Sermon notes - John 11:1-36 - Jesus Wept - Littleby Baptist Church - July 2, 2023

 1.     When we wrapped up the 10^th chapter of John, we saw that there were people who believed in Jesus!

a.      As people heard His message and saw the signs Jesus did, their eyes were opened to the truth about Him.

b.     They came to the belief that Jesus is who He says He is.

c.      That was one of John’s goals for writing this letter.

d.     He wanted people to see that Jesus is man and God.

2.     John 1:4

a.      Jesus is the light of men.

b.     He is the source of life.

c.      In chapter 11 we see this played out.

3.     John 11:1-3

a.      Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are friends of Jesus.

b.     Lazarus was a dear friend as he is referred to as one Jesus loves.

c.      Here we read about Mary pouring perfume on Jesus’ feet, but in the Gospel of John that event has not happened yet.

d.     We will get to that event in a couple of weeks.

e.      The sisters sent word to Jesus in hope that He would come quickly to heal Lazarus.

4.     John 11:4-6

a.      Jesus loved Lazarus but He was not in a hurry.

b.     As God, He knew what was going to happen and that everything would be good in the long run.

c.      He waited a couple of days and then headed out.

5.     John 11:7-10

a.      The guys were concerned that Jesus would be stoned if they went to Judea.

b.     Jesus’ answer can leave one wondering what He was saying.

c.      If they travel by day light they can see where to step, but it does not help them hide from those who are out to kill Him.

d.     Walking at night would help them hide, but also a lot more likely to hurt themselves as they were out and about.

e.      While His answers could apply in some ways to safe travel, there is more to it.

f.      If anyone walks in the light, they are doing the will of God.

g.     Living in this world is a challenge, it is not always safe, but if we are living with God our eternity is secure.

h.     Our Hope in Jesus is guaranteed.

i.       Jesus Himself was following the Father’s will, so nothing would happen to Him until the time came for Him to pay the price for our sins.

6.     John 11:11-15

a.      When Jesus saying sleep in these verses was saying that Lazarus was physically dead.

b.     His body was dead, but his soul was alive and well.

c.      This whole series of events, like many others in Jesus’ time on earth were to help people believe.

d.     When Jesus used the clay on the blind man’s eyes it was likely to help him believe.

e.      These events were put in place to help the disciples believe that Jesus is who He says He is.

f.      It was going to help those who witness the sign believe.  

g.     It impacts people still today.  

h.     Jesus was planting seeds that His disciples would see clearly after He was gone.

i.       These events would emphasize who Jesus truly is.

7.     John 11:16

a.      Doubting Thomas boldly encourages the others to go with Jesus so that they may die.

b.     Thomas believed in Jesus and was going to follow Him anywhere.

c.      He didn’t understand how things were going to play out.

d.     Did not understand that the Christ was going to die for him, and for all of us.

e.      But he believed in Jesus enough to follow Him regardless of how events unfolded.

8.     John 11:17-19

a.      Lazarus died 4 days prior, likely about the time the messenger left to find Jesus.

9.     John 11:20-22

a.      Martha is confessing that she fully believes in Jesus.

b.     She is not being critical.

c.      She believes Jesus could have healed her brother.

d.     She knows that the Father hears Jesus.

e.      When we stack this conversation and the one where she protests the tomb being opened, she did not think Jesus was going to resurrect her brother.

f.      It was more of a confession that Jesus had the Father’s blessing.

g.     She recognized that Jesus had the power to heal her brother and to give him life.

10.  John 11:23-24

a.      Martha was not expecting an immediate Sign that showed that Jesus is God.

b.     She did not expect her brother to walk out of the tomb.

c.      But she did understand that at some point in the future.

d.     When Jesus returned triumphantly.

e.      That her brother would be resurrected.

f.      She had faith in Jesus and what the Scriptures taught.

11.  John 11:25-27

a.      Jesus is the Lord of Life.

b.     All who believe in Him are granted eternal life.

c.      They will never die.

d.     Jesus is checking her faith.

e.      Martha confessed that she fully believes in Jesus.

f.      She called Him Lord, Messiah, and Son of God.

g.     She believed that Jesus had come into this world to carry out the will of the Father.

h.     She believed in Jesus.

12.  John 11:28-32

a.      Martha went and got Mary.

b.     Mary, like Martha, believed.

c.      She knew that Jesus could have healed her brother.

d.     She confessed it at His feet.

e.      Her faith was sincere.

13.  John 11:33-34

a.      Jesus was deeply moved, and His spirit was troubled.

b.     A good interpretation of this would be that emotion was getting to Him and He was getting angry.

c.      Angry that Satan and sin were causing pain to people who were trying to honor God.

d.     Pain that He came to this earth to replace with an eternity of Peace.

e.      He came to bring Hope to those of this world, to us.

f.      He was moved, getting angry that the sin in this world was causing so much pain.

g.     Sin should be a motivator.

h.     In moved Jesus and it should move us to share the message of Jesus with others.

i.       To share that there is a better way with Jesus.

14.  John 11:35

a.      Jesus wept.

b.     He likely did weep out of love for His friend who had passed.

c.      But He also wept over how sin in this world was impacting people.

d.     He knew what creation was meant to look like, and this was not it.

e.      He wept.

15.  John 11:36-37

a.      The crowd thought Jesus was weeping out of regret for not being there to heal Lazarus.

b.     His love or Lazarus likely contributed to the weeping, but there was no regret.

c.      Jesus loves Lazarua, Martha, and Mary and it would have hurt to see them in pain.

d.     But He knew what the Plan was.

e.      He did not regret Lazarus dying as He knew what was about to happen.

f.      He knew these events needed to play out as planned so that lives would be changed for the rest of time.

16.   John 1:4-5

a.      Jesus is life and He is the light of men.

b.     His light shines in the darkness of this world.

c.      Jesus as God was walking in a fallen world and the darkness, the sin, did impact Him.

d.     The work of Satan and the sinfulness around Him moved Him, made Him angry.

e.      He did not like seeing His creation in pain.

f.      Which is why He came to this earth in the first place.

g.     He came to pay for our sins and to offer us a new life.

17.  Revelation 21:3-4

a.      Jesus’ time on earth and His sacrifice will allow us to dwell with God forever.

b.     Those that turn to Jesus will live with God as we were truly created/

c.      Filled with His perfect Peace and Joy.

18.  Scripture (Mark 1:15) tells us that we are to Repent and believe the Good news of Jesus.  

a.      If you do, you will spend forever in a perfect paradise in the presence of God.

b.     No more bad stuff.

c.      Filled with Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy.

19.  If you need to repent, don’t wait.

a.      Repent of your sins and follow Jesus.

b.     Let Him change your address for all of eternity.

c.      He is the Resurrection and the Life.

d.     Put your eternity in His hands.

20.  Before the Deacon’s prepare to pass the Lord’s Supper, I want each of us to take a moment.

a.      If you do not know Jesus, now is the time.

b.     Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to be the Lord of your life.

c.      For the rest of us, ask God to point out anything in your life that you need to bring before Him.

d.     Repent if you need to repent.

e.      Pray for God to help you forgive someone if needed.

f.      Let’s talk to our God and prepare our hearts to continue our worship in partaking of the Lord’s supper.