The Last Miracle, The Enemy Chapter 11

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The Last Miracle, The EnemyChapter 11

• Be Alive By Warren W. Wiersbe

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• The raising of Lazarus was not the last, but the
  greatest.
• Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. A miracle that
  could not be denied or avoided by the Jewish
  leaders.
• Death Is mans last enemy, but Jesus has defeated
  death totally and permanently.
• The emphasis on John 11 is faith. Believe occurs
  8 times in John 11.
• Another theme is the glory of God (114,40)

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• 1. The Disciples (111-16)
• Jesus was seeking to strengthen the disciples
  faith.
• Jesus was at Beth Bara (1040)
• A message that Lazarus was sick.
• Day 1 - The massager came to Jesus (Lazarus
  died)
• Day 2 - The messenger returned to Bethany
• Day 3 - Jesus waited another day, then departed
• Day 4 - Jesus arrived in Bethany
• Jesus was urging to believe His Word no matter
  how discouraging the circumstances might appear.

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• Disciples were confused and perplexed.
• If Jesus loved Lazarus so much, why did He
  permit him to get sick?
• Why did He delay to go to the sisters?
• Couldnt He heal Lazarus at distance?
• Gods love for His own is a perfecting love, not
  pampering love.
• The love between God and us doesnt guarantee
  that we will be sheltered from the problems and
  pains of life.
• Father loved His Son and yet He permitted His
  beloved Son to drink a cup of sorrow and
  experience the shame and pain of the cross.

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• Jesus could have prevented Lazarus sickness or
  healed from where He was, but He didnt.
• He saw the sickness as an opportunity to glorify
  the Father.
• Its not important that we be comfortable but
  that we glorify (honor) God in all we do.
• Sisters informed Jesus that there was a need and
  reminded Him of His love for Lazarus without
  telling Him what to do.
• Return to Judea was dangerous for Jesus, but
  Sister may hope that Jesus would heal from
  distance.
• Jesus message was not that Lazarus would not
  die, but the ultimate (last) result would be the
  glory of God.

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• Confronted by disease, disappointment, delay and
  even death, our only encouragement is the Word of
  God.
• We must live by faith and not by sight.
• Sisters knew that Jesus was the Master of every
  situation.
• The fact that Lazarus had been dead 4 days give
  greater authenticity ot the miracle and greater
  opportunity for people to believe including the
  disciples.
• Jesus announced to return to Judea and His
  disciples were afraid for Bethany is about 2
  miles from Jerusalem.
• He knew that return to Judea and rising of
  Lazarus could lead to His arrest and death.

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• He reminded the disciples that He was on Fathers
  schedule.
• Gods timetable is also a theme in the gospel of
  John. Disciples thought that Lazarus would get
  better when Jesus said he was sleeping, meaning
  death. Disciples inability to grasp the
  spiritual truth. Then Jesus informed that he was
  dead. He told them that He was glad that Lazarus
  was dead and He was not there to show His mighty
  poser, so the result would be glory to God and
  strengthening of their faith like Thomas who was
  a doubting man but also a devoted man.

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• 2. Sisters (1117-40)
• Each experience of suffering and trial ought to
  immerse one faith but the spiritual growth is not
  automatic. Therefore, we continue to respond
  positively to the ministry of Gods Word and Holy
  Spirit.
• Mary and Martha
• Martha was the active worker while Mary was the
  contemplative person sitting at Jesus feet and
  listening
• Martha was not judged for her service, but
  having mixed priorities.
• Martha affirmed her faith in Jesus Christ
  (1122) and He promised that Lazarus will rise
  again. She was thinking of future resurrection
  which He was thinking of immediate situation.

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• I am the resurrection and life
• 5th I am
• The resurrection of the human body is a
  cardinal doctrine in the orthodox Jewish faith.
• Jesus bought immortality to light through the
  gospel (2Timothy 110)
• By His teaching, miracles, and His own
  resurrection.
• Jesus taught clearly the resurrection of the
  human body.
• He declared that death is real, that there is
  life after death, and that the body will one day
  be raised b the power of God.
• He also took the doctrine and put it into
  person, Himself. I am the resurrection and
  life (John 1125)

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• Doctrine of resurrection
• Martha was looking to the future knowing
  Lazarus will rise again and that she would see
  him.
• Her friends were looking to the past and
  saying, He could have prevented Lazarus from
  dying. (1137)
• Jesus was focusing on the present Wherever He
  is
• Gods resurrection power is available. (Romans
  67, Gal. 220, Phil. 310)
• Jesus revealed that some believers would never
  die. (1 Thess. 413-18)
• Martha affirmed her faith calling Jesus Lord,
  Christ, and Son of God.
• I believe shows fixed and settled faith. It
  means I have believed and will continue to
  believe.

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• Mary - She arose to meet Jesus and her friends
  followed thinking she was going to the tom to
  grieve.
• Weep - loud weeping and lamentation
• Mary is mentioned only three times (Luke 1039,
  John 1132 123)
• Jesus response be moved with indignation.
• Judgment at what? The ravage of sin in the
  world that He created. Death is the enemy.
  Jesus wept is the shortest yet deepest verse.
• Silent weeping only Greek word in New
  Testament.
• His weeping reveals humanity of the Savior.
• He experienced like we experience and knows how
  we feel.
• Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief (Is.
  533)
• Now He is our merciful and faithful High Priest
  (Heb. 414-16)

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• Tears in Jesus eyes revealed as an evidence of
  His love to some spectators. Others thought, If
  Jesus loved Lazarus so much, why did He not
  prevent his death?
• No one was expecting a miracle of resurrection.
• Martha believed, but failed at the last minute.
• He will smell for being in the grave 4 days
• Jesus reminded her of the recent conversation
  (114)
• Truth relies on Gods promises and thereby
  releases Gods power.

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• 3. The Jews (1141-57)
• Jesus prayed for the sake of unbelieving
  spectators that they may know that God had sent
  Him.
• Jesus called and raised Lazarus from the dead.
  It was unquestioned miracle that even the most
  hostile spectator could not deny.
• Comparison between Lazarus and sinner who trusts
  the Savior (Eph. 21-10)

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• Lazarus was dead and all sinner are dead.
• Lazarus was decayed and all sinners are
  spiritually dead, but some sinners are more
  decayed than others.
• Lazarus was raised by the power of God and
  sinners who trust Christ are given new life and
  lifted out of graveyard of sin (John 524)
• Lazarus was set free from grave clothes and
  given new liberty (Col. 31ff)
• Lazarus sits with Christ at the table (122) and
  all believers are seated with Christ in
  heavenly place enjoying spiritual food and
  fellowship (Eph. 26)
• Lazarus living witness was use by God to bring
  people to salvation (129-11)

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• No recorded words of Lazarus in the Gospels but
  his daily walk is enough to convince people that
  Jesus is the Son of God.
• Lazarus was also persecuted by the religious
  leaders who wanted to kill him and get rid of the
  evidence of the living witness.
• Some believed and gave witness on Palm Sunday of
  the miracle Jesus recently performed while others
  ran to the religious leaders and informed what
  had happened in Bethany.
• Jewish council, or Sanhedrin, met and discussed
  what to do with Jesus. They were not seeking for
  the truth, but they were seeking to protect their
  own selfish interests.

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• Caiaphas was a Sadducee, not Pharisee (Acts
  236-10), two factions worked together to fight a
  common enemy.
• Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for the
  nation so that the nation would not perish. for
  the transgression of my people was he stricken
  (Is. 538)
• The leaders decided officially that Jesus must
  die. (Matt. 1214, Luke 1947, John 58, 71,
  19-20, 25)
• The leaders thought that they were in control of
  the situation when it was God who worked out the
  premeditated plan (Acts 223)
• They wanted to wait until Passover, but God
  planned otherwise.

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• Jesus withdrew to Ephriam, 15 miles north of
  Jerusalem.
• Jesus was on the wanted list for the council
  declared that anyone who knew where Jesus was
  must report to them.
• John 11 reveals the deity of Jesus Christ and
  utter depravity of the human heart.
• The rich man in hell (Luke 1630)
• If one went unto them from the dead, they will
  repent
• Lazarus came back and officials wanted to kill
  him.