Lazarus come forth

““Lazarus! Come Lazarus! Come Forth!”Forth!”

John 11:38-45, ffJohn 11:38-45, ff

This is the Third and last This is the Third and last Miracle of John…Miracle of John…• In this the last of the series on Lazarus, focus changes In this the last of the series on Lazarus, focus changes

to the spectators of the eventto the spectators of the event•Before we focused the first Before we focused the first

week on the Disciplesweek on the Disciples•Then last week on the sistersThen last week on the sisters•Now we’ll see Jesus teach us Now we’ll see Jesus teach us

something about our own role something about our own role here.here.•What are you saying PD?What are you saying PD?

38 Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. 38 Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, “Lord, he’s already decaying. It’s been sister, told Him, “Lord, he’s already decaying. It’s been four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. 42 I know said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. 42 I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me.” 43 After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Me.” 43 After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound“Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound

hand and foot with linen strips and with his face hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.” 45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came to let him go.” 45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him. 46 But some Mary and saw what He did believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do since this man does many signs? 48 If we let Him do since this man does many signs? 48 If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation.” 49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high our nation.” 49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!

50 You’re not considering that it is to your advantage 50 You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53 only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. 54 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples. 55 The Jewish Passover was there with the disciples. 55 The Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the countrynear, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country

to purify themselves before the Passover. 56 They were to purify themselves before the Passover. 56 They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex: “What do you think? He won’t the temple complex: “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will He?” 57 The chief priests and come to the festival, will He?” 57 The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.” Him.”

John 11:38-47,ff (HCSB)John 11:38-47,ff (HCSB)

The SpectatorsThe Spectators• I believe that the spectacle of Lazarus’ resurrection I believe that the spectacle of Lazarus’ resurrection

serves two purposes; one on that day, and another serves two purposes; one on that day, and another that will become clear this morningthat will become clear this morning•Understand that what happens Understand that what happens

from here on is in full view of from here on is in full view of the mourning publicthe mourning public• So He had lessons to teach So He had lessons to teach

them as well as us todaythem as well as us today• Lets see the firstLets see the first

Why was Jesus angry?Why was Jesus angry?•Remember the important points of the last two Remember the important points of the last two

messages in this seriesmessages in this series• First, Jesus was concerned for First, Jesus was concerned for

the faith of His Disciples the faith of His Disciples•Next He was devastated by the Next He was devastated by the

lack of faith of Mary & Martha lack of faith of Mary & Martha• Lastly, I believe the reality of Lastly, I believe the reality of

the Cross hit Him that day the Cross hit Him that day

Why was Jesus angry?Why was Jesus angry?•VV 38-40, Angry in His spirit once more, Jesus walks to VV 38-40, Angry in His spirit once more, Jesus walks to

where they buried Lazaruswhere they buried Lazarus• Jesus approached the cave, a Jesus approached the cave, a

single Stone blocking the doorsingle Stone blocking the door•Perfect picture of His approach Perfect picture of His approach

-ing future-ing future•Martha again hits Him with her Martha again hits Him with her

lack of faith– of all people….lack of faith– of all people….

Why was Jesus angry?Why was Jesus angry?

•VV 38-40, Angry in His spirit once more, VV 38-40, Angry in His spirit once more, Jesus walks to where they buried LazarusJesus walks to where they buried Lazarus• Jesus approached the cave, a Jesus approached the cave, a

single Stone blocking the doorsingle Stone blocking the door•Perfect picture of His approach Perfect picture of His approach

-ing future-ing future•Martha again hits Him with her Martha again hits Him with her

lack of faith– of all people….lack of faith– of all people….

The Spectators…The Spectators…•Vv 41-43, Jesus made them move the stoneVv 41-43, Jesus made them move the stone•Then He prayed, thanking the Then He prayed, thanking the

Father for answering already Father for answering already•Then He did what only He could Then He did what only He could

have done, called the dead to have done, called the dead to lifelife

The Spectators…The Spectators…

•V 43-44, “Lazarus, Come Out!”V 43-44, “Lazarus, Come Out!”•Know why He called Lazarus by name?Know why He called Lazarus by name?•GLORY!! Now He tells THEM to loose LazarusGLORY!! Now He tells THEM to loose Lazarus•Now it get’s interesting…Now it get’s interesting…

•Remember when I said “He did what only…”Remember when I said “He did what only…”•Why didn’t He move the stone?Why didn’t He move the stone?•Why didn’t He remove the grave clothes?Why didn’t He remove the grave clothes?• For OUR BENEFITFor OUR BENEFIT

• I think Jesus was doing the obvious in the day– refuting I think Jesus was doing the obvious in the day– refuting fairy tales with His timing of this miraclefairy tales with His timing of this miracle•But for US, He was giving us a picture of the CHURCH’S But for US, He was giving us a picture of the CHURCH’S

responsibility to the newly reborn!responsibility to the newly reborn!


• Lazarus represents the new born again BelieverLazarus represents the new born again Believer• Jesus did What ONLY HE could doJesus did What ONLY HE could do•He told the Spectators, US, to move the Stone, to He told the Spectators, US, to move the Stone, to

remove the grave clothesremove the grave clothes•What does that mean?What does that mean?


•He turned the Spectators into Participators!He turned the Spectators into Participators!•He used this event to teach something 2000 years laterHe used this event to teach something 2000 years later•ONLY God can call the dead to new lifeONLY God can call the dead to new life• It’s OUR responsibility to remove obstacles from Jesus It’s OUR responsibility to remove obstacles from Jesus •AND get the re-born walking WITH Jesus!AND get the re-born walking WITH Jesus!

The Take-Home…The Take-Home…

• I want to Challenge you this week to 3 thingsI want to Challenge you this week to 3 things•Bless somebodyBless somebody•Read your Bible and Pray every dayRead your Bible and Pray every day•Come back next week and tell somebody what happenedCome back next week and tell somebody what happened•When you take it upon yourself to help someone remove When you take it upon yourself to help someone remove

their grave clothes, you won’t believe the blessings God their grave clothes, you won’t believe the blessings God has in stor for you!has in stor for you!

Lazarus come forth

Spiritual

Transcript of Lazarus come forth