Lent mid-week 6

Mid-week 6

March 16, 2005

John 11:1-44

Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection”

INTRODUCTION: The background from which our text for this evening is taken is the occasion of the death of Lazarus, the friend of Jesus. The Savior was quite close to this family. In Bethany where this family lived we remember that Mary was the one who poured the perfume on the Savior’s feet and wiped them with her hair. (v.2) Sister Martha is remembered as the one who was troubled with serving, and it was her brother Lazarus who had taken ill. Our text reminds us that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (V.5)

When Jesus received the news that Lazarus was sick He stayed where He was for two more days. (v.6) By the time Jesus arrived at the house in Bethany Lazarus had been buried four days before although the city was less then two miles from Jerusalem. (Vv. 17-18) No wonder Martha said to Jesus as she met Him, “If you had been here Lord, my brother would not had died!” (v.21) What an incredible week it had been! Yet, in the events which unfold we see quite clearly that Jesus alone has the power over life and death. Jesus alone is the resurrection and the life.

I.                    Whoever believes in Him will live even though he dies.

A.       “It is appointed for man once to die and after that comes judgment.”

B.       “Seventy years is all we have, eighty years is we are strong yet all they bring is worry and trouble life is soon over and we are gone.” (Psalm 90:10)

C.       While we cannot avoid death there is the promise of life beyond the grave. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.”

D.       Jesus words are quite simple so that all can know and understand. “I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (Vv. 25-26)

II.                 Here we have an eternal truth. Whoever lives and believes in Him will never die.

A.     Jesus’ promise is not for the future – when we die. It is for now. “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.”

B.      Jesus has given us this life now so we can be witnesses of His mercy and grace. That we might be salt and light in this world.

C.     How do we know of this truth and message? In the Scriptures alone. “Many other miraculous signs Jesus performed in the presence of His disciples but these have been written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and believing you might have life in His name.” (John 20)

CONCLUSION: Jesus’ statement to Martha is quite a famous passage of Scripture. At the end of the verse Jesus asks her one simple question. “Do you believe this?” That question is asked of you this night. How you answer it determines where you will spend eternity.