WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.980 I hope people don't see me as well. 00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:04.419 It's a wonderful story. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:06.160 A true story. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:10.099 Okay. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.080 John chapter 11, reading from verse 1. 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.140 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.000 He was from Bethany, the village of Mary, and her sister Martha. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:34.920 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. 00:00:35.899 --> 00:00:40.359 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:45.060 When he heard this, Jesus said, this sickness will not end in death. 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:50.359 No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it. 00:00:51.379 --> 00:00:54.439 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:01:00.079 Yet, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 00:01:00.699 --> 00:01:03.640 Then he said to his disciples, let us go back to Judea. 00:01:04.179 --> 00:01:09.500 But Rabbi, they said, a short while ago, the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there? 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.459 Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours of daylight? 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:18.780 A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:22.519 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he is no light. 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:30.480 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. 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:34.340 His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better. 00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:39.879 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:50.359 So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him. 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:57.759 Then Thomas, called Dinnitus, said to the rest of the disciples, let us also go, that we may die with him. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:08.620 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:16.200 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:23.219 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 00:02:23.219 --> 00:02:32.800 Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:36.579 Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:42.340 Martha answered, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:47.079 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:50.620 He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:54.099 And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:55.599 Do you believe this? 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:57.819 Yes, Lord, she told him. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:04.640 I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into this world. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:10.780 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:14.819 The teacher is here, she said, and he is asking for you. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:19.200 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:25.560 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 00:03:26.339 --> 00:03:32.799 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house comforting her noticed how quickly she got up and went out, 00:03:33.359 --> 00:03:37.379 they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 00:03:37.379 --> 00:03:45.379 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:48.740 Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:54.800 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:57.340 he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:03:59.960 Where have you laid him, he asked. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:02.900 Come and see, Lord, they replied. 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:04.259 Jesus wept. 00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:07.780 Then the Jews said, see how he loved him. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:15.080 But some of them said, could he not he who opened the eyes of a blind man have kept this man from dying? 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:21.840 Jesus once more deeply moved came to the tomb. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.520 It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:28.160 Take away the stone, he said. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.280 But Lord, said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:36.699 by this time there is a bad odor for he has been there for four days. 00:04:37.900 --> 00:04:43.100 Then Jesus said, did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.560 So they took away the stone. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.820 Then Jesus looked up and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:51.879 I knew that you always hear me. 00:04:52.200 --> 00:04:55.000 But I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, 00:04:55.260 --> 00:04:57.500 that they may believe that you sent me. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:01.800 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.720 Lazarus, come out. 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.960 The dead man came out, 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:12.040 his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:14.100 Jesus said to them, 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:16.900 Take off the grave clothes and let him go. 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:23.060 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary had seen what Jesus did, 00:05:23.580 --> 00:05:24.780 put their faith in him. 00:05:25.400 --> 00:05:28.960 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:33.280 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:35.219 What are we accomplishing? 00:05:35.719 --> 00:05:36.399 They asked. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.839 Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:43.119 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. 00:05:43.799 --> 00:05:49.079 And then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.419 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, spoke up, 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:56.419 You know nothing at all. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:02.139 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:04.620 than for the whole nation perish. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.959 He did not say this on his own. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:14.079 But as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:18.779 And not only for that nation, but also for the scattered children of God 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:21.399 to bring them together and make them one. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:26.240 So from that day on, they plotted to take his life. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:54.879 Well, you'll need your Bibles open at John 11 as we follow through in this story together. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:57.599 There will be headings on the screen. 00:06:58.379 --> 00:07:02.560 I'll give you a nod, Xavier, as to when they are. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:11.139 Well, let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at this together. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:11.839 Let's pray. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:11.879 Let's pray. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:19.019 Our Father God, we thank you for the gift of life, 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:21.599 for physical health and strength 00:07:21.599 --> 00:07:25.379 that you have given to each one of us who is here this morning. 00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:32.139 We thank you for the tea and coffee that we have just had. 00:07:33.799 --> 00:07:38.879 But Father, we realize that we also need to be alive spiritually. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:42.980 And we need your help for that. 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:47.759 We need the power of your Spirit to be speaking to us. 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:52.659 Helping us to understand what you have done. 00:07:52.660 --> 00:08:01.980 Helping us to come to terms with what it means that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:06.060 So help us to engage with your words. 00:08:06.200 --> 00:08:07.740 Help us to listen. 00:08:08.020 --> 00:08:10.600 Help us to hear what you are saying. 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:11.600 Amen. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:12.600 Amen. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:13.600 Amen. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.600 Amen. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.600 Amen. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.600 Amen. 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:17.600 Amen. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.600 Amen. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.600 Amen. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.600 Amen. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:22.600 Amen. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:23.600 Amen. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:24.600 Amen. 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:25.600 Amen. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:27.000 Well, we've all been there, haven't we? 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.000 Amen. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.000 Amen. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:30.560 Amen. 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:31.000 Amen. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.039 Amen. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.320 Amen. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.720 Amen. 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.759 Amen. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.799 Amen. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:41.879 Amen. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:42.240 Amen. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.440 Amen. 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:45.879 Amen. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:47.500 Amen. 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:47.940 Amen. 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:48.940 Amen. 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:49.960 Amen. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:50.159 Amen. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:55.899 Amen. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:56.960 God. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:04.480 I want us to follow with Jesus, to go with him as he visits the home of the bereaved, 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:13.960 to sit with Jesus as he comforts the mourners, and to stand with Jesus by the grave. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.120 I want us to see what he does at this funeral. 00:09:21.400 --> 00:09:24.440 I want us to hear what he is saying. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:32.120 I want us to feel his pain, and to experience his life. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:37.980 Going to this funeral that we have just read about is going to be hard. 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:40.340 There will be mixed emotions. 00:09:41.880 --> 00:09:43.060 We might be upset. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:46.060 We'll struggle to understand. 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:48.040 We'll even be angry. 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:54.759 But above all, I think we will be filled with an uncontainable hope. 00:09:56.199 --> 00:10:02.240 So let's engage ourselves as we walk with Jesus to this funeral. 00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:11.860 And the first thing is, is to see, at this funeral, to see the supreme love of Jesus. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:13.159 Just one more. 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:19.500 Mary and Martha and Lazarus were a very close family. 00:10:20.180 --> 00:10:24.100 But soon their closeness was going to be broken by death. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:28.279 Lazarus, we read, has become ill in verse 1. 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:30.840 They were a wealthy family. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:36.879 We know that because Martha, she was the one who had poured the perfume on Jesus' feet. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:42.080 We know that that was about a year's wages that she'd spent on the perfume. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.700 So they were a very wealthy family. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.080 No doubt they'd spent a lot of money on doctors. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:48.539 But they obviously couldn't do anything. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:52.360 So Lazarus was sent home to die. 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:56.899 And his sisters, Mary and Martha, feared the worst. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:58.120 Verse 3. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.860 Having tried everything, verse 3, 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:17.620 When I was at college, one morning during a lecture, I got a call to say that my mum was on the phone. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.840 So I went out to take this call and my mum was in tears. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:25.060 My dad had just had a stroke and he was in hospital. 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:32.179 And without delay, I ran to my room, I gathered a few things together, got a lift to the train. 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:39.539 I used buses and taxis to get home as soon as possible, all the way from Belfast down to Waterford. 00:11:39.719 --> 00:11:41.759 It wasn't critical, it was serious enough. 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:46.399 But out of love from my father, I got there as soon as possible. 00:11:47.359 --> 00:11:48.599 Nothing was going to stop me. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:55.320 Now wouldn't Jesus do the same for the family that he loved? 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.259 Well, apparently not. 00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:00.580 Look at verse 5. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:06.159 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:13.320 But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:22.200 Jesus was up in Galilee at the time, which was about a hundred miles away from the home of Lazarus. 00:12:22.260 --> 00:12:24.760 It would take at least three days' walk to get there. 00:12:25.660 --> 00:12:27.320 This was an emergency. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:32.360 But yet Jesus stayed where he was two more days. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:39.720 Now rather than loving, it seems like he couldn't care less about poor Lazarus. 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:48.180 And when we consider that he stayed there two more days, you add on to that a three-day walk, that's five days. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:52.279 Well, there's a fair chance within those five days, Lazarus would be dead. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:13:01.860 In fact, when Jesus does decide to go, we discover in verse 17, on his arrival, 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.180 Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:09.440 Where's the love in that? 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:16.180 Well, we need to read verse 3 through again, and we'll see. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:23.320 The sisters had sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:28.940 When he heard this, Jesus said, this sickness will not end in death. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:32.940 No, it is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it. 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:38.220 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:48.260 And because he loved them, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:51.779 It's out of love that he stayed where he was. 00:13:53.340 --> 00:14:02.559 In fact, he wants the disciples and us, the readers, to know that he has deliberately waited until Lazarus has died. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.799 Look down at verse 11. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:13.159 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm going there to wake him up. 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:18.079 His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he'll get better. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:24.060 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:28.960 So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:35.460 And for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.940 But let us go to him. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:42.420 Now, why does Jesus do this? 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.080 It just doesn't seem right. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.260 He could have healed him from a distance. 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:53.900 He had done that back in a similar situation in John chapter 4 with the official son. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:55.520 He had sent word to Jesus. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.160 Jesus said, at this very minute, your son will be well. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:58.960 And he was. 00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:02.260 So why doesn't Jesus do this now? 00:15:02.260 --> 00:15:06.800 As soon as he heard the news from Mary and Martha, why doesn't he just say, he's okay? 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:07.900 He's healed. 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:15.880 Well, as we'll see, Jesus wants to make it crystal clear who he is. 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:19.180 He allows Lazarus to die. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.340 He allows the grief and the pain. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:30.460 He lets the burial take place to show everybody that he is the resurrection and the life. 00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:34.780 If Jesus had gone right away, if he had healed at a distance, 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:38.919 well, they'd never come to realize who he truly is. 00:15:40.079 --> 00:15:47.360 So it was out of deep love, verse 5, because he loved Mary and Martha, that's why he stayed. 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:51.819 It was out of deep love that he lets this funeral take place. 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:56.800 Now that raises all kinds of questions for us. 00:15:56.800 --> 00:16:03.660 Just because Jesus doesn't do things our way does not mean he doesn't love us. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:12.299 We might even say to ourselves, if God really loved me, he would heal my sick friend now. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:19.039 If God really loved me, then he wouldn't let my loved one die. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.799 Do you ever think like that? 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:22.599 I do. 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:30.560 But this story, this funeral, is here to help us see that when we feel that God is most absent, 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:33.800 when we feel that God doesn't care, 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:37.300 when we feel that he's not answering our prayers, 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:42.779 he is supremely in control of every detail of our life. 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:48.539 In fact, in the most painful of times, as this story shows us, 00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:53.879 God is at work in our lives, working behind the scenes, 00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:02.839 to help us see and experience his love more clearly and more deeply. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:08.200 And Mary and Martha and all those that are surrounding them 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:13.940 will come to see the supreme love of Jesus in the way in which he acts. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:18.980 So that's the first thing as we go to this funeral, 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.200 is to see the supreme love of Jesus. 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:28.579 The second thing as we go to this funeral is to hear the personal claims of Jesus. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:32.679 Now we've just had this story read to us, 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.859 and we know what the end of the story is. 00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:37.419 We know the outcome. It's a good outcome, isn't it? 00:17:37.939 --> 00:17:39.579 But we don't want to rush ahead. 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:43.279 We want to put ourselves into the shoes of Mary and Martha. 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.279 So look at verse 17. 00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:49.579 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.379 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:59.020 and many Jews had come to Martha and to Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 00:18:00.280 --> 00:18:04.380 You see, they had no inclination at all of what Jesus was going to do. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.400 They had no idea. 00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.700 Lazarus was dead. 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:10.840 Death had taken away their brother. 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.320 And now they were grieving for their loss. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:19.120 Even Thomas, back in verse 16, clearly hadn't a clue what Jesus was doing. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.579 He just comes out with some kind of random statement, like, 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:24.919 well, let's go that we'll die with him. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:28.119 Sounds kind of spiritual, but he hadn't a clue what was going on. 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.299 Verse 20. 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:36.119 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:38.219 But Mary stayed at home. 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.259 Lord, Martha said to Jesus, 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:45.039 if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:50.019 Now, this only magnifies Martha's loss and disappointment. 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:54.359 If Jesus had come earlier, things would have been so different. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:01.159 But of course, Martha knew nothing of Jesus' deliberate and late arrival. 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:06.039 So in some kind of half-hearted belief and clutching at straws, 00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:09.180 she asked Jesus in verse 22, 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:13.480 I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:16.299 Maybe there's something you could do. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.980 He's dead. He's in the grave. 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:20.779 Not really expecting him to come alive. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.900 But perhaps there's something you could do. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.519 We can picture Martha. 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.720 Bloodshot eyes. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.820 Tears rolling down her cheek. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.660 Trembling in her grief. 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:39.380 Pain etched on her face. 00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:41.900 Lost and empty. 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:44.300 Grappling for something to say. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.560 And then Jesus responds, 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:50.220 looking intently into her eyes. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.060 Verse 23. 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.700 Your brother will rise again. 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.080 Well, it sounds a bit condescending. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.400 It's as if Jesus is saying, 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.120 now come on, Martha, don't be upset. 00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.759 He's going to be in heaven. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:08.320 It's the kind of stupid thing we would say at a funeral 00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:11.580 because we don't know how else to respond to people's loss. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:16.259 Has Jesus missed his classes on pastoral care? 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.620 Verse 24. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.400 Martha says, 00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:24.440 I know that he will rise again at the resurrection at the last day. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.980 Everybody knows that. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:30.960 But Jesus was not being condescending. 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:36.039 Like us, Martha had completely missed what Jesus was saying. 00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:38.140 And again he speaks, verse 25. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.160 Martha, 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:44.740 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:49.640 He who believes in me will live even though he dies. 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:53.500 And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.259 Do you believe this? 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.020 Begins to twig. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.920 Yes, Lord, she told him. 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:02.040 I believe that you are the Christ, 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.660 the promised Messiah, 00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:04.860 the one to come from God, 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.920 the Son of God, 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:08.160 who is to come into this world. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:14.340 When people are grieving, 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:19.360 we often talk about the person who has just died, don't we? 00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:22.180 Kind of how we cope with grief. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.779 To bring some kind of comfort. 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:28.380 We remember things they said or things they did. 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:31.340 And even at a funeral we kind of say things like, 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.640 well, if they were here today, 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.160 this is what they would have done or said. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:40.700 We talk about how we're going to be there for those who have lost loved ones. 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.560 How friends are going to help out. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:48.740 We say anything to express our comfort and our desire to help. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.740 But not Jesus. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.279 He doesn't say anything like that. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:57.300 Instead he starts talking about himself. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:02.240 In the middle of Martha's grief and in the devastation of her loss, 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:06.000 Jesus starts talking unashamedly about himself. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.940 Don't think about Lazarus. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.740 Don't think about yourself. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.339 Listen to me. 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:22.299 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:28.579 Jesus is claiming to not only raise the dead. 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:32.700 He's not only saying that he has the power to give eternal life. 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:35.059 He is saying that without me, 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:38.440 there is no resurrection. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:41.180 And there is no life. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.619 Jesus is saying to us, 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.599 take me out of the picture, 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.899 remove me from the scene, 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:51.180 and we are left with an eternal emptiness. 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.480 Defeated loss, 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:56.899 without hope and void of any meaning and purpose. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:01.519 True life, he is saying, 00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:03.200 is not found in a church. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.559 It's not found in a religion, 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.519 or in a system of ideas, 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.019 or a particular denomination. 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:11.180 It's all about a person, 00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.680 Jesus Christ, 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.240 who comes to Martha 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.480 in her grieving, 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.200 and the greatest thing that he could ever say is, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:22.900 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.779 In the face of death, 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.299 he says, 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.400 listen to me. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:31.319 Hear what I say. 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:35.980 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:43.200 So we see the love of Jesus supremely at this funeral. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:47.779 We hear of his personal claims. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.559 And the third thing that we, 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.339 as we go to this funeral, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:57.880 is to feel the restoring passion of Jesus. 00:23:57.880 --> 00:24:00.460 Look at verse 30. 00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:05.920 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:08.680 and was still at the place where Martha had met him. 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.820 When the Jews, 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.480 who had been with Mary in the house, 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.300 comforting her, 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:16.060 noticed how she quickly got up and went out, 00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:16.920 they followed her, 00:24:17.020 --> 00:24:19.600 supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.240 Now in our culture, 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:26.339 the grieving tends to happen 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:28.079 before the actual funeral. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.019 People come to the family of the home, 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.339 pay their respects, 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.480 there's maybe a wake, 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.420 then there's the removal, 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.980 and then the burial itself. 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:42.099 Well in first century Palestine, 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.900 you didn't have places to keep the body, 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.900 and because of the heat 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:49.880 and the subsequent decay of the body, 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.839 you had to bury them straight away. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.120 So as soon as somebody died, 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.680 they were buried straight away. 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:57.759 And so the mourning was all done 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.960 after the burial. 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:02.160 And it could last for up to a week. 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.839 In this case, 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.180 in this particular funeral, 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:08.240 the mourning has been going on for four days. 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:12.039 And to keep up the intensity of the emotion, 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:14.700 you employed chief mourners. 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.680 People who would come and play sad music. 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:23.539 And they would literally keep the whole grieving process going. 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:26.680 It happens in many cultures still today. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:30.180 And this is the scene that Jesus arrives into, 00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:31.060 verse 32. 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:35.679 So when Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:37.559 she fell at his feet and said, 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.139 Lord, if you had been here, 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.579 my brother would not have died. 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:43.700 When Jesus saw her weeping, 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:47.079 and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.519 do you see? 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.019 They're all crying together. 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:52.460 Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.279 Where have you laid him? 00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.960 He asked. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.920 Come and see, Lord, they replied. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.220 And Jesus wept. 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:08.039 Now it seems Jesus is also caught up in the emotion of the event. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:12.299 But don't you think it a little strange 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.200 that Jesus would begin to cry 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:17.220 when in just a few minutes' time 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:19.259 he knows that the one they're all mourning for 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:21.019 is going to come walking out of the tomb. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:24.680 He's the only one who knows the end of the story at this stage. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.480 So why is Jesus crying? 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:30.259 Yes, they're real tears. 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.160 Yes, there is compassion. 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:37.059 But these are tears of anger. 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.460 And at this funeral, 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:42.379 we are to feel the raw emotion. 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:50.579 Don Carson, who's written a commentary on this book, 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.619 John's Gospel, 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.619 has pointed out 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:57.019 that the actual translation in verse 33 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:59.759 is not deeply moved. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.359 It means outraged. 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.759 Outraged. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:08.980 We are to feel the emotion of Jesus. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:10.399 So when we read verse 3, 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:12.179 Jesus saw her weeping 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:14.000 and the Jews who had come along 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.259 with her also weeping, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.299 and he was outraged 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:20.059 in spirit and troubled. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.000 Where have you laid him? 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.400 He was outraged, 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.519 not at the people 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:30.099 because they didn't understand, 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:34.640 but he was angry at death itself. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.220 You see, when God created the world, 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.180 he made it a place of beauty. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.539 People were to enjoy it 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.640 for all of eternity. 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:46.180 But because of our rebellion against God, 00:27:46.280 --> 00:27:47.300 because of our sins, 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:49.620 death entered into the world. 00:27:50.520 --> 00:27:51.800 And it cuts short 00:27:51.800 --> 00:27:53.900 everything that we are to enjoy. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.460 The gifts of friendship, 00:27:56.280 --> 00:27:57.980 the relationships that we have 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.740 with one another, 00:27:59.020 --> 00:27:59.660 all of them, 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.880 at one stage or another, 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:03.040 are all broken by death. 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:06.900 That's why we feel the pain, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.380 because it's not normal. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:10.340 It's not meant to happen. 00:28:11.020 --> 00:28:13.460 Death was never part of God's good design. 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.160 It is an ugly enemy 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:17.079 that breaks in and destroys 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:19.079 what is good and beautiful. 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:22.120 And Jesus is outraged. 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:26.039 He's angry at the pain 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.620 that death brings. 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:31.799 But that anger is not one 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:33.100 that is out of control 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:34.100 and temper-like. 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:37.039 It is a deep passion 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:40.579 to reverse the consequences of death 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.700 and put things right. 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:45.819 for that's why Jesus came, 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:49.080 to put things right in this world. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.779 Look at verse 38. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.680 Jesus, once more, 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:57.080 and it's the same word, 00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.720 outraged, 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.740 came to the tomb. 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:03.160 It was a cave 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.859 with a stone 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:05.220 laid across the entrance. 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.480 Take away the stone, 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.059 he said. 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.279 But Lord, 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.400 said Martha, 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.819 the sister of the dead man, 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.299 by this time 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.620 there is a bad odor, 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.000 for he has been in there 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.039 for four days. 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.660 Then Jesus said, 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.660 Did I not tell you 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.559 that if you believed 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.240 you would see 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.420 the glory of God? 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:28.420 You see, 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.380 now all the pieces 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.680 begin to fit together. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.940 The reason for his delay, 00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.200 the reason why 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.440 he waited two days, 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.000 the reason why he said, 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:38.039 I am the resurrection 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.880 and the life. 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.840 We could picture the scene, 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.920 all the crowds 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.360 gathering around this tomb, 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.860 the stone being pushed 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.700 to one side, 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.100 the shocked crowd 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.080 standing by, 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:49.960 the music stops playing, 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.380 the weeping and the wailing 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:52.700 are all silenced. 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.180 Verse 41, 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.800 So they took away the stone. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:01.580 And Jesus looked up 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.039 and said, 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.560 Father, 00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.660 I thank you 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.960 that you always heard me. 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:07.120 I knew that you always hear me. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.300 But I said this 00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:09.980 for the benefit 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.680 of the people 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.720 standing here 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:13.759 and for us, 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.840 that they may believe 00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:17.300 that you sent me. 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.960 When he had said this, 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.120 Jesus called out 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.400 in a loud voice, 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.220 Lazarus, 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.360 come out! 00:30:30.360 --> 00:30:32.800 The dead man came out, 00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:34.759 his hands and feet 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:36.440 wrapped with strips of linen 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:38.820 and a cloth around his face. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.320 And Jesus said to them, 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:44.300 Take off the grave clothes 00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:46.060 and let them go. 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:53.599 A dead and decaying corpse, 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:57.259 so bad that it was beginning 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.200 to smell, 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:01.659 hears the voice of Jesus 00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:03.480 and responds. 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:07.119 Death itself 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:10.099 obeys the commands of Jesus. 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.839 Come out! 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:15.579 and Lazarus comes out. 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.859 Now the lack of comment 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:20.859 by John at this point 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:22.159 speaks louder than words. 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.439 He doesn't say anything much 00:31:23.439 --> 00:31:24.299 about the reactions 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.000 of the people. 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.699 And I think the reason is 00:31:28.699 --> 00:31:30.179 is because we are to stand. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.240 It's almost as if 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:32.539 we're just to pause there 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:35.079 and watch 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.339 and wonder 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:39.000 at what just has happened. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:45.240 By walking to this funeral, 00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:47.200 we feel 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.380 and we witness 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:50.859 the restoring passion 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:52.819 of Jesus Christ. 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:58.920 So we see the love of Jesus, 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:01.180 we hear his claims, 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:04.279 we can feel his raw passion, 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:07.000 but the fourth thing 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.160 as we go to this funeral 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.920 is to know 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.940 the promised hope 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.460 of Jesus. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.019 This was 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.539 an amazing funeral. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:17.160 But before we walk away 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:18.119 from this funeral, 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.500 I want us to come 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.779 to one more funeral. 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.519 Because not everybody 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.259 was happy 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.440 with what Jesus did. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.700 Look at verse 47. 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.819 We go on 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.879 from the excitement, 00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:30.559 the joy, 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.500 the ecstasy, 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.039 if you like, 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:33.579 at the end of verse 44, 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:35.819 and then those 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.500 who didn't like 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.639 what Jesus was doing. 00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.639 And there's plenty 00:32:38.639 --> 00:32:39.059 of people 00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:40.099 who don't like Jesus 00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:41.339 and they get very angry 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.179 with what he does 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.460 and the claims he makes. 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.699 Verse 47. 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.759 Then the chief priests 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.599 and the Pharisees 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.339 called a meeting 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.240 of the Sanhedrin. 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.779 That was like 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.299 their kind of 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.259 religious council. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:56.339 What are we accomplishing? 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.039 They asked. 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.699 Here is this man 00:32:58.699 --> 00:32:59.199 performing 00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.500 many miraculous signs. 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.699 If we let him 00:33:01.699 --> 00:33:02.480 go on like this, 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.660 everybody will 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.400 believe in him. 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:05.680 And then the Romans 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.799 will come and take away 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.680 both our place 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.900 and our nation. 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.039 You see, 00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:12.240 rather than acknowledge 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.079 and submit 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.240 to the power of Jesus, 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.380 they saw what he did. 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.079 They were there. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.720 They want to get rid 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.220 of Jesus. 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.220 They want to keep 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.120 on to the power 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.940 for themselves. 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.620 They want to keep 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.319 things at kind of 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.339 a low-key level. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.299 They don't want the Romans 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.700 interfering with anything. 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.779 They don't want 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.660 Jesus as king 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.640 because they want 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.259 to be king. 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:34.160 Much like most people 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.759 in this world, 00:33:34.840 --> 00:33:35.600 they want to be king 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.200 of their lives 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.920 and they don't want 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.740 to accept Jesus 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.640 for who he is. 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.840 But they had failed 00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:44.860 to read the signs. 00:33:44.860 --> 00:33:46.560 Look at verse 47. 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.080 They say, 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.140 here is this man 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:49.019 performing many 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:50.180 miraculous signs. 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:51.980 Miracles 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.360 and this miracle 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:54.300 of Lazarus 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:56.019 is like one big 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.619 giant signpost. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.379 The miracle 00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:01.159 of Lazarus 00:34:01.159 --> 00:34:01.980 is a huge 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:02.680 big sign 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.960 pointing beyond 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.539 itself 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.859 to someone else 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:07.359 and something else. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.460 It points us 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.279 away from the 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.460 death of Lazarus 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:13.059 to the death 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.719 of Christ. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.920 And it points us 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.739 away from the 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.960 rising of Lazarus 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:19.039 to the rising 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.759 of Christ. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:22.019 Verse 49. 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:24.219 Then one of them 00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.019 named Caiaphas, 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.820 he was the high 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.619 priest that year, 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.320 spoke up. 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.179 You know nothing 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:29.679 at all. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.219 You do not 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:32.139 realise that 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.699 it is better 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.239 for you 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.420 that one man 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.239 die for the 00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:35.679 people 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.739 than for the 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:37.820 whole nation 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.480 perish. 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.719 In other words, 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.860 listen guys, 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.820 all the ways 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.460 we've been trying 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.900 to get rid 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.280 of Jesus 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.139 isn't working. 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.179 So we need 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:47.900 to get rid 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.200 of them. 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.039 We need 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.599 to kill 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:50.940 him. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.780 But little 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.660 did they know 00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:55.160 that the 00:34:55.160 --> 00:34:55.820 death of 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.380 Jesus 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:58.360 would only 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.220 bring life 00:34:59.220 --> 00:34:59.820 for the 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.200 world. 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:01.880 Look at 00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:02.480 how John 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.340 comments 00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:04.480 on what 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.420 Caiaphas said. 00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.559 He writes 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:06.960 his own 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.380 commentary, 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.180 verse 51. 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.760 He says 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.220 he didn't 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:10.760 say this 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.480 on his own, 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.960 but as 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.579 high priest 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.059 that year 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.119 he prophesied 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.720 that Jesus 00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.380 would die 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:16.780 for the 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.639 Jewish nation. 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:18.880 And not 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.320 only for 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:19.900 that nation 00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.420 but also 00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:20.780 for the 00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.200 scattered 00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:21.820 children of 00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:21.980 God, 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.519 for people 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.240 everywhere 00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:24.119 to bring 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.639 them together 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.079 and make 00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.619 them one. 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:27.599 Caiaphas 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.280 didn't really 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:28.740 know what 00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.240 he was saying. 00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:30.059 He was just 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.639 speaking on 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.280 a pure 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.160 human level, 00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:33.119 getting rid 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.619 of Jesus. 00:35:35.200 --> 00:35:35.920 But John 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.400 could see 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.119 that he spoke 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.740 more than 00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.360 he actually 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:38.920 intended. 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.200 Jesus' 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:41.760 death 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:43.639 would be 00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.160 a death 00:35:44.160 --> 00:35:45.180 for the 00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:45.619 nations. 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.039 He would 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.860 die on 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.519 a cross. 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.480 His death 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:49.840 would be 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.259 a death 00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:50.800 for people 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.360 like you 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:51.779 and me. 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:52.480 He would 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.039 die in 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.679 place of 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:53.920 us. 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.320 That's what 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.079 we celebrated 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.539 on Good 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:55.940 Friday. 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.659 He would 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:57.320 be buried 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:58.019 for us. 00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:58.739 But his 00:35:58.739 --> 00:35:59.099 death 00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.719 wasn't going 00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.139 to end 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.519 in life. 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.099 He would 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.980 rise again. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.559 He would 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.340 conquer the 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:03.840 grave, 00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.360 promising new 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:05.940 and eternal 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.519 life to 00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:07.059 all who 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.779 would believe. 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:09.780 God's 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.780 death. 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.580 This 00:36:11.580 --> 00:36:12.200 miracle 00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:14.019 was truly 00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.940 wonderful for 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.420 Lazarus. 00:36:15.660 --> 00:36:16.160 He got a 00:36:16.160 --> 00:36:16.600 few more 00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:17.280 years out 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:17.580 of it. 00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.400 It was 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:19.740 certainly 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.380 great for 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.840 Mary and 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.120 Martha. 00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:21.560 They got 00:36:21.560 --> 00:36:22.060 his brother 00:36:22.060 --> 00:36:22.780 back again. 00:36:24.580 --> 00:36:25.400 But let's 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:25.840 face it, 00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.220 it didn't 00:36:26.220 --> 00:36:26.740 happen to 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:27.019 us, 00:36:27.100 --> 00:36:27.400 did it? 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.080 We weren't 00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:28.340 there. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.180 But the 00:36:31.180 --> 00:36:31.840 whole point 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.260 of this 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:33.320 story is 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.980 this story 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:36.219 can be 00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:37.159 our story 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:37.579 too. 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.099 Jesus 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.740 promises 00:36:41.740 --> 00:36:42.380 life 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:42.860 beyond 00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:43.059 the 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.559 grave. 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:44.559 He 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.019 promises 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.579 hope 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:46.119 today 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:46.760 because 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.219 Jesus 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.039 is the 00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:48.639 resurrection 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:49.280 and the 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:49.579 life. 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.199 He is 00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.480 the one 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.019 who died 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.360 for us. 00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.059 He died 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.900 our death. 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.500 He rose 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.860 again so 00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.240 that all 00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:57.740 who believe 00:36:57.740 --> 00:36:58.139 in him 00:36:58.139 --> 00:36:58.740 will live. 00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.659 Yes, 00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:03.119 we are 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.699 all going 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.199 to die. 00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.980 sooner or 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.320 later. 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:08.900 But by 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.519 faith in 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.159 Christ we 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:11.099 will enjoy 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:11.760 eternal 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:12.380 life with 00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:12.619 him. 00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.079 We will 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.780 enjoy an 00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:15.199 eternal 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:15.800 life in 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:16.240 his new 00:37:16.240 --> 00:37:16.800 creation 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:19.039 where there 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.500 will be no 00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.280 more crying 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.900 and no 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.579 more tears. 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:24.960 There will 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.480 be no more 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.000 sickness, 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.260 no more 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:28.840 suffering. 00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:31.880 There will 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.500 be no more 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.699 invites to 00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:34.219 a funeral. 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:36.480 there will 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.059 be no more 00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:38.179 parting of 00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:38.860 loved ones. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.659 There will 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:41.260 be no more 00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:43.659 death because 00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:45.599 Jesus is the 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:47.260 resurrection and 00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:47.820 the life. 00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:50.820 let's pray 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:51.420 together. 00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:51.519 Amen. 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.720 Our Father God, 00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:02.620 we thank you so 00:38:02.620 --> 00:38:03.580 much for this 00:38:03.580 --> 00:38:06.660 incredible story 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:09.620 where we can 00:38:09.620 --> 00:38:10.600 see the 00:38:10.600 --> 00:38:11.680 supreme love 00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:12.220 of Jesus 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.219 love for us. 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:15.899 not always 00:38:15.899 --> 00:38:16.719 working the way 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.399 we want him 00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:17.939 to work, 00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:21.339 but always 00:38:21.339 --> 00:38:22.019 working in 00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:22.659 such a way 00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:23.359 that we can 00:38:23.359 --> 00:38:24.039 feel and 00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:25.219 understand and 00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:28.500 deepen our 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.239 love for him 00:38:29.239 --> 00:38:29.899 and his love 00:38:29.899 --> 00:38:30.539 for us. 00:38:32.899 --> 00:38:34.000 Help us to 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:35.159 accept his 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.679 claims, 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.919 to hear what he 00:38:37.919 --> 00:38:38.339 is saying, 00:38:38.379 --> 00:38:39.480 that he is the 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.419 resurrection and the 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:40.940 life and that 00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.639 without him there 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.500 is no life. 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.519 Thank you for the 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:48.440 wonderful insight 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:49.260 into your 00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:50.700 passion, 00:38:51.340 --> 00:38:52.920 your pain and 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:53.860 your anger at 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:54.880 death itself and 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:55.740 the destruction 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:57.740 and the pain that 00:38:57.740 --> 00:38:58.200 it brings. 00:38:58.199 --> 00:39:00.199 thank you for 00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:01.079 thank you that you 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:02.019 came to reverse 00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:02.460 death, 00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:04.599 to conquer it, 00:39:04.779 --> 00:39:05.739 to defeat it. 00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.799 But most of all, 00:39:11.919 --> 00:39:12.759 help us to know 00:39:12.759 --> 00:39:13.859 the promised hope 00:39:13.859 --> 00:39:14.739 for ourselves. 00:39:17.879 --> 00:39:19.159 Help us to trust 00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:20.079 what you are saying 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:21.119 to us this morning, 00:39:21.919 --> 00:39:24.279 that this is not 00:39:24.279 --> 00:39:24.980 just some 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:26.940 random story 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.840 in a book 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:28.960 of fairy tales, 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:31.039 but this is 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.400 God, 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:32.159 the creator 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:32.920 of heaven and 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.199 earth, 00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:35.099 who came to 00:39:35.099 --> 00:39:36.059 this world as a 00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:37.039 person in Jesus 00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:37.539 Christ, 00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:39.780 who lived for 00:39:39.780 --> 00:39:40.159 us, 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.159 who died 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:43.019 for us, 00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:44.920 who was raised 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:45.800 again for us 00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:46.699 so that everyone, 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.719 whoever we are, 00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.760 whoever puts their 00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.440 hope in him, 00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.059 will live 00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:52.880 and have eternal 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:53.800 life in the new 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.320 creation. 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:56.659 we thank you 00:39:56.659 --> 00:39:57.440 for your awesome 00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:57.860 power. 00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.820 We thank you 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:00.840 for Easter Sunday 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:01.559 and that we can 00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:02.780 celebrate it today. 00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:05.300 May we bring 00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:05.900 this hope 00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:08.000 and this good 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:08.920 news with us. 00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:11.780 In Jesus' name, 00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:12.980 Amen. 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:24.260 We're going to sing 00:40:24.260 --> 00:40:25.980 a well-known song 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:28.699 in Christ alone. 00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:30.559 and I'm waiting for you 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:31.000 to hear, 00:40:31.379 --> 00:40:32.239 to go to the next 00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:32.599 verse. 00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:32.699 Thank you. 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.779 Good one. 00:40:33.779 --> 00:40:33.899 Amen. 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:35.179 Next time I'm going to 00:40:35.179 --> 00:40:35.579 go home in the next 00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.119 one. 00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.199 Thank you. 00:40:37.299 --> 00:40:38.159 Family