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Sermon Introduction

I AM the Resurrection and the Life, the Lord assured Martha. Mixed with faith that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and the loss of her brother, she could not plainly understand Jesus. He said that Lazarus would rise again. She thought it would be at the resurrection on the last day. She would fetch her sister, Mary.

Martha whispered to Mary that Jesus was looking for her. Mary immediately went to Jesus, who was outside the village. The Jews comforting Mary followed her, assuming Mary would go to the tomb. Mary and Jesus had a brief conversation; He grieved with Mary briefly. Then, He raised Lazarus from the dead. The miracle backed His claim, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.”

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there (John 11:28-31).

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

John 11:28-44

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So 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 also have kept this man from dying?”. 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”. 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go”.

Notes

I AM the Resurrection and the Life, the Lord assured Martha. Mixed with faith that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and the loss of her brother, she could not plainly understand Jesus. He said that Lazarus would rise again. She thought it would be at the resurrection on the last day. She would fetch her sister, Mary.

Martha whispered to Mary that Jesus was looking for her. Mary immediately went to Jesus, who was outside the village. The Jews comforting Mary followed her, assuming Mary would go to the tomb. Mary and Jesus had a brief conversation; He grieved with Mary briefly. Then, He raised Lazarus from the dead. The miracle backed His claim, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.”

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there (John 11:28-31).

1. Grief

   Mary fell at His feet and expressed a sentiment similar to Martha's: If only Jesus had come earlier, her brother would have lived. When Jesus saw all the grief because of death, He was deeply moved. The Jews wondered if Jesus could have prevented the death of Lazarus.

   
   32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So 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 also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:32-37).

   Application: Trust in His purpose. Despite the grief or seeming delays, we must trust His purpose, which shall stand. Although God knows our pain, His will shall prevail no matter what.

2. Roll the Stone

   Jesus came to the tomb, a cave, and told them to remove the stone. Martha expressed her concern because the body of Lazarus was decomposing, which would make it a greater miracle. But Jesus reminded her to believe so she would see God’s glory.

   38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:38-40).

   Application: Know His word. Sometimes, we misunderstand God's will. Therefore, we must strive to study His word diligently and carefully. Moreover, we should be mindful of our preconceived ideas and set them aside so we may believe His Word.

3. Resurrection

   They removed the stone that sealed the tomb. The Lord Jesus then prayed to the Father. It was clear that the purpose of the miracle was to help the people around to believe. He commanded Lazarus to come out, and he obeyed.

   
   41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:41-44).

   Application: Believe that God will fulfill His purpose. No force can stop God's decree from happening, not even death. Jesus would defeat death by rising on the third day, and all who would believe would receive the promise of eternal life.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What was the purpose of the miracle?

2. What was Martha’s concern?

3. Why did Jesus weep?