The Power of Christ to Save
Notes
Transcript
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John 11:37-44 (ESV)
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.”
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
Up until now, in Chapter 11, we’ve been focusing in on the tender, compassionate care that our sympathetic High Priest gives to His sheep.
Lazarus has died.
Martha & Mary are heartbroken.
Both are battling with disappointment.
Both have struggled with imposing their will on God.
But, through it all we have seen Christ walk them through it.
We’ve seen Christ lead them to a deeper faith in Him.
Christ has led them to a greater knowledge of Him.
Jesus has shown His deep sympathy for their pain by sharing in it.
We’ve been told that Jesus wept.
Some of the crowd saw His emotion and knew from it that Jesus truly loved Lazarus.
And, now they’re walking to the tomb of Lazarus.
We’re told in…
John 11:37 (ESV)
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Doubts Abound
Doubts Abound
Martha and Mary had similar doubts as this group.
They thought Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying.
They just haven’t come to the realization that Jesus is:
the Conqueror of death
As much as He is:
the Healer of the sick.
He is the Ruler & Sovereign of every molecule.
But, here’s the thing...
We can know that truth deeply and dearly…
But, when sorrow strikes we can doubt it instantaneously.
What are these folks doubting when they say…
“Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
They could be doubting:
Christ’s full power
Christ’s goodness
Christ’s concern for us
We all go through times when we think similarly…
—> Even if it’s for the shortest stint.
They’re statement seems to focus less on Christ’s power and more upon His goodness.
I mean He opened the eyes of the man born blind…
Where was He in Martha & Mary’s time of need?
Where was He when Lazarus was merely sick?
The reality is, there’s blame being placed upon Christ for Lazarus’ death.
—> Like saying with a sort of doubting sarcasm…
—> What kind of Savior is He?
What humanity fails to comprehend in a fallen world…
And, mostly because most do not acknowledge it is indeed fallen…
But, even we who do acknowledge such...
We do not truly comprehend the depth of fallenness of this fallen world.
Paul tells us in Romans 2 that all of God’s acts in this fallen world are acts of kindness—meant for your repentance.
The temporary death of Lazarus, the mourning & sorrow of the family is allowed as an act of kindness by God.
The problem is we resist the kindness of God in those situations because we are stiff-necked.
Remember what Jesus has already said about this circumstance…
John 11:4 (ESV)
4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
John 11:14–15 (ESV)
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
God’s acts towards this fallen world are acts of kindness…
For unbelievers, to press towards repentance/faith.
For believers, for our good, continued repentance, which is part of our sanctification.
We struggle understanding, in the moment of sorrow, how any good can come from it…
But, God calls us to turn to Him and to trust Him with our lack of understanding.
—> To go to Him for our comfort and refuge.
So, when Paul says…
Romans 2:4 (ESV)
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Paul’s speaking here of those who are practicing sin, indifferent to God, judgmental…
And, he says that God’s interaction with the world is His kindness…
Which is meant for your repentance.
Repentance meaning turning from whatever has replaced God in your life…
And turning to God for fulfillment.
—> Mentally, emotionally, and physically.
And, those who do not recognize the kindness of God in their life and in their circumstances…
—> And, turn to Him…
Resist because of the hardness of their heart…
—> Which keeps them from repenting.
Doubting/Blaming God
Doubting/Blaming God
For us to doubt God’s goodness…
For us to complain against God is to say that God should have done what I wanted…
It is to claim divine attributes, like omniscience or divine wisdom…
While, at the same time, stripping God of the very attribute we claim.
It is the epitome of arrogance and rebellion towards God.
And, I know how we too often treat people who treat us in this manner…
But, what we’re about to witness, in Christ, is the very kindness of God towards mankind, that Paul speaks of…
That is meant for our repentance…
Look with me at v.38…
John 11:38 (ESV)
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
Deeply Moved
Deeply Moved
Remember, Jesus knows the hearts of people.
He knows what they’re thinking.
He knows their grief.
He knows their doubts.
He knows their unbelief.
He knows what they’ve just stated.
And, He is deeply moved.
Sin has so heavily stained creation.
Sin has so deeply marred the image of God in man.
Sin has so devastatingly perverted our understanding.
And, all of this, including death and sorrow…
—> Moves Christ to deep groaning.
And, so Jesus has wept, He’s deeply moved…
And, they arrive at the tomb.
John 11:39 (ESV)
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.”
Martha, even after a great confession of the personhood of Christ…
Even after being comforted and strengthened by the Lord…
Now, once again, shows that she’s more fixated on the circumstances than Christ, Himself…
And the deep truths of Christ have slipped away from the forefront of her mind.
But, Jesus in His gracious, caring, comforting leading…
Reminds her of what He has already stated and led her to know.
Jesus Reminds
Jesus Reminds
John 11:40 (ESV)
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
Christ’s response to their doubts, to their unbelief, to their blaming Him for Lazarus’ death...
—> Was kindness.
Out of His kindness, He reminds Martha, Mary and all around…
—> That this event is for the glory of God…
And, as such, is a good thing.
I wish they we were steadily convinced of our absolute need of our need for being reminded of the great truths of our Savior.
The primary, ordinary means of grace is the preached word of God to the people of God in the corporate worship of God on the Lord’s Day.
God has prescribed such, and ordained such.
And, as we go through our week there’s all sorts of venues that seek to:
bind our conscience
weigh us down with false guilt and false hope
And, we need the preached Word of God to fix our eyes back on Christ.
Our true Hope.
Our only Hope.
Our ultimate Authority
Through the means of His word which is the only authority to bind our conscience.
The Word of God obligates us to believe.
Now, look again at v.40.
Jesus is not teaching us the miracle we’re about to witness is contingent upon their faith.
What Jesus is saying to Martha and for all to hear is this…
If you take your mind of the corpse and place your attention on me…
You will see this miracle as an illustration and a proof of the glory of God in the Son of God.
As Paul states it in…
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
IOW, take your eyes of the circumstance and fix them on me…
And, in Me you will behold the glory of God.
Now, everyone is probably wondering what Jesus is about to do…
—> Some, maybe the disciples, do what He says…
John 11:41 (ESV)
41 So they took away the stone.
They roll away the stone or pull it off the opening.
Tombs were hewn out of the base of the mountain.
Or they could be natural caves used as tombs.
Typically the opening of the tomb could have a slight slant due to the mountain…
And, a wheel shaped large stone would be laid against the opening to keep animals out.
—> Not a job for one person.
So, standing at the tomb with the entry open, we’re told…
John 11:41–43 (ESV)
41 …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.”
Jesus knows what He’s going to do.
He’s in constant and perfect communication with His Father.
—> He knows what is about to take place.
But, He doesn’t keep it to Himself here.
Jesus reveals His communication to His Father.
And, through this, Jesus tells us that one purpose of this revealing is…
Jesus Teaches
Jesus Teaches
We need teaching in order to come to faith.
We need teaching to strengthen our faith.
but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Jesus states that He is revealing His communication with His Father so that the people around Him would know that He is the Messiah of God.
—> That He is the eternal Son, incarnate.
On a mission to save the people of God.
So, to/for the people standing around:
in the midst of their grief
in the midst of their doubts about God
in the midst of their blaming God for their sorrow
Jesus teaches them, as an act of kindness, so they might turn to Him.
And now, the next thing we see is…
Jesus Commands
Jesus Commands
John 11:43 (ESV)
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
Jesus let’s them know that what is about to happen is from Him and His Father.
Now, He cries out so everyone can clearly hear.
With a loud voice is actually stated twice.
He cried out with a loud voice, with a loud voice.
—> This was high volume.
All of this is to grip the minds of those standing around…
That what they’re about to witness is from Christ, from the Father.
They weren’t going to be able to attribute this to any other power.
This was the Divine will.
This would be done with Divine power.
And so, Jesus calls Lazarus out by name.
Can you imagine the crowd?
Can you imagine the disciples, Mary, and Martha?
They’re peering into the dark cavernous tomb.
They’re thinking what in the world is Jesus doing.
What is about to happen?
What even could happen?
Imagine the anticipation.
And, we read…
John 11:44 (ESV)
44 The man who had died came out,...
The same power that spoke the world into existence…
Just resurrected a dead man…
—> And, drew him out of his grave.
And, John states it so plainly.
Sort of like saying, what could the dead man do, but obey the command of the omnipotent God.
What could the decaying flesh do but be instantly recreated and flourish.
Imagine the celebration of Martha & Mary.
Imagine the celebration of the disciples.
Imagine the excitement of the crowd.
Imagine the joy welling up with tears and happiness.
Such a powerful truth is the resurrection unto life.
Such a glorious joy to know that life can be restored.
Such a magnificent power to behold…
—> That our Savior has conquered the grave.
Such a glorious truth that it moved the Apostle Paul to exclaim…
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (ESV)
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The grave gave up its rightful grip on Lazarus…
Because of the delivering, salvific power of Christ.
One more command from Christ…
44 …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.”
There’s freedom and liberty in Christ to live the way God intended.
Let’s think about this...
Let’s think about this...
Not only do we see the creative, recreative, restorative power of God in this miracle.
A power worthy of worship.
A power worthy of trust.
This Is A Beautiful Picture of Salvation
This Is A Beautiful Picture of Salvation
The stone was removed.
The body was regenerated in order to obey Christ’s command.
The man was wakened to the beauty of Christ’s call and voice.
The man recognized the voice of His Shepherd.
The man followed the voice of the Shepherd and came out of the darkness and into the light.
The man beheld His Savior.
The man was set free from the bondage of sin and death.
The man was saved from the grave.
Some people read this miracle and may say…
I wish I could see this power revealed before me.
Well, dear friends every time someone comes to Christ…
That same power has been revealed.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
[we were a rotting corpse, lawfully belonging to the grave]
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
