Title: Believe on Christ
Text: John 11: 1-44
Date: August 21, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
We experience great sorrow over sick loved ones, or those who die. We experience great sorrow over our loved ones who are yet dead in their sins. Death (spiritual and physical)—and sorrow—is the result of sin due to the fall. It is my prayer that John 11 will help comfort you as we behold the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 11: 1: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
How we long for those we love to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! How we pray for God to come, even as Martha and Mary sent word to the Lord Jesus that Lazarus, their brother, whom thou lovest, was sick. But the Lord does not go to their aid immediately. Why? Two reasons: for his glory and because he loved them.
John 11: 4: When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
In the face of sorrow, remember, everything God is doing in this world is to bring glory to his Son. And because he loves his own he will see to it that all his children rest believing in Christ Jesus the Son of God.
Some may say—“we know this. Why are you telling us this again? Because just as Lazarus had grave clothes that needed removing—you and I who have been called by the Word of Christ, yet have many grave clothes: grave clothes that only Christ can remove and grave clothes that will only be removed at theVoice of the Eternal Word, Christ Jesus. And what Wisdom--for his glory and for his love for his own, God waits for his time—that all his own may know and trust him, that we may believe and behold his glory! And so the Lord looses us from the grave clothes of our own unbelief.
TITLE: Believe on Christ
Divisions: 1) Believe on Christ in the face of all opposition; 2) Believe on Christ and behold God; 3) Believe on Christ in the midst of weeping; 4) Believe on Christ to do what only he can
I. BELIEVE ON CHRIST IN THE FACE OF ALL OPPOSITION
John 11: 7: Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
The Lord says here what he said before (John 9: 4-5
John 9: 4: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Christ is the Light. And as the Mediator, Christ walked this earth trusting the Light of his faithful God and Father. So he teaches his disciples to follow him in faith, to walk in the Light of Christ, trusting HIM, God our Savior, in the face of the enemy, so that we stumble not.
Looking at the enemy rather than believing Christ, causes us to stumble as one in the night: to question what the Lord is doing and to misunderstand his word.
John 11: 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
We face many enemies: our sin, our self-righteousness—the Lord said a man can expect division in his own house—but the worst enemy we face is: unbelief-so “easily besets us.”
Hebrews 12: 1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Application: Walking by faith rather than sight is to walk in Christ the Light, the Light of the Daystar--If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.”
I am not sure in what spirit Thomas said this, but we will look at in the best light for this is what faith says: “Let us go, that we may die with him.”
Luke 12: 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Let us take up our cross—knowing that if we suffer it is nothing compared to the baptism he was immersed in for aith truly says, “Let us go, that we may die with him.” And let us glory in this—in spite of all the unbelief we behold in this chapter—it never stops our Savior from bringing glory to his name and saving his own from all their enemies. It is not the strength of our faith, but the strength of faith’s object that saves!
Illustration: Brother Jack Shanks Quote
II. BELIEVE ON CHRIST AND BEHOLD GOD
John 11: 17: Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world… 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Martha said, God will give it thee. But Christ Jesus declares that He is God—the Son of Man who is the God the Son—the Resurrection and the Life. This is the theme of the gospel of John—the Eternal Word made flesh.
John 1: 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… 5: 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation…6: 44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day….54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day… 14: 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Christ Jesus the Man is God providing HIMSELF a Lamb, the propitiation—the mercy seat—God is just and the Justifier of all who believe because God himself justified his people in Christ. “The church OF GOD,” is the church which he hath purchased with his own blood.
1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
1 John 5: 20: And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Jesus Christ is God—the Resurrection and the Life for you who are born of his Spirit.
Colossians 3: 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Oh, believe on Christ and thou shalt see the glory of God, the God of glory.
III. BELIEVE ON CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF WEEPING
John 11: 28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 ¶ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
How amazing! How delightful! How comforting in all our sorrow and suffering! As soon as we hear him declare he is God, we read this amazing words—“Jesus wept.”
Consider this: there were many weeping there that day—none so much as Mary and Martha—but for Christ this was infinitely more---he is the only there who was sinless—Christ Jesus was “touched with the feeling of [their] infirmity” moreso than even Mary and Martha. This is the groaning of Him who “took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:17).
Application: Oh, my dear suffering brethren, remember, in the midst of all pain and suffering and sickness, none is a help like Christ. There is no other so kind, so gracious, so caring as our Redeemer. Cast all your care upon him, dear believer, he shall care for you like no one else can.
Romans 8: 26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Believe on Christ in the face of all opposition; Believe on Christ and see the God of glory; Believe on Christ in the midst of all your weeping. Here is the final word.
IV. BELIEVE ON CHRIST, TRUSTING HIM TO DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN
John 11: 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
This is the spiritual state of all men by nature.
Romans 5: 12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
This is the spiritual state of each one whom God saves.
Ephesians 2: 1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
What our Lord Jesus did here is a demonstration of how a sinner is born again. It is a picture of the new birth, the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The Voice of the LORD is the voice of Life. He calls his own by name—v43: he cried with a loud voice, “LAZARUS, come forth”. His Voice makes the dead to live, makes the unwilling willing—“stretch forth thy withered hand”, makes the unable able—“take up thy bed and walk.” His Voice turns the unbelieving into believers. His Voice shall cause all the dead that are in the graves to come forth.
This is my prayer for you this hour—that right now he might speak life into you are yet dead!
And that for you who he has given life and faith, that he might cry concerning our grave clothes and say, “Loose him, and let him go!”
Amen!