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"John 11"

October 5, 2003
Pastor Cliffe Knechtle (33:53)

John 11 tells of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha, sisters to Lazarus, sent for Jesus when Lazarus was sick. But 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." When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.

Jesus was an incredible friend to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Their relationship demonstrated how God created us to be connected to people in friendship and to love one another. We are to forgive, be patient, bear with one another, encourage each other, build each other up and also to hold each other accountable. Martha told Jesus when he arrived "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that
Pastor Cliffe Knechtle
even now God will give you whatever you ask." Even when things are going wrong, we are to respond in a way that glorifies God. Unfortunately, we sometimes envy others by resenting God's goodness to them and dismissing His goodness to us. This envy is anti-community and is the opposite of living for the glory of God.

Jesus said to Martha "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." When we put our faith in Christ and die, we step into the presence of life. Knowing this is our destiny produces deep peace within us.

When John 11 says "Jesus wept", the verse is telling us more about Jesus' humanity and humbleness than any other. Jesus Christ personifies a supreme model of a human being. Although he knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead, He saw the hurt and pain of those around and He wept. He's not an aloof distant deity; He's God with flesh on Him. He weeps and comforts those around as he thinks of the incredible enemy that death is. He is connected with their pain. In the Gospels, Jesus has shown further evidence of emotion, even anger; not a selfish anger but anger with a moral indignation towards evil.

We aren't necessarily called to emulate Christ but rather to believe in Him; then we are called to change, not left to our own devices, for he gave us the Holy Spirit who will produce within us love for others and remove us from our narcissism. The Holy Spirit will change us to be a conduit through which God's love will flow into the lives of others. Joy does not come to us based on the circumstances of our lives but rather based on living in a relationship with God. We will gain peace from basing our lives on Christ, who is solid, dependable, all powerful, the same yesterday, today and forever. We know we can trust Him. Building our lives on the rock will help us be patient and longsuffering with people.

Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb and he came back to life. Jesus performed this miracle in the face of His enemies who were out to kill Him. The response of His enemies further substantiates that they really believed that Jesus performed this miracle.

We are to live to glorify God in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. We may get impatient so we need His grace, Holy Spirit, and love to fill us. We may get bitter because we don't know why He hasn't acted in a circumstance in our life so it's easy to be skeptical. God, help us to focus on your ability and majesty; thank you for your humanity.

Summary submitted by Karen Walsh