The Gospel According to John: 11:1-16
The Gospel According to John • Sermon • Submitted
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Notes
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Series Introduction:
The theme verse for our series is John 20:31
John 20:31 – “…these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
The “these” John is referring to are the seven recorded SIGNS/miracles and the seven recoded “I Am” STATEMENTS of Jesus. John focused on those 14 key SIGNS and STATEMENTS in order to show us that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World because He’s God’s only begotten Son. God had John write these things so that we would believe and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ so that by the grace of God we would be FREED from the penalty of our sin and given life to the FULL here on earth and life FOREVER in heaven.
Recap: John 1 - 10:1-21
John 1 - We are introduced to Jesus as the Word made flesh and told His purpose for coming to earth. We are also given John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” and Jesus calls His first disciples.
John 2 - Here we have the first recorded sign (the water turned into wine) and Jesus demonstrating His authority in the turning over the tables at the temple during Passover.
John 3 - The amazing discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus and John the Baptist’s second testimony about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 4 - Jesus and the woman at the well, living water, Samaritans come to Jesus and then the chapter ends with the second sign/miracle, Jesus healing the nobleman’s son.
John 5 - The third sign/miracle, Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath Day
John 6 - We have the fourth recorded sign/miracle, the feeding of the five thousand. Then we have the first “I Am” statement, “I am the Bread that came down from Heaven” and the chapter ends with people starting to divide over Jesus.
John 7 - We see specifically how people are dividing over Jesus, some were divided because of unbelief, others because of uneasiness about the danger of following Jesus and others because of uncertainty about the claims of Jesus.
John 8 - The chapter begins with the religious leaders bringing the woman caught in adultery to Jesus wanting to trap him and stone her. The chapter ends with the religious leaders getting caught in their own trap and wanting to stone Jesus.
John 9 - A man blind from birth, healed, questioned, put out of the synagogue and found again by Jesus, he believed in the Son of Man, worshipped him and the chapter closes with Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees...
John 10 -
[Read Text:]
John 11:1–16 (NASB)
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
Today we are talking about Seeing God’s glory in grave circumstances.
1 Peter 4:12–13 (ESV)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Grave circumstances ARE NOT minor inconveniences.
Most of the things we let bother us today are just minor inconveniences. Too much traffic, running late for work or church, delayed or canceled flights, long lines at the store, long lines at the drive thru, long lines at the back, rude people, getting your order wrong, being out of your favorite drink at the coffee shop, the wifi is slow, the internet is down, social media comments… seriously, those things are petty.
What are “grave circumstances”?
Here are some grave circumstances we might experience today… major illness, cancer, significant injury, major disability, losing your job and not knowing if you will be able to pay bills or even eat, betrayal from a close friend, divorce, a home burned down, wrongfully accused of a crime…facing time for a crime you DID commit, a miscarriage, infertility, a loved one near death, the death of a loved one.
I think these things and many other would qualify as grave circumstances. I know many of you in this room have experienced quite a few things on the list and other things that we could put on the list that I didn’t. My hope and prayer is for you and anyone that is in grave circumstances or have already gone through them, that in this message today, you will see the glory of God in those circumstances, if you haven't’ already, or maybe see it in a way you haven’t before. And in through the truth of God’s word, the Spirit of God will work in your heart and mind and bring peace, hope and encouragement.
Let’s get back to our text.
The Grave Circumstances in our text...
(v. 1-3) 1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
The Greek for so sick here means to very sick. Literally, “sick and very weak”. We’d call it near death. Lazarus didn’t have a cold he was hanging on by a thread.
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (770 ἀσθενέω (astheneō))
770. ἀσθενέω astheneō; from 772; to be weak, feeble:—am weak(1), becoming weak(1), fell sick(1), sick(18), weak(16).
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (772 ἀσθενής (asthenēs))
772. ἀσθενής asthenēs; from 1 (as a neg. pref.) and σθενής sthenēs (strong); without strength, weak:—helpless(1), sick(6), unimpressive(1), weak(16), weak things(1), weaker(1), weakness(2).
(v. 13-14) 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
Here we have Lazarus, a loved one, sick and suffering and near death and even pretty quickly passing away because of his illness.
God’s glory is seen in grave circumstances and I want to show you what to look for...
The Hand of God is realized...
The Hand of God is realized...
...in grave circumstances.
(v. 4) 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
God is in control. He is sovereign. But we don’t truly see the glory of God in our circumstances until we realize His hand in the midst of them...
The life of Jospeh is a testimony about the glory of God in grave circumstances.
Hated by his brothers, about to be killed, sold into slavery, wrongfully accused of assault, wrongfully imprisoned, completely forgotten… and yet…
Genesis 50:20 (NASB)
20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
The Apostle Paul too…
2 Corinthians 11 - dangers, near death, starvation, nearly freezing to death, countless beatings and assaults, imprisonments, hardships, shipwrecks… and on top of it all a severe physical ailment:
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NASB)
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Apostle Peter gives us some insight…
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Psalm 23:4 (NASB)
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The Heart of God is revealed...
The Heart of God is revealed...
...in grave circumstances.
(v. 5-6) 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
Jesus delayed BECAUSE He loved them. The grave circumstances got worse because of the love of Jesus, not in spite of it.
Psalm 34:18 (NASB)
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The Hope of God is accomplished...
The Hope of God is accomplished...
...in grave circumstances.
(v. 14-15) 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
First, let me talk about hope for a moment. Today, many of us use the word hope similar to wish. When we hope for something we wish or desire it to happen. But the Bible uses it differently. Hope in the Bible is about confident expectation. It is about being assured that God is in control.
Psalm 71:5 (NASB)
5 For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.
Romans 15:4 (NASB)
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 5:3–5 (NASB)
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
James 1:2–4 (NASB)
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1 Peter 1:6–7 (NASB)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
(v. 15) “…am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe...”
Grave circumstances are the fertilizer for the soil where the seed of God has been planted and in the midst of those grave circumstances, faith grows. God glory is most clearly seen and understood in the midst of grave circumstances.
What are your circumstances like? Are you looking for God in them?
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, grave circumstances are hopeless.
But with Jesus rescues people from the grave. Do you trust Him?
Let’s pray…
Memory Verse of the Week:
John 16:1 (NASB)
1 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.
Discussion Questions: (John 11:1-16)
Why do you think John makes it a point to explain in detail the who, what and where of this situation? (v. 1-2)
What do you think was the main reason(s) the sisters reached out to Jesus? (v. 3)
How does the reaction of Jesus shape your perspective on sickness or suffering? (v. 4)
In what ways was the timing of Jesus connected to His love? (v. 5-6)
Why were the disciples confused about Jesus wanting to go to Judea and how does Jesus going shape your perspective on risk? (v. 7-8)
What was Jesus helping the disciples understand when He talked about light, darkness, walking and stumbling? (v. 9-10)
Why do you think the Bible often refers to the death of believers as sleep? (v. 11)
Jesus spoke plainly in v. 14. So far in our study of John, what are some other passages you wish Jesus had explained “plainly”? (v. 12-14)
What made Jesus glad about Lazarus passing away? (v. 15) How does this verse help inform your perspective regarding death?
Do you think Thomas was being fearless or fearful here? (v. 16) What makes you think that?
What else does this passage tell us about God?
What did you learn about yourself from this text?
Did anything else in these verses stick out to you?
How do you believe God is leading you to respond to His word?
