Sermon nuggets Tues July 1
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:4-15 When 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."
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
11 After 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."
12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
The Special Purpose vs. 4-15
After Jesus received the message of Lazarus’ illness He 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." Then He stayed there two more days. He was on a different time table than we are, because He has a different purpose than the world. Jesus’ special purpose on earth was to glorify His Father in heaven. He obeyed his Father's will. Are we committed to that? It is not important that we Christians are comfortable but that we glorify God in all we do. As we seek to fulfill that purpose in our lives we will find ultimate blessing.
Secondly, God's plan was to reveal Jesus' identity. What better evidence of His divine power than to raise someone who had been dead for four days? We also see in v. 41,42 that Jesus' public prayer was designed to testify to His divine commission. Through this public statement Jesus asserted: 1) that He was one with God and not a Son of Satan (as was an accusation). 2) That He was always heard by the Father because their wills were one. There is no doubt who Jesus is claiming to be -the Messiah, God in human form.
Acknowledging Christ’s divinity gives life more meaning. Our life is not vain and empty because Jesus has shown us that there is life eternal. Life is not lived in vain when there is an eternal goal, when there will be justice. We are not a cosmic accident but creatures intentionally created by God. How do we know? Because Jesus said so.
When Jesus announced it is time to go, the disciples were confused. They thought He was staying away from Judea because the Jews were out to kill him. Jesus asked them, "Are there not 12 hours in the day?" If a man chooses to serve God then that man's day will not end before God wishes it to end. There is time enough to do whatever God has for him to do. There is enough time to do the work which God has given us to do. But likewise one only has 12 hours to do a days work for the Lord and so time should not be wasted. Use it to the fullest and the utmost.
They walk and work while the sun is up while they can see and not stumble, but Jesus is teaching them more than the obvious. There is a time for work in God's kingdom, and when the night comes then the work is ended. Finish your greatest work of getting your life right with God while you have time, for the time is coming when it is too late and night is here. The great truth of the gospel is that God so loved the world, but the fact is also true that the love of God may be refused or ignored and the time will be missed and it will be too late. Friend do not put off making the spiritual commitment to God you need to make today.
Pastor Dale
