Jesus And Death

John 11

Introduction:

1. Death - the reality awaiting us all -- Heb. 9:27

2. Jesus, in his life, dealt with the death of his friends. -- Lazarus

3. While we cannot raise them -- as Jesus does here, we CAN see the other things that he does.

1. Becoming AWARE of the death - John 11:14

a. He went to the sorrowing -- and wept with them, vv. 33-35)

1. SORROW is part of the grieving, it is not WRONG,

2. BUT, it IS different for believers -- 1 Thess. 4:

3. Illustrated here -- even though shortly raised from the grave!

b. He spoke to the LIVING -- (to Mary, vv. 25-26)

1. He has tender sympathy for this family -- (cp. Heb. 4:15a)

2. So we to can have faith -- John 11:25-26, 1 Pet. 5:7

c. Jesus even NOW is aware of the death of our loved ones -- and will raise them from the dead when He comes again -- what a glorious day that will be.

d. Jesus spoke on 2 great subjects on that occasion to Martha -- vs. 40

1. The possibility of FAITH --

2. The fact of glory -- 'thy brother shall rise again' vs. 23,

2. The NEED for FAITH --

a. Mary - vs. 32, could have prevented this ….

b. Martha -- vs. 22 - can Raise from the DEAD

c. BASED UPON FAITH THAT JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD… vs. 27..

1. vs. 25-26 - I AM the RESURRECTION and THE LIFE --

2. "remove the stone' -- he stinketh -- the problem of faith vs. 38-40

3. THEY DID AS INSTRUCTED -- He then did as he promised!

d. TRUST, the faith that will WORK -- the faith that will OBEY -- the faith that takes God at His word and responds in whatever way it is directed…

e. Rom. 10:17 -- come by hearing.

1. Many have a misguided faith -- faith in wrong things --

a. Words of men

b. imaginations of heart

2. Scripture MUST be the foundation…

f. Such in particular at times like these -- when WE are faced with death…

3. The Glory to Follow --

a. Lazarus raised from the grave -- the impossible happens!

1. They removed the stone-

2. LAZARUS comes forth --

b. Foretold the resurrection of Christ himself -- victorious over death, 1 Cor. 15:1-4

c. Such power we are to rely upon -- for He will raise us also -- Eph. 1:18-23

1. Mary's faith - shall rise in the last day…

2. John 5:28-29

d. Mortality shall have put on immortality -- corruption à incorruption,

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

2 Cor. 1:3-5 -- comforts US -- so we can comfort others -- 1 Thess. 4: with these words.