JESUS, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE / Resurrection 3

April 9, 2023 

 

John 11:17-44

Key verse 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 

Do you know the term trilogy? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "a group of three related novels, plays and movies.” Examples are the 'Lord of the Rings series', or 'The Godfather 1, 2, and 3'. This is the third time I am delivering Resurrection Sunday messages in a row. It is like a trilogy that will be completed today, and the conclusion of the trilogy is fundamental and clear, as seen in today’s key verse. This resurrection trilogy is backward in terms of the timeline for my message. The first part was about the resurrection body; we will be glorious like the risen Jesus, as the caterpillar turns into the butterfly. The second part was the hope of resurrection; the news of Jesus’ resurrection makes our hearts burn. Lastly, today, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and raises Lazarus from the dead. Yes, you heard it correctly. There is death. But Lazarus’ death is essential to show God’s glory and to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God by raising him from the dead and also reveals the ultimate hope of all Christians through the resurrection of Jesus later.

 

Part 1. Power of Death versus Truth of life, the result is? (17-32)

 

Look at verse 17. “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.” As we learned from last week’s message, Jesus was informed that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus could have come early or even healed him remotely like in Chapter 4 when he healed the official’s son. However, he didn’t do either of them intentionally. Lazarus died soon after the messenger left. So when Jesus heard the news, Lazarus was already dead. Jesus mentioned the purpose of Lazarus’ sickness in verse 4: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

 

Look at verses 21-22. “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.” When Martha met Jesus, she showed her regret in verse 21 and some anticipation toward Jesus in verse 22. What is her belief about Jesus? She said some words of faith like, “even now God will give you whatever you ask.” However, her belief was limited to believing only that Jesus is a healer who comes from God. When she heard from Jesus, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ she could not believe that she would see the miracle today. She learned from Jesus earlier in John 6:39 that the dead will rise again on the last day. Now Jesus wants to clarify and plant faith in Martha. Let’s read together verses 25-26. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 

What is Martha’s reply to Jesus’ question? Let’s read verse 27. “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” She got the best answer as if she saw the answer sheet. However, this answer is not from her heart. It was like Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” when Jesus asked “Who do you say I am?” in Matthew chapter 16. However, Jesus knew that this answer was revealed from God not only to Peter but also to Martha. Martha’s next action was totally different from what she answered. Let’s see verse 28. “After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” We are not sure if Jesus really asked her to call Mary to come. If Martha really believes what she said to Jesus, she should be really happy and share this good news with Mary with overwhelming joy. She may talk like; “Oh my God, Mary. Do you know Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? Jesus said he will raise Lazarus today! Hurry, come and see together.”

 

However, Martha mentioned Jesus as, “The Teacher,” as if she only got boring lectures from the dialogue with Jesus even though he revealed the truth about who He is and the happy news to her. Her words had no power to change Mary’s sadness at all because Martha didn’t believe what Jesus said and what she said to Jesus. This is the bitter reality. If we don’t believe the truth, what we share is powerless. There is an opposite example in John Chapter 4. When the Samaritan woman at the well met Jesus and believed that Jesus is the Messiah, she ran to the town and shared the good news with everybody, and they came and believed in Jesus. She really believed that Jesus is the Messiah and so her testimony had the power to change the whole town. However, because of unbelief, Martha could not comfort even one person, her sister Mary. Mary also showed her frustration about Lazarus' death toward Jesus, saying in verse 32, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

 

Part 2. Jesus wept (33-40)

 

Did you ever experience upset when no one believes you even though you tell the truth? Especially someone you love and care about? It makes us angry and sad, sometimes we give up convincing them. It is quite shocking to see the verse, “Jesus wept.” Do you know that this is the shortest verse in the English Bible? The Bible does not mention why Jesus wept. He is the Son of God. He can do all things. His weeping is because of his love for us. With Martha, Jesus tells everything that she needs to know about her brother Lazarus. His death is not the end but he will rise again. Martha’s sister, Mary also came and wept with other Jews. They were all defeated by the power of death. Verse 33b says, “…he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Another Bible translation says, “… deep anger welled up within him.”(NLT) Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God could not make them believe. How Satan powerfully works in peoples’ hearts to try to frustrate Jesus’ will! All emotional turmoils are happening here; frustration, anger, pity, and sadness which reveal Jesus' humanity. So Jesus wept.

 

Let’s read together verses 34-35. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.” Did you notice why suddenly Jesus wept when they replied? I think people’s reply adds more emotion to the sorrow of Jesus who would later die regardless of the chosen people’s unbelief. In the Samaritan town in John chapter 4, the same word, “Come and see” brought people to the Messiah who gave them living water and eternal life. But this ignorant God’s people told Jesus to accept death as the end and His failure as the Messiah by saying in verse 37, "But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, the resurrection and the life, were denied and ignored in front of many Jews. This is the preview of the passion of Christ. He will be betrayed, ignored, mocked, suffered, deserted and crucified. Isaiah 53:5-6 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

 

Look at verses 39-40. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” When Jesus asked, “Take away the stone” to raise Lazarus, Martha discouraged what Jesus was going to do. Her unbelief is so intense until the last moment. How dare she try to stop God’s work even for her brother? In Matthew 16, after Jesus blessed Peter’s answer, Jesus mentioned His death and resurrection. Then Peter rebuked Jesus about God’s plan. Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me.” Jesus knew that it was not only the unbelief of men but also Satan’s scheme to hinder the work of God. It is an impossible mission to rescue people who don’t know anything; they are hostages in the enemy’s territory. Jesus is the only one who knows that this mission has the promised victory. He had to fight alone. Jesus was troubled to see that all people were under the power of death and the power of Satan. So Jesus wept. Later I will tell one more reason why Jesus wept for us.

 

Part 3. Resurrection (41-44)

 

To reveal the glory of God and also prove himself as the Son of God, Jesus raised the dead body which had been in the tomb for 4 days. Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When we see a play on the stage, we know the story through the actors’ dialogues and actions. This time Jesus prayed to God as a monologue which is an act of speaking His prayer aloud to the audience. When he called in a loud voice, Lazarus came out wrapped in strips of linen. This was all for the benefit of the people. Jesus did everything to make us believe who He is. Finally, Jesus managed to perform the miracle in front of Martha and Mary and relatives and many Jews who were also Jesus’ followers. This event was in the making for more than 4 days. The main character, Jesus, is the only one who knows that this story will have a happy ending when everybody does not believe it. Therefore, Jesus bears all misunderstandings and opposition until the last moment.

 

Look at verse 43. “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” When Lazarus came out from the tomb with strips of linen on his body, people who came to mourn for him were shocked and may have frozen because of a somewhat scary moment. They could not believe what they saw because it was different from what they expected. Verse 44b says, “Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” They did not dare to get too close to him but with Jesus’ command, when they took off the grave clothes, they could see the familiar face of Lazarus. One by one, people accepted the risen Lazarus with tears of Joy. Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” Lazarus’ resurrection is the miracle of miracles which made everybody praise God. It seems like there’s no greater miracle than this resurrection from the dead. This can be the biggest news in all history. 

However, Lazarus’ resurrection has limitations. Because he will die again. He will be wrapped again in grave clothes. Again the fear of death will inflict all the people with pain and sorrow until Jesus comes again. This is another reason why Jesus wept. When Mary came and cried in front of Jesus, it may be an indication that she will cry again in the future for Lazarus’ death. Because Lazarus was raised with a perishable body. Jesus wants to cut this cycle of fearing death completely from the people he loves. Jesus wants to give the ultimate victory from death. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”(NLT) Jesus will rise with the imperishable body which can inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ death on the cross and the resurrection is necessary to give this imperishable body to all mankind who believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. This is God’s master plan and the purpose of why Jesus came to this world. 

 

Through preparing the resurrection messages three times, I accept the resurrection faith all the more deeply. Every year, when the resurrection day comes, I could not be happy and rejoice, because I was stuck in pain and sorrow. My mother died from cancer after 4 years of long-suffering when I was 14 years old. She was a hard-working woman of faith. We tried everything for her healing. I still remember the scary night when I was running to find different shops to buy big-size diapers for my mother who could not move anymore. I really believed that God could heal my mother and even vowed to dedicate my life to God as a missionary if God would heal my mother. But she died the next day I vowed. I was angry and cursed God. Later, I even burned the Bible because of conflicts with my stepmother. Once in a while, the bitterness and doubt came from God’s rejection of my desperate and sincere prayer for my mother and unanswered prayers. Why God? Why? However, through today’s message, I learned that Jesus clearly explained the truth and His love for me. His death on the cross and resurrection with an imperishable body is the proclamation of perfect victory over the power of death and the first fruit of eternal life. We will also get this glorious resurrection body which never dies. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. Jesus doesn’t want us to cry anymore over the death of our loved ones. As Jesus said, death is only sleep. Yes, Lord. My mother’s death was also for God’s glory. You led me all this way until this moment to share this resurrection message from my lips. I believe that you are the resurrection and the life. I will see my mother in heaven in glory. When I accept this truth, my heart is relieved and joyous.  

 

So what is the conclusion of this resurrection trilogy? We have the promise from Jesus who is the resurrection and the life. Our death is like sleep until we have a new resurrection body. If we see Jesus before we die, we will never die but be transformed like the glorious risen Jesus. Lazarus’ resurrection is the foreshadowing of an imperishable body which Jesus will give us for the kingdom of God. This is the secret of the Christian who lives as the witness of Jesus’ resurrection. I know in this place, there are people who are suffering from failures and worries about the future. However, if you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life, you are on the right track to God’s perfect plan. God is leading you now in the best direction for God’s glory. So don’t be downcast and worry. Be rejoice and be glad on this glorious resurrection Sunday.

 

One word: Jesus is the resurrection and the life.