Dead Ain't Dead - Come Out! --- John 11:1-53 - Fifth Week of Lent

 

John 11:1-53 NIV

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

⁴ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷ and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

⁸ “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. ¹⁰ It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

¹¹ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

¹² His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” ¹³ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

¹⁴ So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

¹⁶ Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

²¹ “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

²⁸ After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” ²⁹ When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then 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 have kept this man from dying?”

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

Dead Ain’t Dead-Come Out!

Lord, breathe your Holy Spirit into my dry bones, connect me securely in Your grace, that I may rise, hear Your voice, read Your Word, and live a new life in You. Bring me from death to life in you.

I’m deep and buried in the depths of my sin. I need you, Jesus! I need you to pull me out of this tomb in which I live. This tomb of my sinfulness. I need you, Jesus! Call me to your Light and raise me up. I need you, Jesus!

My body will die, no doubt, at least if Jesus doesn’t return first. My body is subject to death because of my sin, but Jesus came to be sin for me, that in him I might live through the Spirit of God and become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This is a time just before Jesus would suffer and be crucified.

Bethany was a small town just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. Not very far at all. Martha and Mary were a couple of Jesus’ disciples. Martha had a heart full of service, and Mary was a devotional type of person. Both were compliments, to what a disciple is and could be throughout time. And Lazarus, this Lazarus, is only mentioned in the Gospels here. Lazarus is sick at this moment. He’s not the same Lazarus, the beggar, in the account of the great chasm between himself and the rich man, commonly spoken of, named Dives.

Jesus response to the illness of Lazarus, illustrates His knowledge and understanding of God’s will in His life for this particular situation. He’s not in a panic. Really, death, to Jesus, is no reason to panic. Sort of seems strange, but when you think about Jesus as the Author of Life, what’s death? Jesus knows God’s timing after all.

And this slowness to act on Jesus’ part, does not mean that He doesn’t have a deep love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus does love all of them. Jesus loves them very deeply.

It’s not that Jesus is afraid to go back to Judea, it’s not that He’s worried about a small trip. It seems to me that Jesus is, once again, going to carry out God’s will in this situation, that will lead Him towards the plan for all creation. We’ll get to that meaning, as we go along in this Gospel account.

And then, Jesus, speaking of Lazarus illness, tells His disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep. Well, Mary, Martha, and those close to them, understand and witness that Lazarus is dead. But what is dead to us, may not seem like dead to Jesus.

But this sleep that Jesus is speaking of IS death. The disciples presumed that if Lazarus was sleeping, it wasn’t death and he would heal and get better. There’s something more brewing in this pot!

Once again, as in the past few weeks; Jesus is leading us along and teaching us about physical verses spiritual things. He’s helping us to understand a deeper meaning to our relationship with God as believers.

Finally, Jesus makes it plain and simple. Lazarus is dead!

But dead ain’t dead to Jesus. So, Thomas figured that going back to the dangers of Judea would surely be the death of Jesus as well. And it was, sort of. But remember, once again, to Jesus, dead ain’t dead.

When Jesus and His disciples arrive to Mary, Martha, and family; Lazarus was good and dead. Like four days gone! Stinky dead!

They arrived to Bethany. Now Bethany was only a couple of miles from Jerusalem. Jesus had just been to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, and He made the Jews so mad at Him, for witnessing that His work was God’s work, that they ran Him out of town and tried to stone Him to death. So, you can see why going back that close to Jerusalem was why His disciples feared for Jesus’ life. Surely this time, this close, the Jews would take care of Jesus and kill Him. Remember, that the people that came to console Martha and Mary were Jews also. Maybe including a few of the same Jews that ran Jesus out of town.

As Martha went to meet Jesus, she believed in Jesus. She had faith enough to believe that if Jesus had been there a bit earlier, He would have healed her brother, Lazarus. But that’s not what is going on here. Jesus knows that a bigger plan is taking place. Lazarus will rise again… and then again. But who can grasp that idea! Even if you believe, you think it’s “one and done,” but in this case that will not be true.

Think of your Baptism… How you went under the waters. Think about living your own baptism, day after day. Each day, you go under the waters, to die to sin, and rise to new life with God, in and through His forgiveness and grace. Keep that image in the back of your mind here.

Let’s go on… Martha displays her faith in the “resurrection of the dead,” on the last day. But it’s not that time just yet. And Jesus points out this distinction and difference between this coming act, and the fact that Jesus IS, or better yet I AM the resurrection and the life. If you believe, remember, dead ain’t dead to Jesus. If you believe, even though you die, you will live through what Jesus does for you, me, and the world. There’s that physical to spiritual meanings that Jesus has been teaching all along.

Do you believe in Jesus?

And Jesus keeps calling us out. Here it’s Martha… Do you believe in Jesus? If so, say so! Not only do you believe in Jesus, but do you believe He is the Messiah, like He says He is?

And the first thing Martha does, is call out her sister Mary. Come and see Jesus. He is here. That’s a witness of faith.

As Mary comes out to see Jesus, He has compassion on her and weeps with her in her grief. Jesus knows how it is to feel human too. Jesus knows emotions and understands our deepest needs and desires, especially in our love for one another. And in this case in our mourning over the death of a dear brother.

And with this is my favorite memory verse of the Bible. It’s an easy one to remember. John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” There is a deep connection with us there. Jesus knows how it is. It’s so much more than two words. It’s a relationship with Jesus on an intimate level, that shows deep love.

But next comes doubt. We all tend to let some doubt enter into a deep emotion. Is this real or not? Well, it’s real! But the crowd shows their doubt. Why couldn’t Jesus have been here on time? He can heal the blind, but He can’t show up in time to heal a good friend of His? Come on, Jesus! We doubt and we judge. That’s me too. How many times have I second guessed some action of God, or some action of another person? There’s more to this than what we obviously see here.

Remember that Jesus was truly human. He had human emotions and knew pain. Jesus knows the pain and sorrow over the death of a loved one.  Yet Jesus has authority over sin and death. In this He can boldly state to move the stone away from the cave that held Lazarus body. God is action here. God is acting in His power over death, that brings hope to all believers who die, trusting in God and God alone for life, ever-lasting life, in God’s Kingdom, forever.

And as the blind man can attest, faith in Jesus goes beyond death. First, we have faith, then we have sight; sight to see the “Light of God” in Christ Jesus. And in this as always, Jesus shows us how to pray with thankful hearts. There is a miracle of God happening here. We pray and yes, God acts. Sometimes God acts with miracles. And Jesus models a prayer, not for self, as we often do, but for those around Him. Why? So that they may see, have open eyes, and witness God in action.

And in the face of death from an open tomb, Jesus issues a command. Jesus has power over death. This is a pre-shadowing of Jesus own resurrection to come. Jesus commands for Lazarus to “Come out!” Now, Jesus issues a second command to unwrap Lazarus and release him from the bondage of death.

And that’s what Jesus does for all who use the faith God gives, to believe in Jesus. Jesus releases believers from the bondage of death. See, hear and believe it. This IS a miracle to bring you to believe in the power of God in Jesus over sin and death. Do you see it? Jesus restores the community of believers to a NEW Life in Him. As we raise day after day from the waters of our baptism, we are brought, and restored to New Life in God. The stench of our sin and death is gone.

Talk about a gathering of some people to witness a miracle! This group of Jews were likely friends of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, but it may be some others came also to be official mourners. Mourners were common in this day and time. But even after witnessing this miracle, word would quickly spread. That’s what it’s like. So, there is some great importance in our witness to how God is active in our lives, even in miracles which we may not realize as being miracles. There are miracles all around us, but these God given miracles are real miracles, not just some great thing that happens.

At the heart of some testimonies is the need to go and tell some people that may or may not be offended. So, of course, some of the witnesses were really more like gossipers, and run to tell the religious authorities, to warn them, or to get them involved for really no good reason, other than they may be skeptical of the miracle they just witnessed.

So, when the Chief priests and the Pharisees get word of this miracle that Jesus performed, they feel threatened that they just may lose face, or power, or influence over their followers. This miracle becomes a threat to them that they must deal with the consequences.  They fear losing control of the people and that people will leave their own influence and power over them, to follow Jesus instead. It’s important to realize that our own control over a situation, pales in comparison to the true truth and power of God over all situations. Don’t struggle over power with God. Instead, stand in awe of God’s power and praise Him in all His works, giving thanks. Some things are in God’s ultimate plan and salvation, not yours. You can’t save yourself anyway.

And here, Caiaphas takes a dangerous stand publicly, and fails to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Or does he really? Caiaphas was willing to compromise, in order to attempt to maintain his power and authority over the people and his colleagues. Oh, how it’s easy to give in to the truth when one’s pride gets in the way. I’m guilty here as well. Forgive me, Lord Jesus!

And in Caiaphas statement that it be better that one man die than for the whole Jewish nation to perish, Caiaphas lays down a judgment against God’s very own plan of salvation for all people of this world, in what was soon to take place in Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, that will save all who come to believe in His forgiveness and grace, in His defeat of sin and death.

So, from that day on, the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. Lord, save us from such prideful judgment and actions. Forgive us our sins.

So, what do I make of this week’s study of this passage of Scripture?

God has a plan, and will carry out that plan. It’s a plan that I could never imagine if I were present in that day and time. I give thanks for the witnesses to what happened here and those that recorded this miracle of God in Jesus. Yet, having the testaments of these people of the past, I can see how God is active over death. Death is not the end. My sin points me to the fact that I need a Savior to forgive me, release me from death and to raise me to new life in Him.

I recall that day after day, I fall to sin. I die to my sinful self and lose all hope. Yet, in the same way, day after day, as through my baptism, God claims my dead self, and raises me up. Yes, God calls me out of the tomb in which I belong, each day, to give me life and give me spiritual gifts to go out. “Billy, come out!” That’s the cry I hear from the Voice that bids me to begin anew each day. Come out and bear the fruit with which I have had you bear. Come out to do God’s will. Will I hear that will of God? Surely so, I pray.

So, just as Jesus defeated sin on the cross, and just as Jesus defeated death in His resurrection, He calls me, and all disciples who believe in Him, to new life, in new ways, to serve Him in His Kingdom, here on earth and in heaven forever.

So, “COME OUT!” We have work to do. We have work to do in the joy of what Jesus has done for us… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

May you enjoy this YouTube Music Video that I reflected upon this last week…

“Come Out Lazarus!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw5T2NvbSnI&list=RDhw5T2NvbSnI&start_radio=1