WEBVTT

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 When reading a passage like John chapter 11, we are confronted with both the reality of death, its pain,

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 but also the hope of being raised from the dead again.

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 It can be a very difficult narrative to process for us.

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 For most of us, we're used to the narrative of the world.

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 We engage with the world each and every single day,

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 and we hear that there is no hope in the face of death when looking at the world and how the world views death.

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 Because the world finds this kind of narrative in John 11 quite foreign, quite different.

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 Death is something that can't be stopped.

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 It can't be explained.

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 It brings the wonderful gift of life to an end.

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 And this is a narrative that our world is so used to seeing and hearing each and every day.

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 But for them, for our world, it's too much to grasp.

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 It's too much to handle.

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 For a narrative without hope, a narrative that just ends, is not one we want to pay any attention to at all.

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 Instead of acknowledging death as something we should talk about, we redirect our focus.

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 We focus on something else.

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 We focus on any other narrative that gives life or exemplifies life.

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 And every product we buy, every service we use, every policy that we might have,

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 plays on its underlying theme of life in its narrative.

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 Everything from beauty products that use every single life-giving adjective in the book to sell its product,

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 to superannuation policies that guarantee you a secure retirement so you can go and live your life the way they want.

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 They, all at the heart of it, are trying to sell you life, trying to get you to focus in on life.

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 And we're in a world where now eating healthy, going to the gym, in our active wear is considered cool

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 because of the benefits to your health and to the quality of your life.

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 We're always hearing about the new power foods such as the cyborgs and the almighty kale,

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 foods that are supposed to give us all we need to live a vibrant and healthy life now in the present.

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 The narrative we are constantly engaged with each and every day,

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 a version of life and life abundantly with no end at all in sight.

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 We never hear about death in our world.

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 No one ever talks about death in the services, the products or the policies that we take.

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 No one wants to talk about the reality of death in our life.

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 Our world would rather live in a fantasy world where death is not even a thing.

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 But whilst we might be able to put off death for some time,

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 death has a way of catching up to us and confronting us when we least expect it.

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 You could be healthy for a very long time in your life.

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 And then one morning you wake up with sharp pains in your chest.

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 Your blood pressure is through the roof.

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 And you need to call an ambulance to come pick you up, unaware of what's going to happen next.

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 You could wake up one morning with a headache to find out a week later you've developed a brain tumour.

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 You could be driving up the coast on your way to the holiday you've been looking forward to for a very long time.

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 And one moment you're driving, everything is fine.

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 And the next moment you're waking up in hospital, you can't fit your legs,

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 the doctor tells you you have damaged your spine, and you won't be able to walk again.

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 The signs of death painfully pull us back into reality, out of our fantasy world,

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 and places us in this reality where we have to deal with death in front of us.

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 Recapturing our focus.

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 Uninvitingly putting death on the table again is something we have to deal with.

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 Something we have to talk about.

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 And so what then?

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 What do you do when you are confronted with death?

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 Our world is so ill-equipped to deal with the real narrative of life,

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 that we live and that we die.

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 That death is real and something that we must face.

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 But in John chapter 11, the narrative is a bit different.

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 Here we see Jesus and his disciples confronted with death.

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 News has come to them that their friend Lazarus has fallen ill.

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 And before they even arrive in Bethany, Jesus pronounces to them in verse 16 that they are dead, that he is dead.

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 However, he ends his sentence by saying to them, let us go to him.

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 Which begs the question, what is going to happen when Jesus arrives on the scene?

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 When he is confronted with death, what will he do?

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 If Jesus is the one who has come to bring life and life to the full, as we see back in chapter 10,

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 what can we expect will happen when the one who has come to bring life is confronted with death?

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 The story of Lazarus is written for a world that is confounded by death.

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 When we struggle to know how to respond to death, we must look to Jesus who shows us how.

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 So looking at Jesus' example here in John chapter 11, there are a few things we can see.

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 Firstly, we see that we must acknowledge that death is a destructive and painful and unnatural force in our world.

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 Death not only takes away our opportunity to enjoy life in this world, but it also takes away life in community.

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 Death will always come in between and end all of our relationships, even our deepest and most closest ones.

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 In excess was wrong.

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 Nothing will tear us apart.

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 Wrong.

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 No.

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 Death will tear us apart, and death has been tearing us apart for a very long time now.

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 Again, a song like that appeals to us, doesn't it?

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 A world in which we will always live together forever.

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 Jesus' own response says it all.

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 Verse 35, the shortest verse in all the Bible captures the grief that Jesus was in when he was face-to-face confronted with death.

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 It says,

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 At a distance, back up north, Jesus was able to keep his emotions in check, simply to say that Lazarus is dead.

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 But when he is face-to-face with the grief and the pain, the sadness of death, he can't help but feel the sharp pain that it brings.

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 One of the reasons why it's so often easy for us to ignore death in our life is because we rarely are confronted with it.

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 And I'll admit, as someone who is pretty young, I've rarely confronted death in my own life.

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 We see it only far away in the news, in statistics, articles, in TV shows and movies, in places where it doesn't seem quite real to us,

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 where we don't feel the gravity of what's going on.

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 But rarely do we see it face-to-face.

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 And so when we do see it face-to-face, the grief, the pain of death can be overwhelming.

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 We have been so used to the narrative of life and life abundantly that our world projects on us

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 that when the reality of death strikes us, it confounds us.

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 How do we respond?

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 What do we do?

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 But Jesus' response here is quite interesting.

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 In verse 33,

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 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping,

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 he was deeply moved and troubled.

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 The phrase deeply moved there, I think, is a bit of a soft translation.

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 The word used here is often used elsewhere in the Bible to describe the angry snorting of war horses.

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 So if you can imagine a war horse as they anticipate battle, the anger they feel,

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 as they feel the battle coming, this is Jesus' response.

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 It's not simply that he is moved, but he is angry.

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 Angry as he stares down at his enemy, death.

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 And for what it's doing to the people around him that he loves.

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 Now the word troubled here intensifies this emotion as well.

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 The same word for trouble is used back in John chapter 5 with a beggar by the pool of Siloam.

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 The beggar who wants to be healed in verse 7, he says this,

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 I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred or troubled.

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 If you imagine a lake that's entirely still, you're on holiday, you're enjoying the pristine, crystal clear lake.

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 And all of a sudden, annoying little rat bag kids come up and start skimming rocks across the lake.

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 And you are annoyed because you're trying to enjoy this lake and the beautiful, pristine nature of it.

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 But now you are troubled, just as this lake is also just being troubled and disturbed.

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 That's how Jesus feels right now.

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 This picture of what is going on for him right now, the death of Lazarus has made him deeply angry within,

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 to the point that his anger is bubbling up inside of him.

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 He is not at peace, he is stirred.

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 The best translation I found was in the message, actually.

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 And it says this, the anger welled up in him, like a wave coming up.

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 Why this intense anger?

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 Because death is not a natural part of life, but an unnatural phenomenon that rules our present age.

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 He is angry because death stands opposed to God's good order,

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 and robs the glory of God found in creation, blinding humanity to the goodness and love of God.

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 We have been blinded if we think death is a natural part of life.

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 But the thing is, many people do feel it's natural.

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 Many people think that if eventually all things die,

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 if we can observe that everything dies in this world,

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 then it must be natural, it must be normal.

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 It is repeatable, and I can test it.

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 It's the way our world functions.

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 But even those who might believe death is natural

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 struggle to accept the loss of relationship that we talked about in death.

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 And you see this all the time at funerals,

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 when you hear people say,

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 he hasn't really died,

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 but he lives on in our hearts and our memories.

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 She's with the angels now looking down on us.

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 His spirit will always be with me.

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 If you remember when Philip Hughes passed away after being struck by a cricket ball,

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 Michael Clarke gave a very emotional, moving eulogy.

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 And you could see in his face that he really, really struggled to deal with death,

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 death of one of his closest friends.

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 And he said that Philip Hughes' spirit will always be with him when he went out to bat,

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 trying to somehow make him live on beyond death.

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 People refuse to accept that the ones they love are gone forever.

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 Even though our scientific world would say otherwise,

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 our grief and our pain says something is very wrong and very unnatural about death.

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 And Jesus' own grief, he testifies to this.

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 You might be sitting here waiting for me to get to the good bit,

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 and we will get there, I promise.

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 But it's so important, you don't miss the reality that we are all under.

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 If we caricature the reality and power of death,

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 we will end up caricaturing the power and reality and the hope of the gospel.

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 If we caricature the reality and power of death,

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 we will end up caricaturing the power and the hope of the gospel.

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 As Christians, we do have an answer to suffering and death,

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 for the one that's facing terminal illness,

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 when tragedy strikes and goes south for us in our health.

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 But the worst thing we can do for a brother and a sister,

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 for a friend who is grieved by the passing of a loved one,

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 is to not acknowledge the pain of death,

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 the separation, the loss that is there,

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 and therefore just jump straight to the good news.

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 Remember, even though Jesus knew what he was about to do in waking up Lazarus,

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 he wept.

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 He felt the pain that death brings.

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 He mourned.

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 And so a correct response to death,

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 indeed, the first response is to grieve.

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 Indeed, weep.

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 It's to acknowledge the loss and the separation that happens,

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 and to mourn that loss.

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 It's to be angry,

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 and to acknowledge that this isn't right,

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 this isn't good,

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 this isn't natural,

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 this isn't the way things are supposed to be.

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 We can't beautify death.

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 It's not part of the circle of life,

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 as the Lion King might tell us.

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 Death is a real and destructive force

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 in our broken and corrupt world.

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 But we are not those who grieve and who mourn without hope.

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 And so secondly,

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 this passage teaches us to respond to death

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 by looking forwards to the hope of a future resurrection.

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 When confronted with death,

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 the Christian has a profoundly different narrative.

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 When, whilst there is grief and anger,

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 there is also hope.

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 And the basis for this hope

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 is in the one who is able to call us back to life again.

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 And so Jesus, stirring with anger,

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 will not let death have the final word.

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 With Lazarus,

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 he asks in verse 34,

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 Where have you laid him?

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 When they take him to his body,

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 he weeps.

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 Those around him are amazed at his love for him.

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 But some are confused.

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 In verse 37,

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 But some of them said,

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 Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man

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 have kept this man from dying?

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 The power of sin and death

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 has so influenced

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 and corrupted the minds of men

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 that people question the power of God

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 to bring life,

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 to bring someone back to life.

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 This leaves Jesus in verse 38

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 to again be deeply moved,

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 to be stirred with anger,

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 to be warded with anger.

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 Why?

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 Because the power of death

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 has threatened

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 to rob his authority,

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 his power,

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 and his glory.

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 The power of sin and death

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 has dictated for far too long

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 the hearts of men,

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 causing them to fear,

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 robbing the worship of man

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 that belongs to God alone.

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 And so Jesus no longer allowed us to go on.

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 He who calls himself the resurrection

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 and the life,

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 in verse 25,

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 will do only what God can do.

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 And that is raise the dead,

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 promising that he would do,

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 as he said in verse 5,

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 give glory to God.

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 Verse 41,

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 Then Jesus looked up and said,

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 Father, I thank you

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 that you have heard me.

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 I knew that you always hear me,

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 but I said this for the benefit

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 of the people standing here,

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 that they may believe that you sent me.

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 When he said this,

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 Jesus called in a loud voice,

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 Lazarus, come out.

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 The dead man came out,

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 his hands and feet

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 wrapped with strips of linen

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 and a cloth around his face.

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 Through the power of his word,

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 Jesus gives life to a man who was dead.

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 He doesn't invoke some foreign spirit

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 or a power to raise him,

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 nor does he mutter an incantation

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 or a spell to bring him back.

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 He orders Lazarus to come out,

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 and the dead man responds.

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 He hears the call to new life

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 and responds and comes out.

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 It's through the command of his word

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 that he overturns the power of death

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 that had so taken Lazarus.

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 And such is the basis for our hope as well.

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 When confronted with death,

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 we will be grieved,

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 we'll be angry.

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 But facing death well,

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:21.360
 it's not trying to explain it away,

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.060
 it's a natural part of life,

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:25.419
 it's not trying to soften its impact

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:27.059
 by saying our loved ones

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:29.000
 live on in our hearts and minds.

00:16:29.739 --> 00:16:30.779
 Facing death well

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.359
 is acknowledging the grief

00:16:32.359 --> 00:16:33.639
 and the pain that is there,

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.939
 but knowing full well

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.019
 that sin and death

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.239
 have been put unnoticed.

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.339
 Celebrating the day

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.959
 when Jesus will call us

00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:43.059
 out of the grave

00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:44.599
 to new life.

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:47.279
 As he spoke of in John 5,

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.079
 he says this,

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.620
 Very truly I tell you,

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.820
 a time is coming

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:52.240
 and has now come

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.259
 when the dead

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.920
 will hear the voice

00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:56.120
 of the Son of God

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.680
 and those who will hear

00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.259
 will live.

00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.600
 And verse 28,

00:16:59.780 --> 00:17:00.040
 he says,

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.100
 Do not be amazed at this,

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.540
 for a time is coming

00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:05.180
 when all who are in their graves

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.720
 will hear his voice

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.420
 and come out.

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.259
 Those who have done

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.940
 what is good

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.059
 will rise to live

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.759
 and those who have done

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.420
 what is evil

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.940
 will rise to be condemned.

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.759
 As verse 42 reminds us,

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.180
 Jesus raised Lazarus

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:22.640
 in order that we might believe

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.720
 that he was sent by God,

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:26.480
 that he is the Christ.

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.859
 It was for this purpose also

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:31.299
 that Jesus healed the man

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.440
 who was born blind

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.299
 back in chapter 9,

00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:35.700
 which we looked at two weeks ago.

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.839
 That he would believe

00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.119
 and respond in worship,

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.900
 that we too,

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.759
 as we read,

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.539
 might also believe

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:45.319
 and respond in worship

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.579
 in the one

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:48.119
 who can and will

00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.240
 raise us from the dead.

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:52.059
 Although,

00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:52.919
 we look forward

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:53.759
 to a much better

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.700
 resurrection

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:56.139
 than Lazarus.

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.200
 He was raised mortal,

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.659
 but will be raised immortal.

00:17:59.159 --> 00:18:00.179
 He was raised still

00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:00.939
 under the power

00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:02.039
 and the reign of sin

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.480
 and death,

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.779
 but will be raised

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.179
 under the reign of Christ

00:18:05.179 --> 00:18:06.799
 in the kingdom of God.

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.419
 His resurrected body

00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:10.259
 still subject to decay,

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:12.400
 but our resurrected bodies

00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.019
 will be heavenly

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.220
 and perfect

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:16.019
 and never will decay.

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.440
 A funeral is different

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.140
 for a Christian.

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.579
 No less painful,

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.819
 it's no less sad.

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.420
 The loss of a loved one

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.180
 is very real

00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.299
 and it grieves us.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.740
 But we are not

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.940
 without direction

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.720
 and hope.

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.079
 We don't need

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.440
 to try and explain

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.259
 death

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.519
 to make it fit

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.640
 somehow in our life

00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.859
 and make it make sense.

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:39.379
 We can accept

00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.579
 the painful reality

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.059
 of death.

00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:42.159
 We can accept

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.879
 its unnatural

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:44.459
 destructive force

00:18:44.459 --> 00:18:45.619
 because we know

00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:46.719
 the one who has overcome

00:18:46.719 --> 00:18:47.859
 the power of death

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:49.079
 and we look forward to

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.759
 and he will not only

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.240
 call out our loved ones

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.099
 from the grave,

00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:53.339
 but us also

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:55.000
 to new life.

00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:56.939
 We anticipate

00:18:56.939 --> 00:18:58.219
 the day in which

00:18:58.219 --> 00:18:59.679
 sin and death

00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.959
 will be no more.

00:19:01.479 --> 00:19:02.339
 It will be rendered

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.259
 powerless.

00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:05.199
 It's that hope

00:19:05.199 --> 00:19:06.279
 we hold to

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.099
 when confronted

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.779
 with death

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.740
 in the present.

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:11.399
 A glorious future

00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:13.180
 for all who trust

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.079
 and believe in Jesus

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.240
 that he can raise

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.980
 them from the dead.

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:18.059
 It's a wonderful hope

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.859
 to hold on to

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.339
 in a world

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.440
 that is so afraid

00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.700
 and so scared

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.099
 of dying.

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.079
 But this,

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.960
 it's a hope

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.819
 that's already begun.

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.720
 It's a hope

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.720
 that's already begun

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.700
 to be realized

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:34.119
 in the present.

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.940
 Because this passage

00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.840
 is not only

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:38.279
 what we anticipate

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.180
 in the future,

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.559
 but it's also

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.600
 paradigmatic

00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:43.200
 of what we experience

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:43.900
 as a Christian

00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:45.160
 in the present.

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.759
 Which brings me

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.640
 to my last point

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.019
 I want to

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.680
 take out of this passage.

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.960
 The resurrection

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.779
 of Lazarus

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.740
 teaches us

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.360
 to hope

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.180
 in the resurrection

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.220
 of our bodies

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.779
 to come,

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.640
 but to also

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.400
 celebrate

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.759
 the new life

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.620
 we have received

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.480
 in the present

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.900
 by the Spirit.

00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.720
 As we've mentioned

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.740
 before,

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.759
 we exist in a world

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.660
 that cannot accept

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.300
 the narrative

00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:09.000
 of death.

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.720
 Their hope

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.800
 is in remaining

00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:11.420
 in a state

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:12.019
 of ignorance,

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.100
 living out lives

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:14.280
 in a fantasy world

00:20:14.280 --> 00:20:15.440
 where death

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.080
 doesn't exist,

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.300
 turning a blind eye

00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:17.920
 to the decay

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.920
 of their own bodies.

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.400
 But the irony

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.140
 of their pursuit

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.380
 is that they're

00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:23.060
 already dead.

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.259
 The Bible

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.300
 not only talks

00:20:26.300 --> 00:20:27.019
 about death

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.519
 physically,

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.400
 but also spiritually.

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.200
 Dead in sin

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.819
 and without any hope.

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.759
 Ephesians 2.1

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.799
 makes it very clear

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.819
 stating that

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.299
 we were all dead

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.400
 in our sins

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.400
 at one stage.

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.460
 So it doesn't make sense

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.319
 that dead people

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.080
 can't see,

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.259
 can't smell,

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.860
 can't hear.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.319
 They can't be persuaded

00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.019
 of anything.

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.340
 They can't be

00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:52.000
 persuaded to follow God.

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:52.680
 They're dead.

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:58.500
 That was once us.

00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:00.960
 although we had

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.000
 the image of life,

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.660
 we were spiritually dead.

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.180
 So how do those

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.920
 who are dead

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.579
 hear the life-giving

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:12.259
 word of the gospel?

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.700
 The resurrection

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.279
 of Lazarus

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.920
 not only points

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.779
 to what we can

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.519
 anticipate

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.400
 in the future,

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:20.000
 but testifies

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.660
 to the incredible

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:23.519
 life-giving

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.019
 work of the Spirit

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.140
 in the present.

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.360
 it testifies

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.700
 to the magnificent

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:30.460
 creative work

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:32.040
 of the gospel.

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.600
 When we heard

00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.300
 the gospel

00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:35.460
 and believed

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.700
 for the first time,

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.940
 we were receiving

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.100
 the call of God

00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:41.300
 to be made alive again.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.040
 Just as Jesus

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:44.140
 called Lazarus

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.220
 out of the tomb

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.580
 to be made alive,

00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:47.680
 we who were dead

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.300
 in our sins

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.220
 were called

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.500
 through the gospel

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.680
 to be made alive

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.320
 once more

00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:53.820
 by His Spirit.

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.039
 The resurrection

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.480
 of Lazarus

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.939
 shows us

00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:57.519
 that the gospel

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.240
 is not merely

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.879
 a message

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.980
 by which we try

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.359
 and persuade people of.

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.639
 It's a creative word

00:22:03.639 --> 00:22:04.419
 that gives life

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.679
 to those who are dead.

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.919
 Lazarus

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:07.939
 had no power

00:22:07.939 --> 00:22:08.859
 to raise himself

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.819
 up from the dead,

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.980
 let alone

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.419
 the mind

00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:12.240
 to persuade it.

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.679
 It wasn't like

00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:13.639
 Jesus went there

00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:14.039
 and said,

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.460
 Lazarus,

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:14.960
 come on, mate,

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.599
 you want to come out?

00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:16.119
 I know you do.

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.519
 I know you don't

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.099
 want to stay dead.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.759
 Jesus didn't coerce

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.159
 Lazarus

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.439
 and say,

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.740
 come on,

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.619
 you have to come out.

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.299
 No,

00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.599
 Jesus said,

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.439
 Lazarus,

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.539
 come out

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:30.279
 and by that powerful

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.119
 life-giving word,

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:33.460
 a man who was dead

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.359
 was given life.

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:37.399
 It was a creative event.

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:39.720
 It was not a persuasive event.

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.839
 It was a word

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.899
 of creation,

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.179
 a creation event

00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:44.019
 similar to what we see

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.200
 in Genesis chapter 1

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.200
 where God says,

00:22:46.419 --> 00:22:47.240
 let there be light

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.960
 and there was light.

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.159
 God speaks

00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.779
 and the world

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.779
 comes into existence

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.019
 in the same way

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.759
 through the incredible

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.980
 power of the gospel

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.059
 God declares

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.339
 he speaks to us

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.420
 be alive

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.619
 in Christ

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.839
 by the power

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.379
 of spirit

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.440
 to which we respond

00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.059
 in repentance

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.420
 and faith

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.180
 which is why

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.420
 Paul can say

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.839
 in 2 Corinthians 5

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.379
 17

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.200
 therefore

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.200
 if anyone

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.299
 is in Christ

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.319
 he is a

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.180
 new

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:16.399
 creation.

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.180
 New creation.

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:20.859
 The old is gone,

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.740
 the new has come.

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:24.579
 the only chance

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.819
 for life

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.960
 for immortal life

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:30.140
 is hearing

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.059
 the life-creating

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:31.480
 word

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.680
 of the gospel

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.160
 which gives

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.480
 life now

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:37.120
 and in the future

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:38.440
 with the resurrection

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.180
 of our bodies.

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.900
 Our confidence then

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.720
 in a future

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.319
 bodily resurrection

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.599
 can be based

00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:45.900
 upon our experience

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:47.599
 of a spiritual

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.059
 resurrection

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.779
 in the present.

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.980
 we do not need

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.940
 to fear death

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.819
 when we are those

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.259
 who have been

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.139
 made alive

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.980
 in Christ

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.720
 by his spirit.

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.139
 We will face

00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:56.539
 death

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.399
 in this life.

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.460
 It will grieve us

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.660
 as we experience

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.819
 the unnatural loss

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.500
 of relationship

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.399
 and the joys of life

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:06.799
 but we can remain

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.259
 confident

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.720
 that Jesus

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.440
 will call us

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.500
 out of our graves

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.079
 because he has

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.139
 already called us

00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.779
 out of our

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.740
 spiritual graves.

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:16.220
 the story

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.000
 of Lazarus'

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.620
 resurrection

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.740
 gives us

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.240
 the means

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.839
 to face

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.660
 death well

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.640
 in a world

00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.839
 that is confounded

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.740
 by death

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:25.240
 and how to respond.

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.299
 This miracle

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.960
 reminds us

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.400
 that death

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:28.000
 is still

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.620
 a painful

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.740
 reality

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.120
 that we must

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.680
 face

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:34.140
 but one

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.680
 we don't face

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.180
 without hope.

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.880
 The only question

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.579
 we must ask

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.140
 of ourselves

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.440
 is the one

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.519
 Jesus asked

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.200
 of Martha.

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:44.059
 Do you believe

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.640
 that Jesus

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.620
 is the resurrection

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.279
 and the life?

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.580
 Can you face

00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:49.480
 death well

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.240
 in this world

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.880
 knowing that your

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.039
 future is secured

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.039
 and you have new

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.340
 life in the present?

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.080
 Because death

00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.120
 and suffering

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.920
 will come

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.340
 when we least

00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:00.120
 expect it

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.559
 and when the

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.340
 signs of death

00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:02.740
 come

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.319
 or indeed

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.420
 death itself

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:05.940
 comes

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.740
 will you resign

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.420
 yourself to

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.920
 despair

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:10.400
 and hopelessness?

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.920
 Will you choose

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.580
 to ignore it

00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:13.140
 and just jump

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.840
 into the fantasy

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.279
 world

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.140
 and pretend

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.600
 and ignore

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.039
 that death

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.680
 is not a thing?

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.620
 Or

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.740
 will you

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.680
 through your grief

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.880
 look forward

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.660
 to the redemption

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.560
 of your broken

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:23.900
 body?

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.420
 That in the present

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.480
 you have new life

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.100
 by the Spirit

00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:29.440
 and because of

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.340
 God's gracious

00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.019
 and effective

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.160
 life-giving word

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:33.720
 you are able

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.580
 to walk with

00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:34.820
 him

00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:36.300
 and show

00:25:36.300 --> 00:25:36.860
 all those

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.460
 around you

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:39.140
 the great joy

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.700
 you have

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.400
 in Christ

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.660
 in the face

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:42.759
 of death.

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.960
 If you do not

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.840
 believe in Jesus

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.340
 if you are

00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:47.100
 hearing the good

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.520
 news that

00:25:47.520 --> 00:25:48.460
 he has come

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.200
 to bring life

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.800
 for the first

00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:50.220
 time

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.800
 do not turn

00:25:50.800 --> 00:25:51.060
 away

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.800
 do not retreat

00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.820
 into the fantasy

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.240
 world

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:56.120
 hear and receive

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.740
 the call

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.740
 to life

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.080
 both spiritual

00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.080
 life now

00:26:00.080 --> 00:26:00.620
 and eternal

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.440
 life to come

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.900
 the Bible's

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.660
 narrative is not

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.960
 only far more

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.840
 satisfying than

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.240
 the world

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.019
 when it comes

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.559
 to how we

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.180
 should respond

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.440
 it's far more

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.920
 logical

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.420
 it recognizes

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:11.839
 that it's

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.460
 unnatural

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.759
 to which our

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.559
 grief also

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.559
 testifies to

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:17.380
 but it also

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.059
 provides the

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.500
 solution

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.740
 that Jesus

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.299
 has come

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.819
 as the

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.299
 resurrection

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.180
 and the

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.460
 life

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.039
 to overturn

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.700
 the power

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.140
 of sin

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.640
 and death

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:24.960
 that he

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.579
 might give

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.000
 us

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.259
 as he said

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.059
 in John 10

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.019
 life

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:30.259
 and life

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.500
 of the

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.700
 fool

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.440
 let me

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:32.799
 leave you

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.079
 with Jesus

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.779
 words to

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.120
 Martha

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:34.740
 from verse

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.380
 25

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:37.340
 I am

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.840
 the

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.260
 resurrection

00:26:38.260 --> 00:26:39.160
 and the

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.580
 life

00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:40.860
 whoever

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.540
 believes in

00:26:41.540 --> 00:26:41.920
 me

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.600
 though he

00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:42.840
 die

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.320
 yet shall

00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:43.840
 he live

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.460
 and everyone

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.160
 who lives

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.360
 and believes

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.660
 in me

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:46.960
 shall never

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.320
 die

00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.820
 do you

00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:49.520
 believe this