jesus is about to demonstrate to them and we all that he has power over any and all things that we face, even death.
When the stone is removed Jesus calls his dead friend forth out of the grip of death into the light of life, his word penetrate the stench of death and bring him out alive. Lazarus comes forth still bound in the trapping of death, the grave are clothes then are removed. Lazarus has been restored mourning has been tuned into joy. They see the glory of God working in a situation that seemed beyond hope. Jesus is never too late to help.
When the stone is removed Jesus calls his dead friend forth out of the grip of death into the light of life, his word penetrate the stench of death and bring him out alive. Lazarus comes forth still bound in the trapping of death, the grave are clothes then are removed. Lazarus has been restored mourning has been tuned into joy. They see the glory of God working in a situation that seemed beyond hope. Jesus is never too late to help.
"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.“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.”Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone. Then 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."When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”(38-44)
Never too Late
We all face situations when hope may seem lost or that thing have gone to the point where no answers are forth coming. We may cry out to our Lord, as Martha and Mary sent messages to Jesus hoping that he would come and heal their brother. Jesus may seem to be unwilling or to be delayed in helping; things may enter a downward vortex where the worse it gets the worse it gets. All may seem lost, we find our selves mourning at the tomb of our dead hopes. The stench of death may fill the air all seems lost; and then Jesus comes.
When we face difficulties to which there seems to be no answer and all is lost , it is then Jesus can come and bring life to our Lazarus. He can call life forth out of death and strip away the grave clothes and bring life not just healing. Martha and Mary wanted healing but Jesus did more than that he gave life. He did this, for Jesus knew the greater need, so that they might see the glory of God and know that he had power even over death.
Understand for something to be truly resurrected it has to be truly dead. Jesus can resurrection any situation that is dead; relationships, finances, reputations, health, loneliness ,broken families or anything that is behind the stone of the tomb which houses the dead.
Jesus has the power to bring forth life and strip away the grave clothes. He can work in any and all of our lives, even when hope seems lost, so that we might see the glory of God . As Jesus told Martha, and all of us, "I Am the Resurrection"....Amen
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania.
www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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