Sermon notes - John 11:38-57 - Unknown - Littleby Baptist Church - July 9, 2023

1.     Lazarus is dead.

a.      Mary and Martha are in pain.

2.     Jesus wept.

a.      He could have healed Lazarus before he died.

b.     He could have avoided the pain.

c.      But, Jesus knew what was going to happen.

d.     He knew that the Father would be glorified.

e.      He knew life would continue.

3.     Yet, Jesus wept.

a.      The pain He was witnessing was caused by the sin in the world.

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

c.      That is one of the main reasons why our Savior came to this earth.

d.     He wanted to provide an end to the pain, death, grief, and the crying.

e.      He wants to replace all of that with His perfect Joy.

f.      A Joy that is found in a life with Jesus.

g.     A life that begins with repenting of our sins and believing that Jesus is the Christ our Savior.

4.     On that note, let’s take a look at the seventh sign.

5.     John 11:38-39

a.      Jesus approached the tomb and was deeply moved.

b.     Believed to be a mixture of sorrow for the pain, mixed with anger for the sin that caused the pain.

c.      As stated, opening the tomb of someone who has been dead for 4 days would likely smell pretty bad.

d.     Beyond that, there was a risk for those who touched it.

e.      They could be marked as unclean, which would prevent them from participating in temple activities.

f.      They would have to offer a sacrifice to be cleansed.

g.     The objection was made.

                                                    i.     No one wanted to smell that.

                                                  ii.     Culturally this was simply not something that was done.

                                                iii.     They did not want to be unclean.

h.     Once again we see a need for action to express ones faith.

i.       Moving the stone was just like picking up the matt and walking.

j.       Obedience to Jesus, an action, was needed to see Him work.

6.     John 11:40

a.      Jesus reminds Martha of the conversation they had minutes before.

b.     John 11:25-27.

c.      If she believes what He has said.

d.     If she believed that He is the Resurrection and the Life.

e.      If she believed it and acted on it, they would see God glorified.

f.      The sisters needed to trust Jesus.

g.     They ultimately had to give permission for the tomb to be opened.

h.     They had to express their faith.

7.     John 11:41-42

a.      Jesus did not pray some fancy prayer.

b.     He did not plead with the Father.

c.      He thanked the Father that this Sign would help people to see the truth.

d.     A sign that would testify that the Father was with Jesus, that He was the one the Father sent.

e.      Jesus wanted the people there to believe.

f.      2 Peter 3:9

g.     God wishes that none will perish but that all would come to repentance and saving faith.

8.     John 11:43-44

a.      Carmen – Lazarus Come Forth – 1984

b.     The shepherd called for one of His sheep and he listened.

c.      Lazarus listened to the voice of His Jesus.

d.     Then arguably one of the greatest signs happened

e.      A sign that proved that Jesus is the resurrection and the Life.

f.      A sign that scripture tells us will happen again in our future.

g.     1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

h.     Jesus will bring forth the saints of the church during the Rapture.

i.       Daniel 12:2 - The Old Testament Saints will be resurrected.

j.       Revelation 20:4-6 - The tribulation saints will be resurrected and will reign with Christ for 1,000 years.

k.     But beyond that, what happened to Lazarus physically happens to all who believe spiritually.

l.       Ephesians 2:1-10

m.   Through the power of our almighty God, we were once dead in our sins are given LIFE.

n.     When we turn to Jesus and repent of our sins.

o.     We are spiritually resurrected and later physically resurrected.

p.     Our future home for eternity changes from the worst place imaginable to a place of pure Joy.

q.     Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life… He demonstrated that when He raised Lazarus from the dead, in hope that people who were there would believe.

r.      In hope that we would believe.

9.     John 11:45-46

a.      Hallelujah many of the Jews who witnessed this Sign believed and were saved!

b.     Sadly, some did not.

                                                    i.     They may have been confused because this Sign and what they had heard about Jesus were not in alignment.

                                                  ii.     They may be living in sin and unwilling to see the Sign for what it is.

c.      There are only two options, believe or don’t.

d.     Those that believed will spend an eternity in Glory.

e.      Those that were confused, still had time to make the best decision.

                                                    i.     But you never know when that time will run out.

f.      Those in sin could still repent.

g.     As long as we are on this side of eternity, it is not to late!

10.  John 11:47-48

a.      The Pharisees had challenged Jesus – people still believed.

b.     They taught against Jesus – people followed Jesus.

c.      They excommunicated people, kicked them out of the church – but people were still choosing Jesus.

d.     They had reached a point of desperation.

e.      They wanted a way to counter Jesus.

f.      They wanted to hold onto their position and power.

g.     They did not want Jesus to change the world.

h.     A sad statement about who they were.

i.       I firmly believe that Jesus wants us to change this world.

j.       Does not mean we will change the course of events that are destined to play out.

k.     But, when we care for those who are hurting or are going without…

l.       When we care for the widows and the orphans….

m.   When we share the Gospel of Jesus with someone who does not know Him…

n.     When we make disciples, by walking along side fellow believers…

o.     We are changing the world for each person God puts in our path.

p.     We are meeting needs…

q.     We are helping people to draw near to our God…

r.      We are being used by God to share His amazing saving message with the lost.

s.      Jesus came to change this world and as His sheep we are to continue those efforts.

11.  John 11:49-50

a.      One man, Jesus, must be sacrificed to save the Jewish nation from being destroyed by Rome.  

b.     Little did he know that while his motives were wrong, he was right in some ways.

12.  John 11:51-53

a.      Caiphas prophesied that Jesus would die to save the nation.

b.     Words that would protect Caiphas’s position and power.

c.      Words that God knew would take on a new meaning.

d.     The Sanhedrin decided to kill Jesus.

e.      His death was going to bring about more change than they would ever know.

f.      Jesus came to fulfill the law by being the ultimate perfect sacrifice.

                                                    i.     The temple would no longer be needed.

g.     Jesus made it so us gentiles could be part of the Family of God.

                                                    i.     Gentiles were outsiders in the Jewish religion, but not anymore.

h.     Caiphas and the Sanhedrin wanted to preserve their way of life, but in turn were carrying out God’s plan.

i.       They were bringing the change that God wanted.

13.  John 11:54

a.      Jesus stepped away.

b.     It was not quite time for His sacrifice.

14.  John 11:55-57

a.      People were watching for Jesus.

b.     He had previously attended the festivals and would teach in the temple areas.

c.      They wondered if Jesus would show up and be arrested.

d.     How were things going to play out?

e.      Would Jesus conquer or be sacrificed?

f.      Little did they know, He would do both.

15.  A lot of unknown.

a.      What does the future hold?

b.     We can see how Jesus’ time on earth plays out, because it is part of our past.

c.      But what about our future?

d.     We don’t know what our future holds.

e.      We don’t know the blessings we are going to receive while on this earth.

f.      We don’t know what hills we will have to climb.

g.     We don’t know when we or a loved one will no longer have time to turn to Jesus and repent of our sins.

h.     There will be a point when time will run out.

i.       A lot of unknown, but we do know…

16.  That we need to repent and believe the Good news of Jesus before it is too late.

17.  Then do our part to change the world.

a.      Ephesians 2:10

b.     Share the good news of Jesus with everyone you can.

c.      Help fellow believers grow in faith.

d.     Meet the needs of those who go without.

18.  I encourage you to pray for God to use you as He sees fit.