I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, To be faithful is to seek God’s will for your life and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit … and let the chips fall where they may. It’s easy to get caught up in what others would have you think, say and do. If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble,īut if a man walks in the night, he stumbles,īecause the light isn’t in him.” (John 11:9-10) All that mattered was for him to complete his mission. But again, Jesus was on a different plain. In a sense, they were right: It’d be suicide for Jesus to go back to Jerusalem. “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you,Īnd are you going there again?” (John 11:8) Jesus stayed where he was two more days, then he told his disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.” (John 11:7) The disciples tried to stop him. Put the Lord first, and he’ll give you all the strength and vitality you need to experience life in abundance, however long you live. “But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness Īnd all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) The question is whether we’ll live in the fullness of God’s grace and love. We put too much emphasis on this mortal life when we simply try to stay alive. To die is to be separated from God and at odds with the world around you. To live is to be at one with God and the whole of God’s creation. And that leads to a bigger question: What does it mean to live? What does it mean to die? If you’re paying attention that should raise a question: But didn’t Lazarus die? The answer is: Yes, he did. Resources to inspire you - and your congregation! It is one of the best investments I haveĪ user-friendly resource for busy pastors! That God’s Son may be glorified by it.” (John 11:4)Ī SUBSCRIBER SAYS: “I can’t tell you how much I enjoy and use your material. “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God,

This comes out in what he told the disciples. He stayed two days in the place where he was.” (John 11:5-6) When therefore he heard that he was sick, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. Given that, you’d think Jesus would’ve dropped everything and rushed back to Bethany. (John 10:31, 39-40) Nevertheless, he got the message: “He for whom you have great affection is sick.”Ĭan you hear the urgency? It’s a plea for help. They’d threatened to stone him or have him arrested. He’d had a run-in with the Pharisees in Jerusalem. Jesus was laying low when he got the message. Mary and Martha sent for him to come at once.

That’s an understatement – he was near the point of death. John goes on to tell us that Lazarus was ill. Call it chemistry, if you like, or good vibes – something about another person awakens your spirit, and you feel drawn to them in a special way. This gives us a glimpse into the human nature of Jesus – that is, to feel a certain attraction to some, and not others. While he had many followers, Mary, Martha and Lazarus were three of his favorites. He stayed in their home when he came to Jerusalem. Mary and Martha and Lazarus were among Jesus’ closest friends. Of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.” (John 11:1) “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, What I hope you’ll get out of the sermon this morning is a promise: If Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, he can bring you to new life, if you’re willing. That they might put him to death.” (11:47-53) So from that day forward they took counsel If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him,Īnd the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’… “The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council,Īnd said, ‘What are we doing? For this man does many signs. According to John, those who witnessed the miracle went back and told the temple leaders what happened. It sets the stage for Jesus’ own death and resurrection. It’s also the clearest sign of who he is-the Son of God, the Promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. The raising of Lazarus is the last of Jesus’ miracles. Sermon John 11:1-45 The Raising of Lazarus

Story of lazarus bible summary