January 24, 2010
Morning Service

St.Jn. 11:1-27

 

Review:

1.       In chapter 10 Jesus told us that He was the Door, and if anyone entered by Him he would be saved.

2.      Then Jesus went on to tell us that He was the Good Shepherd, and how much He cared for His sheep.  He also explained the difference between a true shepherd, and a hireling, one who didn’t care for the sheep.

3.      Jesus also explained how that His true sheep would hear His voice, and follow Him, and that they would not follow another. 

4.      And also the security that His sheep have.  No man can pluck them out of My hand, and if they become lost I will go and find them, and bring them back into the fold.

5.      Jesus closed chapter 10 by telling the Jews,  Joh 10:37-38 KJVR  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.  (38)  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

 

Let’s see what chapter 11 has in store for us:

 

Joh 11:1-26 KJVR  Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  (2)  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)  (3)  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 

·        Let’s begin this morning by recognizing a pattern by which we are to follow.  Number one is that when someone is sick, you call for Jesus first. 

·        This is one of the reasons why we encouraged a close relationship with the Lord a couple of chapters back.  Prayer is the most powerful access to God that we have.  Jesus teaches us to pray to God the Father, in Jesus name.  “Whatsoever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.”  (St.Jn. 16:23) And this prayer should be “if it be thy will.” 

·        Then according to James you call for the elders of the church that they might come and anoint with oil, and pray, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and if he has committed sins they shall be forgiven him.

(4)  When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 

(5)  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  (6)  When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  (7)  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.  (8)  His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?  (9)  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.  (10)  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 

·        We must be about our Father’s business.  We must continually be about the things of God.  Walking in the day, or light, means to walk in the way God would want us to walk.  This should be our manner of life in this world.  To walk in the night means to follow the ways of satan, for his life is in the darkness of evil, and following his ways you will stumble, and fall out of the grace of God. 

(11)  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.  (12)  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.  (13)  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.  (14)  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 

·        “My sheep hear my voice”  “let him that hath an ear” ;  the world says death, and I say sleep.  This explanation explains this statement:  Joh 11:26 KJVR  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

 

·        The Bible teaches us of a second death.  Lazarus is experiencing the first death.  Notice.

(Rev 2:11 KJVR)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

 

(Rev 20:6 KJVR)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

• We are trusting the Lord that we will be in this first resurrection.   Not because we are holier than anyone else, but because we are trusting in Jesus’ righteousness, and what He did for us on Calvary.  He it is that makes us worthy, not ourselves.  We are His sheep, and we hear His voice, and we will follow Him right into glory.

(Rev 20:14 KJVR)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

• Death, and hell represents all the below:

(Rev 21:8 KJVR)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

(15)  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 

• Further witness that Jesus is the very Son of God.

(16)  Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.  (17)  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.  (18)  Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:  (19)  And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  (20)  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 

• Do you see the picture?  Here Martha is burdened down with grief, and goes to the One who can help.  This is exactly what we are to do.  Jesus said, Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
• He is the One we should lean on in our time of grief, and sorrow.  Earthly friends are wonderful, but the true comfort comes from One who can relieve the burden.

(21)  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  (22)  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 

• Reading between the lines, “Lord please bring him back from the dead.”
• What great confidence in the Lord.   

(23)  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  (24)  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.  (25)  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (26)  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

• Then Martha makes the statement that unlocks the chains of death, and hell.  Unlocks the chains of slavery to drugs, immorality, adultery, and all the things that leads to the second death.

(27)  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

• In Martha’s case, bring back my brother. 
• Our needs are different, we may have children in slavery to drugs, or hung up in rebellion.  But whatever our needs are, Jesus is the answer.  He is here, and He will never leave you nor forsake you.  The Bible says that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, His name is Jesus.

PLEASE BOW YOUR HEAD WITH ME:

WON’T YOU CONFESS HIM THIS MORNING AS LORD?  JUST SAY TO HIM, “YES LORD, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE VERY SON OF GOD.”

AMEN.