WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.199 Okay, we'll have the Bible reading for today. It's from John's Gospel, chapter 11, verses 1 to 6. 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:14.439 And then we'll continue from verse 17 to the end, to verse 53. 00:00:19.699 --> 00:00:26.960 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:36.620 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:43.140 So the sisters sent to him, saying, Lord, he whom you love is ill. 00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:49.480 But when Jesus heard it, he said, this illness does not lead to death. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:55.820 It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:01.539 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:08.420 So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:12.920 And then we'll continue from verse 17. 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:22.980 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:27.140 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off. 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:33.780 And many of the Jews had come to meet Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:40.480 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:44.280 But Mary remained seated in the house. 00:01:45.579 --> 00:01:51.560 Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:56.859 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you. 00:01:56.859 --> 00:02:02.060 Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:08.379 Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:14.659 And Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.340 Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:24.840 And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:26.800 Do you believe this? 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:35.340 She said to him, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. 00:02:37.640 --> 00:02:45.060 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, the teacher is here and is calling for you. 00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:49.360 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:57.180 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:03.420 When the Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw Mary rise quickly and go out, 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:08.780 they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:16.420 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:21.239 Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:27.599 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:34.060 he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:37.819 And he said, where have you laid him? 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:41.560 They said to him, Lord, come and see. 00:03:44.239 --> 00:03:45.159 Jesus wept. 00:03:47.959 --> 00:03:51.560 So they said, see how he loved him. 00:03:52.840 --> 00:04:00.840 But some of them said, could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man has also kept this man from dying? 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:06.819 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:10.280 It was a cave and a stone lay against it. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:13.240 Jesus said, take away the stone. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:21.360 Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, Lord, by this time there will be an odour, 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:23.879 for he has been dead four days. 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:30.220 Jesus said to her, did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:32.520 So they took away the stone. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:37.380 And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:41.680 Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:45.160 I knew that you always hear me, 00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:48.820 but I said this on account of the people standing around, 00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:51.260 that they may believe that you sent me. 00:04:52.340 --> 00:04:54.880 When he had said these things, 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.420 he cried out with a loud voice, 00:04:58.360 --> 00:04:59.920 Lazarus, come out. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:03.880 The man who had died came out, 00:05:04.340 --> 00:05:06.940 his hands and feet bound with linen strips, 00:05:07.440 --> 00:05:09.140 and his face wrapped with a cloth. 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.900 Jesus said to them, unbind him and let him go. 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:20.139 Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:24.919 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:29.879 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:31.699 what are we to do? 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:34.579 For this man performs many signs. 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:36.600 If we let him go on like this, 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:38.120 everyone will believe in him. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:42.740 And then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:48.199 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.360 you know nothing at all. 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:56.039 Nor do you understand that it is better for one man should die for the people, 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:58.399 not that the whole nation should perish. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:01.480 He did not say this of his own accord, 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.180 but being high priest that year, 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:06.639 he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.180 And not for the nation only, 00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:12.779 but to gather into the children of God who are scattered abroad. 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:17.399 So from that day on, they made plans to put him to death. 00:06:19.359 --> 00:06:21.159 Jesus, therefore, no longer openly, 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.039 walked openly among the Jews, 00:06:24.419 --> 00:06:27.219 but went from there to the region near the wilderness, 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:29.099 to a town called Ephraim. 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:31.419 And there he stayed with the disciples. 00:06:34.739 --> 00:06:35.919 This is God's word. 00:06:36.239 --> 00:06:38.059 Let us learn from it today. 00:06:38.059 --> 00:06:38.459 Amen. 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:45.119 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:49.439 Will you please pray with me as you come to God's word? 00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:59.579 Father, whatever expectations we have coming to your word, 00:06:59.659 --> 00:07:04.979 I pray that you would either meet them or confront them, 00:07:04.979 --> 00:07:08.899 and I know you'll surpass them. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:14.599 So I pray that you would give each of us ready minds and hearts 00:07:14.599 --> 00:07:15.539 to receive your word. 00:07:16.019 --> 00:07:16.799 In Jesus' name. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:17.179 Amen. 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:23.079 Well, I wonder how you have been trying to measure the love of God for you 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:24.319 this past week. 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:28.159 One measure I'm trying to use at the moment, I think, 00:07:28.419 --> 00:07:32.579 is how much sleep or lack thereof I'm getting. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:39.539 Maybe you're measuring it some other way, the gain or loss of health, 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:47.139 of success, of money, reputation, with your friends and at work, 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:47.919 of pleasure. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:51.719 There's all sorts of measures we use. 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:57.539 But if any of these things are the primary measure of the love of God, 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:02.800 then looking at the first Christians, the apostles, John who wrote this himself, 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:10.200 God must have hated them if they are the measures of his love. 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:17.540 In the story of Lazarus, I think we have one of the most heartbreaking measures 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:23.439 of his love, the grief of a loved one. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:34.600 When the sisters send a message pleading for help, notice the connecting word 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:36.500 between verse 5 and 6. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:43.179 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus so. 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:51.659 When he heard Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.339 where he was. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:54.439 It's not but. 00:08:55.219 --> 00:08:56.740 He loved them but. 00:08:57.639 --> 00:08:58.579 He was busy. 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:00.159 He loved them but. 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:02.159 There's just nothing he could do. 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:06.539 He loved them so he delayed. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:12.980 How can it possibly be loving to let his friend die? 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:22.560 I think this event gets at the essence of the kind of abundant life that Jesus gives. 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:28.399 If we understand what the abundant life is, then we'll know how to properly measure 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:30.100 God's love for us. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:40.580 So first we see who Jesus is in his interactions with Martha and Mary. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:46.080 When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. 00:09:46.280 --> 00:09:48.440 Now he's delayed two days. 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:53.639 It probably took one day for the messenger to reach him and another day for Jesus to get there. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:59.980 So it's possible that Martha already knows that her brother probably died before the messenger 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:00.940 even reached him. 00:10:01.660 --> 00:10:02.259 Probably. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:02.419 Probably. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:08.840 So when she says, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:14.399 It's probably more an expression of faith than it is a rebuke. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.100 It could be doubt. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:18.419 I'm not denying that. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.679 But it's an expression of faith. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:21.960 I think she's saying, Lord, I still trust you. 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:26.379 You would have saved him if you'd been here. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:30.360 And Mary says the same thing. 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:33.159 But her faith seems to be way more shaken. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:37.740 I think we should hear her words, the exact same words, but we should be hearing them with 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:40.019 just heartbreaking sobs. 00:10:41.820 --> 00:10:46.860 Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.399 She's shaken to the core. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:52.179 Same words for Martha and Mary. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.200 And look at Jesus' opposite response. 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:56.680 It's almost complete opposite. 00:10:57.420 --> 00:10:59.379 To Martha, he confronts her. 00:11:00.520 --> 00:11:03.980 He confronts her grief with truth. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:12.140 He calls for her to hope in a deeper hope than she currently expresses. 00:11:13.280 --> 00:11:15.540 But to Mary, he enters her sorrow. 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.480 And he himself weeps with her. 00:11:20.540 --> 00:11:23.540 It's one of the most profound verses in the Bible, isn't it? 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:28.520 He loves each of them. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:35.060 And he's showing each of them who he is, exactly what each of them needs to see in that moment. 00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:37.759 And together we see who he is. 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:39.460 He's unlike anyone we've ever met. 00:11:39.540 --> 00:11:41.480 He's fully God and fully human. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.720 He is incredibly high, absolute truth, and he's incredibly low. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:58.480 To Martha, who believes that each person is appointed to die once and then face God in judgment, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.300 she believes in the resurrection. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.540 He confronts her with truth. 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:06.639 He calls her to greater truth. 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:09.980 I am the resurrection and life. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:13.600 You're staring at him, Martha. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:22.500 That future you believe in is here, in me. 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:30.320 He's already said in chapter 5, the father has entrusted all judgment to his son. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:36.379 The son has life in himself and chooses whom to bring in to share his life. 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:39.600 And so he confronts Martha with truth. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.639 That's what she needed. 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:41.940 That's what we need. 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:52.160 I heard the story of a family who had lost a child. 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:56.200 And many in the church came to visit them, to comfort them. 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:02.640 And the parents later said that they were helped the most by this older man who came 00:13:02.640 --> 00:13:06.600 and just sat in their lounge room and cried. 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:11.880 And after a while, he left. 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.980 They found that the most encouraging. 00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:20.760 I think we see that here in Mary. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.960 Whatever doubts or anger Mary has. 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:29.660 Jesus is deeply stirred and he weeps. 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:35.440 He shows his glory in a way that no words would have shown. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:44.360 We need a God who calls us to greater hope in absolute truth, 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:50.260 but we also need a God who shares our weakness and our pain and weeps. 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:53.560 And in this one person, we have both. 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:58.119 That's why he's so compelling. 00:13:58.779 --> 00:14:01.699 You read the stories of the Gospels and there's no one like him. 00:14:01.859 --> 00:14:05.639 You meet great people in life and you meet humble people in life. 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:11.219 There's things that combine in Jesus that you don't meet in anyone else. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:20.100 I'm going to quote a minister from a couple of centuries ago, John Watson. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:26.580 I don't think the Watson from Sherlock Holmes for anyone. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:32.040 Despite his high claims, he is never pompous. 00:14:32.920 --> 00:14:35.180 You never see him standing on his own dignity. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:37.220 He is tenderness without weakness. 00:14:37.780 --> 00:14:40.259 He is strength without harshness. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:44.360 Humility without the slightest lack of confidence. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:48.780 Unhesitating authority with a complete lack of self-absorption. 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:55.019 Unbending convictions without the slightest lack of approachability. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.480 He is power without insensitivity. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.279 Nothing he does falls short. 00:15:02.579 --> 00:15:06.699 In fact, he is always surprising you and taking your breath away 00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:09.679 because he's incomparably better than you could have imagined. 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:14.279 These are the surprises of perfection. 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:21.279 We see who he is. 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:23.539 The surprises of perfection. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:27.279 Incredibly high and incredibly low. 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:32.939 But then we go to the tomb and we see what he came to do. 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:42.500 The emotion of Jesus is, it seems to be stronger than the English translations 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:46.779 want to say for some reason. 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:52.039 In verse 33, he's deeply moved in his spirit. 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:57.679 Now, when this word is used elsewhere, it's usually he's bellowing with rage. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:00.759 It's used of horses snorting in anger. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:06.139 Something is deeply stirred here. 00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:12.220 He's trembling with rage as he's weeping. 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:25.040 And we see in verse 38, it is this strong emotion that takes him to the tomb. 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.259 Who's he angry at? 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:30.340 What's stirring him so deeply? 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:33.420 Like this is, yes, there's sympathy with Mary. 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:35.759 This is, I think it's something more than that. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:40.360 There's no evidence that he's angry at the family. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.039 He's not angry at himself or his father. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.360 He knows what he's about to do. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:53.059 As a whole human race, we deserve, 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:58.639 we deserve the agony of death for turning away from the source of life. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.759 It's not some sense of injustice. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:07.059 There's two main options I've come across. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:10.240 And see what you think. 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:13.839 I'm going to tell you what I think, but these two are pretty close. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.400 Maybe he's angry at the questioning of his love. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.460 The mourners who were there saying, 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:24.960 could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying? 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.000 They're questioning his love. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:30.220 Now that's possible. 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:36.799 Because when we question his motives, 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:41.819 it blinds us to see the eternal life he's giving us. 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.619 So that's one option. 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:50.000 I lean more towards the second option, which is he's angry at death. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:58.400 Now evolution says death is natural. 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.200 It's meaningless. 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.900 You shouldn't get worked up. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:09.859 If you hold to the evolution, death is natural. 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:13.539 There's some people who believe in fate and we hear language of, 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.579 oh, it's just their time. 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:20.819 There's some vague notion of it's their time. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:27.279 Jesus, he's stirred to the core. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:29.839 He is angry at death, I think. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:33.720 One whom he loves, one of his sheep, 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:38.139 a human being who displays the light of the glory of God, 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:40.500 his light has been extinguished. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:49.660 I think his anger at death fits with him weeping with Mary more. 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:55.299 I think it fits with the emphasis in verse 39. 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:59.339 If you have a look at verse 39, he says, 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:03.919 move the stone away, Martha, the sister of the dead man. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.659 We know that, right? 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.919 Thanks for pointing that out, John. 00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:10.959 He's emphasizing here the dead man. 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:18.000 The stench has defiled the sanctity of this human life. 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:22.500 He's been dead four days. 00:19:23.459 --> 00:19:26.059 There is this permanence of death. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:34.200 So I like how B.B. Warfield puts it, 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:37.740 Jesus advances to the tomb, not weak and snivelling, 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:40.919 but as a champion preparing for conflict. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:45.279 John uncovers the heart of Jesus as he wins our salvation, 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:49.859 not in cold unconcerned, but with fiery wrath against our enemy. 00:19:49.859 --> 00:20:02.319 And he prays publicly so that we all know that what's about to happen 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.500 is the Father and the Son working together. 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:08.659 And he says in a loud voice, so I think no one can go, 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.619 oh, that was magic. 00:20:09.979 --> 00:20:14.539 No, it came from Jesus' lips. 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.299 Lazarus, come out. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.839 Come out. 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:22.619 Do you see what we're seeing here? 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:31.659 We're watching a preview of what will happen at the close of history. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:37.740 Emma and I went for a walk in Sandgate Cemetery the other day, 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:40.399 as you do. 00:20:41.959 --> 00:20:43.519 It was quite a lovely day. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.859 But just to see all those tombstones. 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:53.960 And Jesus says in chapter 5, don't be surprised at this. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.240 A time is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear his voice 00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.879 and come out. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:04.079 Those who have done good to the resurrection of life 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.819 and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:13.319 We're seeing a preview of that final day. 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:22.500 We see who he is. 00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.919 We see what he came to do. 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:29.099 But I don't think we quite see the full extent of his love just yet. 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:33.459 Because imagine Jesus turned up at a funeral. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:38.099 The slideshow is playing and people were weeping and he walks down to that 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:41.139 casket and restores the loved one. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:46.140 You'd be in awe of his greatness, wouldn't you? 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:49.320 You would feel indebted to him forever. 00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:53.220 But is it just a matter of him using his power? 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.860 Is it just a matter of power? 00:21:55.300 --> 00:21:56.160 It's definitely power. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.180 But is that all it is? 00:21:58.180 --> 00:22:09.820 If you arrived home and a friend greeted you saying, 00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:18.440 I saw this fine on the fridge and I decided to pay it for you in full, 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.200 how should you respond? 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:25.039 Depends, right? 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.839 You don't know yet. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:32.079 Was it just a $10 overdue bill? 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.259 Like, was it $10? 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:36.379 Maybe you respond, ah, thank you. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.159 A smile, thank you. 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:41.599 What if it was a court letter saying, 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:43.819 you've got to pay the prosecution legal fees 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:47.420 and all these infringements that was like over $2 million. 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:49.379 You had no way of paying it. 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:51.000 You're going to have to declare bankruptcy. 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.420 There goes your retirement savings. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:58.019 Your job prospects are people going to look twice at you for the rest of your life. 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:02.160 A smile is not going to cut it, is it, if they've paid that? 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.320 It depends. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:10.279 How much did it cost Jesus to raise Lazarus? 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.680 It wasn't just about power. 00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:15.380 This story is not just about Lazarus from death to life. 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:17.759 This is a story about Jesus' life to death. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:30.140 We see here that this event triggered desperation from his enemies. 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.680 Verse 53 says, 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:38.940 From that day on, they made plans to put Jesus to death. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:47.600 This is the last of Jesus' public signs, and it's the climax. 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:51.600 From here on in the gospel, we're in the final days before the cross. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:59.579 Not only have they made plans to kill Jesus, chapter 12, verse 10 says, 00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:04.759 So the chief priest made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, the poor guy. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:10.179 Because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:13.539 Jesus, this triggered something. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:27.960 And Jesus, knowing it's going to trigger this, we look back on his delay when the sisters asked him for help. 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:30.440 I think we can look back on his delay. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:36.220 He could have just healed Lazarus with a word from a distance and kept safe. 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.039 But he didn't. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.140 He chose the most costly path. 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:44.480 He loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus and the crowd and us today. 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:53.320 So he chose the most costly path to show us who he is, to show us what he came to do for us. 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:59.220 Knowing full well he's going to have to trade places with Lazarus in the tomb. 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:19.579 I heard the story of a man's wife died and on the way to the funeral, the kids in the car, they were stopped at a set of traffic lights. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:24.679 And a truck turned in front of them and the shadow of the truck went over their car. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:33.519 And he said to the kids, would you rather be hit by the truck or hit by the shadow of the truck? 00:25:34.439 --> 00:25:35.859 And his kids said the shadow. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:43.599 And he's saying, Jesus was hit by the truck so that mummy only went through the shadow. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:49.199 That's the cost. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:53.439 Do you see how much he loves you? 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.459 The amount of sleep I get? 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:03.279 What a poor measure. 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:10.440 Any circumstances are not a reliable measure of God's love for you. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.340 He is the measure. 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:14.059 How much you see the glory of God in his son. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.519 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.420 Do you see who he is? 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:28.460 Do you see what he came to do? 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:28.860 Do you see what he came to do? 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:32.480 Do you see what he came to do? 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:38.440 I don't think this resurrection and life is just about extending physical life. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.819 Lazarus died again. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:46.880 The poor guy got in hot water as soon as he woke up. 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:54.900 The life he enjoyed was being connected to this Jesus. 00:26:54.900 --> 00:27:05.340 To know that your eternity judgment is settled. 00:27:07.280 --> 00:27:09.800 When you face God, it's already settled. 00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:17.920 I'm going to be raised to life because I belong to you. 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:20.000 To know that peace. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:27.180 Your eternity can be changed on the 1st of September 2024. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:32.940 The moment you come and believe. 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.319 Judgment's settled. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.480 Your eternity. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:42.319 Not only is sure. 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:44.599 I think he's saying more than this. 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:47.839 He's saying, yes, I'm the one who resurrects. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:53.620 I think he's saying that resurrection is sharing in my life. 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:57.019 Notice he adds, I'm the resurrection and the life. 00:27:57.019 --> 00:28:09.460 Whoever lives in me, whoever lives in me and believes in me will never die. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.799 I can't be about physical death. 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:20.960 I said at a Crusaders camp once when I got the opportunity to speak, 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:26.759 for the Christian, heaven has already begun. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:33.100 And you could just see in the head's gun, it just didn't comprehend. 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:40.220 Whoever lives in Jesus, our heaven has begun. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:44.079 I know we're looking for, aren't you looking forward to the full thing? 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:51.339 But the life we have in knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent, 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.639 it's begun. 00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:01.279 And do you see the price he paid? 00:29:01.439 --> 00:29:05.039 Not just using his power, but trading places with us in the tomb. 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:10.039 That's how we should measure his love. 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:15.819 So I just want to finish by asking, what's a proper response? 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:18.920 What's a proper response to such glorious love? 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:27.339 Many came to mourn with Martha and Mary. 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:29.639 So this is very public, what happened here. 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.779 Many saw this miracle. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:35.899 Many more heard the eyewitness testimony as we are today. 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:40.259 But Jesus divides people. 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:46.400 Only some saw the glory of God. 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:50.600 Verse 40, did I not tell you that if you believed, 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:52.180 you would see the glory of God? 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.960 Everyone saw the miracle. 00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:57.240 Only those who believe see the glory of God. 00:29:57.240 --> 00:30:03.039 It's not. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:08.960 If you're still exploring Christianity, that's great. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.740 Keep exploring. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:14.039 Could I suggest it's not for lack of evidence? 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:23.839 I think really the question is, do you want it to be true? 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:23.859 Do you want it to be true? 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:32.240 I believe we see in Lazarus spiritually what we're all like. 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:37.279 We are as dead as Lazarus towards God. 00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:45.660 We don't respond to him unless Jesus calls us. 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:50.660 If you're his sheep, you hear his voice, you'll come out. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.019 You'll come. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.079 You'll come. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:31:02.679 So to respond, we need him to help us respond. 00:31:07.439 --> 00:31:11.679 And if you can see him, praise him, not ourselves. 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:17.960 I think we also see in Mary and Martha what we get a picture 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.819 of what a proper response looks like. 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:23.879 In Martha, we see what belief is. 00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:26.639 Well, for all of them, we see what belief is. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:29.359 For Martha, it's got content. 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.799 It's not vague. 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:35.019 Verse 27 is a really profound expression of faith. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.939 I is emphasised. 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:41.240 I, whatever anyone else does, I believe that you are the Christ, 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:47.299 the Son of God, the one scripture promise would come and save us. 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.539 It's got content. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:32:00.759 In Mary, I think we see that sometimes it just looks like coming to him 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.279 and weeping. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:06.200 I'm guessing there will be people in this room today, when we're singing, 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.659 you believe. 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:10.839 You just, you're hurting so much. 00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:11.859 You just can't. 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:13.420 You can't sing at the moment. 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.399 You can't pray. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:18.880 I think Mary shows us just you come to him. 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.680 You don't look for comfort somewhere else. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.080 You might be angry at him. 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:24.140 You might be doubting his love. 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.500 But you still come to him. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:33.440 She didn't go to the tomb to weep. 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.180 She went to him. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:43.819 And we didn't read this bit, but the very next story, 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:50.319 we see what a proper response looks like in Mary as well. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:59.819 A smile and a thank you towards Jesus. 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:02.619 If he is your resurrection and your life, 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:04.439 a smile's not going to cut it, is it? 00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:08.359 You can't just be nice to this Jesus. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.139 You can't just be on friendly terms. 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:13.679 You can't just treat him as a personal assistant. 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:16.560 You can't treat him as just a counsellor. 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:27.360 He deserves more than if it's convenient for you to come to church 00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:28.620 or whatever it is. 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:30.000 He deserves more than that. 00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:34.360 If he is who he says he is and he's done what he has 00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:37.580 and at great cost to himself, our allegiance to him, 00:33:38.580 --> 00:33:41.240 the limits just have to be taken off. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.820 He's got to be our centre. 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:44.059 He's got to be our everything. 00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:48.559 He deserves worship. 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:51.919 And that's what we see with Mary in the next story. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:54.899 They're having a dinner for Jesus and Lazarus is sitting there 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:56.539 at the table. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:00.039 What an incredible meal that would have been. 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:03.819 And she is at his feet again and she takes the most expensive 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:08.380 thing she owns, this jar of ointment that would have cost 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:10.900 a year's wages, a year's wages. 00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:13.139 I wonder what you would spend a year's wages on. 00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:16.340 And she just wastes it on his feet. 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.639 What's she doing? 00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:27.039 She's saying, with all that I am and all that I have, 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:27.860 I honour you. 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:33.340 That's a proper response. 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:43.420 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:48.420 Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:54.159 And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. 00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:59.159 Do you believe this? 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:03.460 Do you see the measure of his love? 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:13.579 If we do, then let's just waste all of our life poured at his feet. 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.440 Will you pray with me? 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:16.920 Let's pray. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:25.220 Father, like Martha and Mary, I pray that you would meet each one 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:37.539 where we are at and help us grasp more just how great you are 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:43.000 and that our life is hidden in you and that when you come back, 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:48.000 then we will have life to the full. 00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:49.859 Thank you that that life has begun. 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:56.320 I pray that you would help us as your people to act like that. 00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:04.519 Lord, I pray that you comfort those who are hurting 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:09.660 and that you would cause us to spend all that we are 00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:14.180 and all that we have in service of you, in love of you. 00:36:14.620 --> 00:36:15.760 And I pray in Jesus' name. 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.220 Amen.