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Rock Your World

John 11:1-26

KEFC - 5/23/10

Intro: What is significant about the following dates? Can anyone tell me?

April 14, 1865…December 7, 1941…November 23, 1963…September 11, 2001…These were dates when the world was shaken by historic and tragic events. I remember where I was when I got the news of JFK’s assassination in 1963, and I remember exactly where I was when the events of 9/11 unfolded. Time stood still and events seemed surreal. As I watched those skyscrapers fall, I remember thinking, “Our world will never be the same.”

Have you ever had your world rocked? For some of you, some personal event rocked your world. You had a miscarriage, or your child was lost in a tragic accident, you lost your job, you were sexually abused, you heard the dreaded C-word from the doctor, your home broke up, or you lost your beloved life partner. From that moment, you knew life would never be the same.

If you have ever suffered that kind of pain, and I know that these very things have happened to people in our church family, then you can relate to what Mary and Martha must have felt as they watched their brother Lazarus, become ill. They stood helplessly by as he grew ever weaker. They called for Jesus, but he never came. They cried out to God, but to no avail. As they watched, disbelieving, Lazarus died.

Their world was rocked!

· Their beloved brother was gone.

· Their future was uncertain. We don’t know much about their family, but it seems that they were unmarried, because they lived with Lazarus. His death would not be a fortunate event for their future security and happiness. Unmarried women were not very secure in biblical times. Would they lose their homes now?

· And their Jesus was a big disappointment. Where was Jesus when they needed Him? How could He let Lazarus die?

But Jesus was up to something bigger in John 11, wasn’t he? Jesus didn’t want to just “make their lives better”. If we just want to live better, we have WalMart for that. “Save money. Live better.”

No, Jesus didn’t want to make them happy or satisfied. He wanted to rock their world in the best sort of way! He wanted them to have a moment they would never forget. He wanted their lives to never be the same after this.

No one in this chapter had the slightest idea what was about to happen, but Jesus did!

· Mary, Martha, and certainly Lazarus didn’t understand it.

· The disciples didn’t understand it.

· Those attending the funeral had no idea that their lives would never be the same.

And John wrote this story for all believers. This story is for us this morning. John wants us to know who Jesus is. Jesus wants to revolutionize your world, if you will let him.

Let’s turn to the story and see how Jesus wants to radically change our world by changing forever how we view five things: love, security, death, control, and life.

1. Think first about how Jesus radically re-defines LOVE.

How does the world define love?

The American Heritage dictionary defines loves as:

“An intense affectionate concern”, “an intense sexual desire for another”, “a strong fondness or enthusiasm for something”.

Psychologists would define love as an emotional attachment, devotion to, or acceptance of another.

Hollywood defines love as a romantic feeling for another, the desire to be with another, the desire to have another. It is “following your heart”.

In John 11:5-6, Jesus takes the meaning of love to a whole new plain.

– “Jesus loved (agape) Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days”

Hold on a sec…! Love? You call that love? He sure had a funny way of showing it! I mean, if Jesus really loved Lazarus, why would he let him die? If he loved Mary and Martha, why would he willingly let them suffer such grief? Imagine how they felt when Lazarus got sick. They knew Jesus after all; they had personally witnessed him healing many people, most of whom were perfect strangers! It would be no problem for Him to heal Lazarus. After all, He loved Lazarus. Surely He wouldn’t let him die!

APPL: We have expectations like that too. God loves us, so He certainly doesn’t want to hurt us. I love my children and I don’t want to hurt them!

This is all well and good until sickness or grief or disappointment or pain strikes us.

I can believe God loves me until I lose my job, or I get cancer, or my child dies suddenly, or my husband leaves me. Then I want to know, “If God is a God of love, why does he allow me to suffer? Why does he allow bad things to happen?” That’s not love! Or is it?

You see, we have the benefit of seeing in John 11, the end of the story. We see that Jesus really did have their best interest at heart. But the problem with grief and pain is that is it can overwhelm us. It’s hard to see with the eyes of faith when we are in so much pain. We don’t see that anyone really grasped what Jesus was saying until after he had raised Lazarus from the dead.

APPL: That’s how it is with us, isn’t it? When we’re in pain, we want to curl up in a fetal position and feel sorry for ourselves; or we want to blame God and strike out at Him; or get bitter and disillusioned.

But God wants to re-define our idea of love. You see God’s love is all about doing what is best for us, not what makes us feel good! He wants our ultimate good, not our immediate comfort or pleasure. I’ll say it again. He wants our ultimate good, not our immediate comfort or pleasure.

Rom.8:28 – “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who called according to His purpose”.

Joseph is a great example of this. Check out his story in Gen. 37-50!

This means God will always do what is for your good and for His glory. This pain you are in…that job you lost …that dream that took a big hit…that man who disappointed you so. They all come from the hand of your Loving God. Does He enjoy giving us pain? I don’t think so. Notice vss. 32-25: Jesus knew Lazarus was going to be raised from the dead, but he still wept. He is moved by our tears too.

Here are four quick truths to help us understand how God’s love can be reconciled with our pain:

a. Divine love does not always shield us from suffering and sorrow!

b. God never denies a request so as to give us less than we asked for!

c. Delays, disappointments, discouragements are not denials of God’s love, but expressions of it!

d. There are qualities which unrelieved suffering alone can perfect.

In the end, you will understand; but you don’t yet know the end of the story! You don’t see it now, but you will someday! Will you trust him?

2. In verses 7-10, we see how Jesus revolutionizes our thinking about SECURITY.

You won’t find the word in the text, but look at what is being said. (Read the verses.)

Conventional wisdom would have told Jesus to play it safe here. People wanted him dead in Judea. No need to stick your head right into the lions’ mouth, after all! In vs. 16, it seems Thomas thought Jesus was on a suicide mission going down there. (Read vs. 16). In vs. 8, they reminded Jesus, “Uhh…did you forget that the last time you were there they tried to stone you?”

Most of us want to define security differently than that! “Play it safe” “Cover all your bases.” “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” “Make sure your investment portfolio is sufficiently divested.” “Get a good education, from a good school.” “Eat all natural foods.” “Exercise five times a week.” “Drive a Volvo.” If I own my home, have a million dollars in the bank, a Volvo in the driveway, and a clean bill of health from my doctor, then I will be secure! These days, there is so much advice about how to be secure; we can begin to lose sight of how little security we really have. The world would have us put our security in what we have, or how much we make, or who we know, or in our savings account, or in our IRA or stock portfolio. If I own a castle, have a billion dollars in the bank, a Maserati in the driveway, and have a clean bill of health from my doctor, am I really secure then?

Note however, that Jesus’ definition of security was radically different than the disciples’ view, or ours.

“Are you afraid I am making a misstep?” he said. “I won’t stumble. Only people who are not able to see where they are going stumble. I see everything with perfect clarity. I walk in the light.” (Vss.9-10)

In reality, true security lies in only one place – in our God. Jesus knew that…and He wants us to understand that too. Where does you security lie today? Are you trusting in things that cannot really secure you? If, however, your security is in God, you can live without fear. You can face each day with confidence, because you know your Lord has gone before you.

Psalm 91:1-4

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[^a^]
² I will say ^[^b^] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."
³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You are secure under God’s wings.

3. Notice in verses 11-14, how Jesus forever re-defines DEATH.

In verse 11, Jesus tells his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep.” His disciples, as usual, don’t understand his metaphor. I’m not sure we would have either. For the Jews, life was everything. And death was very final.

It’s pretty much that way today, isn’t it? The unbelieving world understands that we are mortal. We are going to die. They may try to not think about it, but everyone knows we are going to die. “We only go around once in life.”

And then comes…”the end’, “the grim reaper”, “a step into the darkness”

For the unbeliever, death is permanent! It’s the one thing man knows he cannot beat! Death will be the victor in the end!

Therefore, it is a thing to be dreaded, or feared, or run from, or denied.

The funeral of an unbeliever is a time for grief and weeping, and pain!

But Jesus has just redefined death. For the child of God, death is no longer death, but sleep. (Read 1 Thess. 4:13-18)

¹³Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. ¹⁴We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him…¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first… And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Death is not permanent, but temporary! - 1 Cor. 15:52-57

…For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."^[^a^]
⁵⁵"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"^[^b^] ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death is not a time for hopelessness and despair, but hope! “We sorrow not as others who have no hope…”

Jesus broke up every funeral he ever attended. And someday, the last funeral will take place! And death will be no more! Amen?

4. In verses 15-21, we see that Jesus radically re-defines CONTROL.

Again, you won’t see the word, but the story tells us all we need to know.

The casual observer of the events of John 11 would not conclude that Jesus had control of the situation with Lazarus. After all, he died! Verse 37 reflects their thinking:

³⁷But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

“Jesus could have healed him, but it’s too late now.”

We see that they must have talked among themselves, because both Mary and Martha said the same thing when Jesus finally did come – “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

But Notice that He had complete control! He told them so, in vss. 4, 11, 14, 23, and 25-26.

⁴When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." ¹¹After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." Vs. 15 - “…for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe..." ²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Though it seemed to be too late for Lazarus, it wasn’t. Jesus had him right where He wanted him.

He didn’t seem to have control over the political situation either. (v.8; 10:39)

⁸"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

Ch. 10:³⁹Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

To be sure, in less than three months He would be dead! Is that control?

Absolutely YES! Jesus planned and executed His plan perfectly. (Read John 10:18)

¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Jesus was “slain from the creation of the world.” Rev 13:8

He is the Sovereign Lord, and He is working out His plan; and someday that plan will come to completion! Phil 2:8-11 – (Read verses)

⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

APPL: The casual observer of the events of today’s world might well conclude that God is not in control today either.

Famine, drought, catastrophe, terrorism, Wall St. collapse, recession, evil people getting rich while good people starve, pornography, abortion, moral decay, innocent children dying. We could easily think God has lost control.

But let me assure you, God is as much in control now as He was back then. As much as in Genesis 1, when he said “Let there be light, and there was light.”

Though there be wars and rumors of wars, He is in control.

Though there are terrorists and warmongers in our country…

Though abortion is the law of the land…

Though sin is called righteousness and righteousness is called sin…

Though God seems deaf to our prayers…

Though my heart’s deepest desires go unmet…

Though I am lonely or poor or misunderstood or persecuted…

Do I have the answer then as to why there is so much evil in the world?

No, but I know the One who knows! And I will trust Him! Will you?

5. Finally, in verses 23ff, Jesus once and for all re-defines LIFE!

Common wisdom tells us this life is all there is. When you’re gone you’re gone!

(Read v. 25-26)

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Jesus is telling Martha that if she believes she will never die.

That’s eternal life. This is different from normal life. It’s life on another plain.

When we ask, “What is life?” or “what is the meaning of life?” we ask the wrong question. We should ask, “Who is life? Who is the meaning of life?”

The answer is Jesus!

Jesus is the life. (John 14:6) “I am the life”

Jesus gives life

Jesus gives abundant life (John 10:10b)

“I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.”

Jesus gives meaning to life.

Jesus gives never-ending life, and you can start enjoying it right now!

Conclusion:

We see in this chapter that Jesus revolutionizes our ideas about: Love, Security, Death, Control and Life. No one in this chapter was ever the same.

· Lazarus certainly was never the same!

· Mary and Martha were changed forever. Notice what Mary does in the Chapter 12. Why does she anoint Jesus’ feet? Because she was full of love and gratitude. Her life had been revolutionized. She would never be the same again.

· The disciples were changed forever. They would never forget what they saw.

· The funeral attendees were changed too. They could no longer be neutral about Jesus. Vs. 45-46 – “…many…put their faith in Him; but some…went to the Pharisees.”

This morning, I want to ask you:

Do you trust Jesus?

Note in vs. 26 that he asked Martha, “Do you believe me?”

He wants you to trust him. If you will trust Him, He will change your life forever.

I can’t promise you that you’ll never suffer, but I can tell you that:

· When you suffer, you will always be looking for what God is up to.

· I can’t tell you you’ll never feel alone, but when you feel alone, you will be able to find comfort in knowing that God is crazy in love over you. (Zeph. 3:17)

· I can’t tell you your life will never feel out of control, but when you feel your life is out of control, you will know that Jesus has never lost control. And you’ll trust Him.

· And when you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”, you will not fear death, because you will know Jesus has conquered it!

· And best of all, you will be able to live this life to the fullest. Are you experiencing the kind of life Jesus offers? Do you have that meaningful, abundant, vibrant, peaceful life that is the life of heaven begun right now?

Have you trusted Christ as your Savior? He can give you that new life today!

I remember the day Jesus rocked my world. It was Wednesday, November 20, 1963. On that day, I trusted Christ as my Savior. I surrendered my life to Him. My life has never been the same!

Has your world been rocked? Christ wants to be the rock on which your whole world is built. Will you let him be your world and define your world? If you will, your world will never be the same! (Give the gospel if there is time, or let folks know they can talk to me after.)