John 11:35 • I Am the Resurrection and the Life
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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)
AS WE BEGIN TODAY, LET ME ASK THAT YOU WOULD LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES AT JOHN CHAPTER 11, JOHN CHAPTER 11. PAUL ROBERT SCHNEIDER WAS THE FIRST PROTESTANT PASTOR TO DIE IN A NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP. WASN'T WELL KNOWN, WASN'T A GREAT SCHOLAR. HE SEEMED TO BE NO THREAT TO HITLER AT ALL. WHAT WAS HIS CRIME? WE FORGET THE FEVER OF THE ERA. AS THE NAZI'S, IN ORDER TO STRIKE INTO THE PEOPLE OF THAT LAND SUCH A ZEAL FOR DOMINATION THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR LEADER, BEGAN ACTUALLY TO TEACH IN THE POWER OF THE SUPERNATURAL IN THEIR BEHALF. THEY CLAIMED, ACTUALLY, THAT THE MAN WHO HAD WRITTEN THEIR ANTHEM, "THE FLAG LIFTED HIGH," HAD NOT DIED DESPITE HIS APPARENTLY VIOLENT DEATH BUT HA--, RATHER HAD BEEN RAISED AGAIN AND NOW LIVED ON HIGH WITH A CELESTIAL STORM TROOP TO GOAD AND SUPPORT INTO ACTION THOSE WHO WOULD FIGHT FOR HITLER. SUPPOSEDLY, HORST WELLER HAD RISEN AGAIN. AND THE POWER OF THAT FABLE CAME TO BEAR IN THE CHURCH OF PASTOR SCHNEIDER. THERE WAS A DEATH OF A 17 YEAR OLD, A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD BEEN IN HITLER'S YOUTH BRIGADE. AND IN THE FUNERAL, JUST BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, ONE OF THE NAZI DISTRICT LEADERS STOOD UP AND SAID, "THIS YOUNG MAN NOW GOES TO JOIN HORST WELLER IN THAT GREAT STORM TROOP IN THE SKY." AND PASTOR SCHNEIDER SAID, "I OBJECT. THIS IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WILL TEACH THE PURE WORD OF THE SCRIPTURES. AND NO ONE WILL VIE WITH CHRIST TO BE OUR RISEN LORD." AND FOR THAT REASON, HE WAS PUT INTO PRISON TO SHUT HIM UP, BUT HE WOULD NOT SHUT UP. THOUGH THEY PUT HIM IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SO THAT HE WOULD NOT PREACH TO THE OTHER PRISONERS, HE WOULD SHOUT EVERY MORNING AS THE SUN ROSE OF THE RISEN LORD AGAIN, GIVING HOPE TO THOSE WHO WERE DOWN THE HALL IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AS WELL, DESPITE VICIOUS REPRISALS AGAINST HIS STATEMENT. WHEN ASKED, "WHY DON'T YOU KEEP QUIET?" HE SAID, "SOMEONE MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THIS HELL." AND FINALLY, TO QUIET HIM FROM SPEAKING OF THE RESURRECTION, HE WAS GIVEN A LETHAL INJECTION. BUT IT WASN'T JUST THE RESURRECTION OF THE FINAL DAY THAT MOVED HIM TO SUCH ACTION AND COURAGE. IF YOU THINK OF THE RESURRECTION THAT HE WAS PROCLAIMING, THAT HE HAD BELIEVED SO POWERFULLY IN, YOU COULD HEAR IT IN THE WORDS THAT HE WROTE TO HIS CHILDREN. THOUGH HE WAS IN PRISON, HE WROTE, "THOUGH GOD'S AID IS NOT SEEN IN EVERY DEED, HE IS THERE IN EVERY HOUR OF NEED." IT SO MUCH ECHOES WHAT SCOTT AND RACHEL WERE SINGING TO US EARLIER. THERE'S NOT AN HOUR THAT HE'S NOT NEAR US, NO NOT ONE. IT'S SO APPARENT THAT WHEN JESUS WAS DECLARING OF HIMSELF HERE, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE," HE WAS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD DO, THAT HE WOULD BE RESURRECTED. WHEN HE DECLARED, "I AM THE RESURRECTION," HE WAS NOT TALKING MERELY ABOUT HIS DESTINY BUT HIS IDENTITY. "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE." AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU AND ME IS IF WE HAVE PUT OUR FAITH IN HIM, IF WE'RE UNITED TO HIM, THEN RESURRECTION IS NOT JUST SOMETHING FOR AN END OF LIFE CONSEQUENCE. RESURRECTION IS A DAILY REALITY AS THE LORD OF POWER AND COMPASSION IS ACTIVE AND PRESENT IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE HE IS THE RESURRECTION TO WHOM WE ARE NOW UNITED BY FAITH. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE? TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION, DECLARED TO BE THE GOD OF POWER AND COMPASSION BY HIS IDENTITY AS OUR RESURRECTION AND LIFE. WHAT IS HAPPENING AS JESUS IS DECLARING HIMSELF TO BE THE RESURRECTION IS HE'S ANSWERING VERY BASIC QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT HIS ROLE AND ACTION IN OUR LIFE. AFTER ALL, IF HE IS THE RESURRECTION, WHAT IS HE DECLARING? BUT THAT THOUGH DEAD, HE IS ALIVE AGAIN, THOUGH CRUCIFIED, HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE AND NOW BEING ALIVE FOR US PUTS DIVINE POWER AT OUR DISPOSAL. IF HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND WE ARE HIS UNITED TO HIM, THEN RESURRECTION POWER IS OURS EVERY DAY, NOT JUST SUNDAY. SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT? IT IS, AFTER ALL, WHAT HE IS CALLING FOR US TO BELIEVE, EVEN AS THIS ACCOUNT UNFOLDS. HE IS DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD BY VIRTUE OF HIS IDENTITY, VERSE 27, REMEMBER? AFTER JESUS HAS SAID, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE," MARTHA RESPONDS TO HIM. "LORD, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD." HERE IS THE DECLARATION THAT AS THE RESURRECTION HE IS DIVINE AND DIVINE POWER IS HIS. WHAT, HOW IS IT EVIDENT? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THIS JESUS HAS DIVINE POWER? WELL, I SUPPOSE FROM THE PASSAGE THAT'S EASY. VERSE 43, VERSE 44, "WHEN JESUS HAD SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED OUT IN A LOUD VOICE, 'LAZARUS, COME OUT.'" AND HE DID. THE MARK OF HIS DIVINITY IS HE HAS POWER OVER DEATH. NOW, THERE'S WONDERFUL THINGS BEING EXPRESSED HERE: NOT ONLY DIVINE POWER BUT IN SOME MEASURE DIVINE DISCRETION. MANY AUTHORS HAVE SAID THAT THE GREAT BLESSING OF THE LORD IN THIS MOMENT IS THAT HE NAMED LAZARUS, CAUSE IF HE HADN'T SAID, "LAZARUS, COME FORTH," ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DEAD WOULD HAVE COME FORTH. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS IMMEDIATE GREAT RESURRECTION. AND, BY THE WAY, THAT'S JUST PRECISELY WHAT PAUL SAYS WILL HAPPEN IN 1 THESSALONIANS 4, RIGHT? "JESUS WILL DESCEND WITH THE TRUMPET CALL AND THE SHOUT OF AN ARCH ANGEL AND ALL THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL," WHAT? RISE AGAIN. THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE THIS MOMENT AT WHICH THIS DIVINE POWER IS IN EVIDENT BEFORE ALL. BUT HERE WE SEE JUST ITS PRECURSOR, ITS TASTE. HE HAS DIVINE POWER IN EVIDENCE. HE DOESN'T JUST HAVE DIVINE POWER. SO MUCH OF WHAT THIS PASSAGE IS DOING IS TELLING US THE DIMENSIONS OF HIS DIVINITY, NOT JUST BY POWER BUT BY KNOWLEDGE. HE HAS FOREKNOWLEDGE. LOOK WITH ME AT VERSE 4. AFTER JESUS HAS GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT THE ONE HE LOVES IS ILL, VERSE 4, "JESUS HEARD THAT MESSAGE AND SAID, 'THIS ILLNESS DOES NOT LEAD TO DEATH. IT IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, SO THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH IT.'" JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND DECLARED THAT THIS ILLNESS, THOUGH IT WAS DEADLY, WOULD NOT LEAD TO AN ULTIMATE DEATH BUT WOULD RATHER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECLARATION OF HIS GLORY. AND NOT ONLY DO WE SEE FOREKNOWLEDGE ON DISPLAY BUT BOUNDLESS KNOWLEDGE: KNOWLEDGE THAT IS NOT BOUND BY TIME OR BY SPACE. IF YOU WILL, CONSIDER HOW THAT IS EVIDENT IN VERSE 11. "AFTER SAYING THESE THINGS TO HIS DISCIPLES, JESUS SAID TO THEM, 'OUR FRIEND LAZARUS HAS FALLEN ASLEEP.'" NOW, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN JESUS GOT THE MESSAGE THAT LAZARUS WAS SICK, HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS TWO MORE DAYS. HE DID NOT GO TO WHERE LAZARUS WAS. BUT, YET, WHILE HE'S BACK IN THAT PLACE, HE'S ALREADY DECLARED WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LAZARUS. HE HAS FALLEN ASLEEP. NOW, THE DISCIPLES SURELY DID NOT WHAT--, KNOW WHAT WAS GOING AFTER ALL, THEY SAID, "OH, WELL, IF HE'S FALLEN ASLEEP, HE'LL WAKE UP AND HE'LL BE BETTER." BUT THEN JESUS SAID, "NO, NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. HE HASN'T JUST FALLEN ASLEEP. HE IS," WHAT? HE'S DIED. NOW JESUS IS NOWHERE CLOSE. BUT HE KNOWS ACROSS TIME AND ACROSS SPACE WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND TO MAKE THE POINT EVEN MORE POWERFULLY OF THE OMNISCIENCE OF THIS JESUS WHO NOT ONLY HAS GREAT POWER BUT GREAT KNOWLEDGE AS WELL, YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS PARTICULAR ACCOUNT IN THE CONTEXT OF JESUS' MINISTRY. I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU: HE'S NOW TURNED HIS FACE TOWARD JERUSALEM. THIS IS THE LAST MAJOR PHASE AS HE'S MOVING TOWARD HIS PASSION. BUT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE. THE ACCOUNT IS GIVEN IN LUKE 16. I WON'T ASK YOU TO TURN THERE. MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW IT. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT LATER, LUKE 16 STARTING AT VERSE 19. JESUS TELLS THE ACCOUNT OF A RICH MAN AND A POOR MAN. THE POOR MAN BEGS AT THE GATE OF THE RICH MAN BUT IS SHOWED NO MERCY THROUGH THE RICH MAN IN LIFE. BOTH DIE. THE RICH MAN GOES TO TORMENT IN HADES. THE POOR MAN GOES TO WHAT'S IDENTIFIED AS THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM, HEAVENLY BLESSING. AND AS THE POOR MAN IS EXPERIENCING THE HEAVY BLESSING, THE RICH MAN SAYS TO ABRAHAM, "WOULD YOU PLEASE SEND HIM BACK TO MY BROTHERS, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE RISES FROM THE DEAD THEY WILL BELIEVE AND THEY WILL NOT BE GUILTY OF THE SAME SIN THAT I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF." BUT ABRAHAM SAYS, "NO, NO, IF THEY DID NOT BELIEVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE EVEN IF SOMEONE RISES FROM THE DEAD." NOW, THIS HAS BEEN SAID WEEKS BEFORE IN ANOTHER PLACE. BUT NOW I WANT YOU TO CALL UPON YOUR VAST BIBLE KNOWLEDGE. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE POOR MAN THAT JESUS SAID, "EVEN IF HE WERE TO RISE AGAIN, PEOPLE WOULD NOT BELIEVE"? WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT POOR MAN? IT WAS LAZARUS, THE SAME MAN HERE. NOW, RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN JESUS TOLD THE ACCOUNT WEEKS BEFORE, HE SAID, "WHEN SOMEONE NAMED LAZARUS WOULD RISE, PEOPLE WOULD NOT BELIEVE, EVEN IF HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD." NOW LOOK HERE IN JOHN 11 AT VERSE 53 AND SEE WHAT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN. REMEMBER? LAZARUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD. AND DID PEOPLE NOW BELIEVE? LOOK AT VERSE 53. "SO FROM THAT DAY ON THEY," THAT IS THE JEWISH LEADERS, "MADE PLANS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH." MAN BY THE SAME NAME AND THE ACCOUNT UNFOLDING JUST AS JESUS SAID IT WOULD. FAR FROM A RESURRECTION INCITING GREATER BELIEF AND OBEDIENCE, IT RESULTED IN GREATER ANTAGONISM. PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD BY THE VERY SAME NAME OF THE ONE HE PUT IN THE PARABLE. IT'S AMAZING KNOWLEDGE AND OMNISCIENCE ON DISPLAY AS GOD, BY THIS ACCOUNT IN THE BOOK OF JOHN, IS SAYING TO US, "YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO GOD'S PEOPLE IS THE POWER THAT GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD," DIVINE POWER AVAILABLE AND EXERCISED WITH DIVINE WISDOM AS GOD IS COMBINING HIS POWER AND WISDOM FOR THE SAKE OF HIS PEOPLE SO THAT HE COULD SAY TO YOU AND TO ME, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, WORKING DAILY, HOURLY ON YOUR BEHALF TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BRING LIFE OUT OF A WORLD OF DARKNESS AND SIN AND DYING. I AM YOURS, AND I WILL DO THIS WORK." BUT STILL WE HAVE A QUESTION: W--, WAIT; IF I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE RESURRECTION AND BY BEING THE ONE WHO HAS WISDOM AND POWER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS NEEDED, I STILL GOT A QUESTION. EVEN IF YOU HAVE THAT POWER AND WISDOM, WILL YOU USE IT TO HELP OUR QUESTION IS NOT SIMPLY WHO IS THIS JESUS BUT DOES HE CARE? NOT ONLY CAN HE HELP ME BUT WILL AND THIS ACCOUNT IS SHOWING US JESUS NOT JUST IN HIS DIVINITY BUT IN HIS HUMANITY SO THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE HE CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH US. HE WILL UNDERSTAND US AND HE CARES ABOUT US. AND WHAT IS ON DISPLAY IN THIS PASSAGE AS WELL. WILL HE HELP? I SUPPOSE THE GREAT EVIDENCE OF THAT IS SIMPLY THE FACT THAT HE'S PRESENT. HE IS PRESENT IN HUMAN FORM. HE HAS PUT ON HUMAN FLESH. AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF JUST LITTLE TOUCHES IN THE PARABLE TO UNDERS--, NOT IN THE PARABLE, IN THIS ACCOUNT OF JESUS THAT IS INDICATING THE FACT THAT HE CARES ENOUGH TO COME AS ONE OF HE PUTS ON HUMAN FLESH AND IN SOME MEASURE EVEN PUTS ON HUMAN LIMITATION. LOOK AT VERSE 34. IT'S SO INTERESTING, HAVING JUST DISPLAYED HIS OMNISCIENCE, THAT IN VERSE 34 WHEN JESUS GETS TO THE PLACE WHERE LAZARUS IS, HE ASKS, "'MARY, WHERE HAVE YOU LAID HIM?'" DID YOU EVER THINK HOW STRANGE THAT WAS? WEEKS BEFORE, HE KNOWS LAZARUS IS GOING TO RISE. HE KNOWS IT FROM A PLACE THAT HE'S NOT PRESENT. AND, YET, HE GETS TO THE PLACE AND HE SAYS, "WHERE IS HE?" KIND OF, WELL, YOU KNOW. BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE IS THIS HUMAN LIMITATION OF THE MOMENT THAT HE WILLINGLY ACCEPTS, EVEN WHEN HE PRAYS TO GOD AND SAYS, "I DON'T NEED TO PRAY, BUT I'M DOING IT SO THOSE AROUND ME MIGHT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN APPEAL TO YOU AS WELL." BUT IF THERE'S ANY, I SUPPOSE, GREAT STATEMENT OF HOW MUCH JESUS CARES, IT'S NOT JUST IN HIS PRESENCE THAT HE COMES AS A HUMAN PERSON IN HUMAN FORM, THOUGH HE WERE DIVINE, TO DEAL WITH HIS PEOPLE. WHAT MOST OF US LOVE ABOUT THIS PASSAGE IS THE SHORTEST VERSE IN THE WHOLE BIBLE, RIGHT? NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE EASIEST TO MEMORIZE. BECAUSE IT IS SO DEAR. VERSE 35, "JESUS WEPT." I KNOW HE HAS POWER. I KNOW HE HAS WISDOM. DOES HE CARE? JESUS WEPT. HE CARES. THAT IDENTIFICATION WITH OUR HUMANITY IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN YOU NOT JUST LOOK AT THOSE WORDS BUT THE WORD THAT SURROUND THEM AS WELL. DO YOU REMEMBER LATER THE BIBLICAL WRITERS WILL TALK ABOUT OUR GREAT CONFIDENCE IN JESUS COMES FROM OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT HE CAN BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES. THAT THOUGH BEING GOD WITH INFINITE POWER AND WISDOM THAT HIS HEART CAN BE TOUCHED AND HE WEPT. BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER PROBLEM IF YOU INTERPRET YOUR BIBLE THAT WAY. I MEAN, I KNOW HE WEPT, MAYBE IN SYMPATHETIC TEARS, BUT IF JESUS REALLY HAS OMNISCIENCE AND HE'S NOT BOUND BY SPACE OR TIME, WHILE JESUS IS WEEPING FOR THE DEATH OF LAZARUS, HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. RIGHT? I MEAN, IS THIS GRIEF REAL? IF HE KNOWS THAT LAZARUS IS GOING TO BE BACK IN A FEW MINUTES. I MEAN, THE REALITY OF THE DEATH HAS BEEN MADE PLAIN IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS. REMEMBER? THE MESSAGE CAME AND JESUS WAITED TWO DAYS, WHICH MEANT TWO DAYS' WALK. IT'S NOW FOUR DAYS THAT LAZARUS HAS BEEN, HE IS TRULY, REALLY DEAD. SO THE REALITY IS JESUS IS GRIEVING FOR DEATH THAT HAS IN A SENSE BEEN CERTIFIED. I MEAN, I FEEL A LITTLE FUNNY AT TIMES, YOU KNOW. HE IS REALLY, TRULY DEAD. IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MUNCHKINS CERTIFYING, "WE ARE FROM THE MORTUARY GUILD AND SHE'S REALLY, TRULY, SURELY DEAD." YOU KNOW. AND FOUR DAYS, HE'S REALLY DEAD. BUT HE'S GOING TO RISE IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. SO WHY DOES JESUS WEEP? THE ANSWER IS CLEAR IN VERSE 33. "WHEN JESUS SAW MARY," THAT'S THE "HER," "WHEN HE SAW MARY WEEPING AND THE JEWS WHO HAD COME WITH HER ALSO WEEPING, HE WAS DEEPLY MOVED IN HIS SPIRIT AND GREATLY TROUBLED." NOW, SO FAR IT'S JUST SYMPATHY. HE SAW MARY WEEPING, AND HE WAS GREATLY MOVED. BUT THAT PHRASE IS GOING TO REPEAT IN VERSE 38, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT IT. "JESUS, DEEPLY MOVED AGAIN, CAME TO THE TOMB." NOW, WHY IS HE DEEPLY MOVED AGAIN? WELL, YOU HAVE TO BACK INTO VERSE 37. SOME OF THE JEWS SAID, "COULD NOT HE WHO OPENED THE EYES OF THE BLIND ALSO HAVE KEPT THIS MAN FROM DYING?" IT'S A CHALLENGE. IT'S UNDER-ERODING HIS STATUS. HEY, IF HE IS REALLY THE CHRIST, IF HE REALLY COULD HEAL PEOPLE, WHY DIDN'T HE FIX THIS? AND JESUS IS AGAIN DEEPLY TROUBLED. AS YOU SEE THAT WORD "DEEPLY TROUBLED" APPEARING POP--, TWICE, YOU NEED TO KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GRIEVING. I MEAN, WHEN WE HEAR "WEEPING AND DEEPLY TROUBLED," WE PUT THE PHRASES TOGETHER AND THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER KIND OF EXPRESSION OF DEEP EMOTION. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. THE WORDS "DEEPLY TROUBLED" IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK REFER TO THE SNORTING OF A HORSE. IT'S A PHRASE FOR INDIGNATION, FOR ANGER, FOR OUTRAGE. JESUS, WHEN HE SEES ONE WHO IS DEAR TO HIM WEEPING, HE'S OUTRAGED: THAT SIN HAS HAD ITS DAY; THAT THERE HAS BEEN A TRIUMPH OF THE EVIL ONE FOR THE MOMENT; THAT DARKNESS HAS ENCROACHED UPON THE GOOD WORLD OF GOD'S CREATION. AND IT'S EVEN MORE POWERFUL WHEN IT HAPPENS THE SECOND TIME. AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNDERMINING BELIEF IN THE ONE WHO CAN RESCUE PEOPLE FROM THIS DARKNESS, WHO ARE SAYING, "IF HE'S REALLY THE CHRIST, WHY DIDN'T HE?" AND JESUS SNORTS AGAIN. HOW DARE THEY! AS WHAT IS EXPRESSED IN SYMPATHY WITH THEIR HEARTS IS NOT JUST GRIEF BUT ANGER. AND IF THAT SOUNDS UNHOLY, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IT IS JUST DE--, JESUS DEALING WITH THE FULLNESS OF OUR HUMANITY. BECAUSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DEEP GRIEF, INEXPLICABLE HURT, KNOW PRECISELY WHAT IT MEANS TO GRIEVE DEEPLY AT ONE MOMENT AND THE OTHER FEEL DEEP ANGER FOR HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE HURT AND THE HARDSHIP. YOU KNOW, LIFE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER AND DIFFERENT AND NOT THIS WAY. AND FOR JESUS TO EXPRESS BOTH, THE SYMPATHETIC GRIEF, BUT ACTUALLY FEELING IT MORE PROFOUNDLY BECAUSE IT IS THE EXPRESSION OF THE INTRUSION OF DEATH: THAT THE ENEMY WHO HAS COME IN, THE WORLD THAT WAS NOT MADE TO BE THE WAY GOD MADE IT TO BE WHEN HE SAID, "I CALLED IT GOOD," NOW SOMETHING HAS ENTERED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN AND IT GRIEVES AND EVENS ANGERS THE SAVIOR THAT THERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF THIS DEATH IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE HURT THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. IS IT REALLY TRUE THAT JESUS COULD EXPERIENCE OUR GRIEF AND OUR ANGER AND IN THAT WAY SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR INFIRMITIES? AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THE ANSWER IS YES. AND IT IS A BLESSED YES. I FELT THE POWER OF THIS WHEN A FORMER STUDENT OF MINE, NOW A PASTOR, TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO ACTUALLY READ THAT JESUS FELT THIS ANGER AT THE BROKEN WORLD AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT HE WAS FEELING GRIEF FOR MY FRIEND, FORMER STUDENT, SHANE WHEELER, WROTE THESE WORDS: "WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, I READ MANY BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON SUFFERING. I WAS GENERALLY LEFT FEELING THAT THE AUTHORS DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH. THEY ALL QUOTED THE BIBLE A LOT. BUT I HAVE A THEOLOGY DEGREE, AND I'VE READ THE BIBLE COVER TO COVER. I ALREADY KNEW THAT GOD LOVED I ALREADY KNEW THAT HE PROVIDES FOR THE SPARROW. I KNEW JESUS WEPT OVER THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND, LAZARUS. I KNEW THAT GOD WINS IN THE END. BUT I ALSO KNEW THAT MY KID HAD CANCER AND WAS DYING. AND I FELT SO GRAVELY ALONE AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO WALK THIS ROAD. AND THEN SOME GUY ON THE RADIO PROVIDED THE MISSING PIECE. HE SAID, 'THERE'S NOT A GOOD WAY OF GOING THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE AS A HUMAN BEING, I WAS NOT BUILT FOR THIS.' THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE GOOD WORLD THAT GOD CREATED IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION. CANCER IN CHILDREN IS A FOREIGN INVADER TO WHICH WE CAN NEVER BE RECONCILED AS MEMBERS OF GOD'S GOOD CREATION. IT WOULD LIKE BE GETTING A HANDFUL OF SAND IN YOUR EYE AND SAYING, 'WELL, THAT'S OKAY.' THAT MAKES NO SENSE. NOTHING WILL BE AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UNTIL YOU GET THAT SAND OUT.' AND I AM NO MORE BUILT FOR WATCHING MY 5 YEAR OLD BATTLE LEUKEMIA THAN MY EYES ARE DESIGNED FOR SAND. SUDDENLY I KNEW SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST, 'HOLD ON; JESUS WINS IN THE END.' HE CAME NOT JUST SO THAT YOU AND I CAN GO TO HEAVEN ONE DAY BUT BECAUSE THIS WORLD IS BROKEN AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, AND PEOPLE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAN DO THAT. HIS INCARNATION AND RESURRECTION SUDDENLY HIT THE PAVEMENT ON MY STREET WHERE I LIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. I KNEW IT MIGHT NOT MEAN THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD SURVIVE, BUT IT DID MEAN THAT MY DEEP SORROW WAS VALID. I WAS NOT ALONE. I KNEW THAT JESUS WAS WEEPING WITH ME. HE FEELS THE SAME RAGE TOWARD EVIL AND SUFFERING THAT I DO." AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND FOR ME TO KNOW. WE USE THE ROMANS 8:28 BLESSED VERSE BUT SOMETIMES JUST AS A CLUB: WELL, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD. SO DON'T HURT. AND DON'T STRUGGLE. AND DON'T WRESTLE INSIDE WITH ALL THE FEELINGS OF RAGE AT THE BROKENNESS OF THIS WORLD, THE FALLENNESS OF THIS ENTIRE CREATION, THE WAY IT INVADES OUR FAMILIES, THE WAY THE ENEMY HAS INTROIT INTO OUR LIVES, BECAUSE WE ARE FALLEN CREATIONS IN A FALLEN WORLD. NO, IT IS RIGHT TO BOTH GRIEVE AND SNORT AND SAY, "THAT'S NOT RIGHT," AND ACTUALLY BE ANGER, ANGRY AT THE DEVIL, THE WORLD, THE BROKENNESS IN WHICH THIS AWFULNESS EXISTS. WE CAN FEEL THAT, BECAUSE JESUS FELT IT. AND I SO LOVE THAT HE DID. SO THAT WHEN I KNOW THE FEELINGS THAT ARE IN ME THAT I CANNOT QUENCH AND CAN'T PUSH DOWN ANYMORE, THEN I KNOW JESUS UNDERSTANDS THAT TOO. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, OF COURSE, IS THERE ANYMORE EVIDENCE OF HIS CARE THAN HE SIMPLY HAS SYMPATHETIC FEELING? AND THE EVIDENCE, OF COURSE, IS THAT THERE'S A PLAN THAT COMES INTO EFFECT IN THIS PASSAGE AS WELL THAT'S LAID OUT BEFORE US, A PLAN WHEREBY POWER OF HIS DIVINITY AND SYMPATHY OF HIS HUMANITY COME TOGETHER TO WORK. I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUS HOW THEY WORKED FOR LAZARUS, RIGHT? I MEAN, FOR LAZARUS, "THIS SICKNESS WILL NOT LEAD TO DEATH." WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR LAZARUS? WELL, HE'S GOING TO RISE FROM THE DEAD. BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: HE'S GOING TO DIE AGAIN. HE'S NOT, UNLESS YOU'VE MET HIM, YOU KNOW, DOWN ON YOUR STREET, I MEAN, SOMETIME IN THE PAST HE HAS DIED AGAIN. SO WHILE THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE PLAN TO SHOW THE HUMANITY AND THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST WORKING TOGETHER IN THE LIFE OF LAZ--, I MEAN, IS THERE ANOTHER PLAN? AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE TOO. I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT IN VERSE 53 SOMETHING BEGAN TO HAPPEN THAT JESUS KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. AFTER HE HAD DONE THIS TREMENDOUS WORK OF DISPLAYING HIS DIVINITY AND HUMANITY IN THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, FROM THAT DAY ON, THE JEWISH LEADERS MADE PLANS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH. KEEP LOOKING THERE AT THE END OF CHAPTER 11, VERSE 55. "NOW THE PASSOVER OF THE JEWS WAS AT HAND, AND MANY WENT UP FROM THE COUNTRY TO JERUSALEM BEFORE THE PASSOVER TO PURIFY THEMSELVES." FIFTY-SIX, "THEY WERE LOOKING FOR JESUS AND SAYING TO ONE ANOTHER AS THEY STOOD IN THE TEMPLE, 'WHAT DO YOU THINK? THAT HE WILL COME, THAT HE WILL NOT COME TO THE FEAST AT ALL?'" WHY? VERSE 57, "BECAUSE THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE PHARISEES HAD GIVEN ORDERS THAT IF ANYONE KNEW WHERE HE WAS, HE SHOULD TELL THEM, LET THEM KNOW, SO THAT THEY MIGHT ARREST HIM." EVERYBODY KNEW. IF YOU GET CLOSE, YOU'LL GET ARRESTED. I MEAN, THOMAS ALREADY KNEW IT. REMEMBER? EARLY IN THE PASSAGE. OKAY, WELL, LET'S JUST GO. LET'S JUST GO DIE WITH HIM. [CHUCKLES] YOU KNOW, THOMAS, THE GREAT ENCOURAGER. LET'S JUST GO DIE. [LAUGHTER] HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WHAT DID HE DO? CHAPTER 12 AND VERSE 1, "SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER, JESUS THEREFORE CAME TO BETHANY." DO YOU REMEMBER, EARLIER? HOW FAR IS BETHANY FROM JERUSALEM? JUST TWO MILES, IT SAID. JUST TWO MILES AWAY. "WHERE LAZARUS WAS, WHOM JESUS HAD RAISED FROM THE DEAD." THE VERY ACT THAT GOT PEOPLE SO RILED UP, HE GOES RIGHT BACK TO THAT PLACE, PUTTING HIMSELF IN GRAVE DANGER. AND THAT'S NOT THE END OF IT. IF YOU'LL GO TO VERSE 12 OF CHAPTER 12, READ THIS: "THE NEXT DAY THE LARGE CROWD THAT HAD COME TO FEAST HEARD THAT JESUS WAS COMING TO JERUSALEM." WHAT'S THE GREAT MARK OF THE COMPASSION OF JESUS? HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING AND HE KEPT ON COMING. HE KNEW HE WAS BOUND TO DIE, AND HE KEPT ON COMING, KNOWING THAT HE WOULD RISE AGAIN TO FULFILL ALL THAT HAD BEEN SAID ABOUT HIM. THE GREAT MARK OF COMPASSION WAS NOT SIMPLY THAT HE PROVIDED RESURRECTION FOR LAZARUS, BUT IT WAS THE MARK OF THE RESURRECTION THAT HE WOULD EXIST IN AND PROVIDE FOR HIS PEOPLE. AND HE KNEW THE SUFFERING THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE BROKENNESS OF THE WORLD UPON HIMSELF, AND STILL HE KEPT ON COMING. BECAUSE HE CARED THAT MUCH. NOW YOU AND I STILL HAVE A QUESTION. IF HE HAS THAT KIND OF COMPASSION WITH THAT KIND OF POWER, IF HE HAS WISDOM TO EXPRESS IT WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT PLACE, IF HE CAN PUT ALL THE EVENTS TOGETHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WORLD CAN LOOK AT HIM AND SAY, "YOU'RE DIFFERENT; YOU'RE THE ONE," THEN WHEN IS HE GOING TO EXPRESS IT? IF HE'S THE RESURRECTION NOT JUST THEN BUT TODAY AND EVERYDAY, IF THAT'S HIS IDENTITY THAT WE ARE OURSELVES IDENTIFIED WITH, THEN I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO MOTIVATE HIM TO EXPRESS HIS POWER AND WISDOM AND COMPASSION IN MY LIFE. AND HE SAYS, WHAT, AFTER ALL, IS THE MOTIVATION OF JESUS? HE TOLD US WAY BACK IN 11 AND VERSE 4. WHEN JESUS HEARD ABOUT LAZARUS, HE SAID, "'THIS ILLNESS WILL NOT LEAD TO DEATH. IT IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, SO THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH IT.'" JESUS IS JEALOUS FOR HIS OWN GLORY. AND HE WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY IN TIME AND PLACE AND POWER AND WISDOM TO MAKE HIS GLORY MOST OBVIOUS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. WHO NEEDS TO HEAR IT? WE DO. JESUS SAID, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE DIE, YET SHALL HE LIVE, BECAUSE I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN ME TO HAVE THIS POWER OPERATIVE AND WORKING IN YOUR LIFE." AND THE REASON WE STRUGGLE WITH THAT IS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY TAKES DIVINE WISDOM, POWER, TO KNOW WHEN THAT SHOULD BE EXPRESSED SO THAT CHRIST WOULD BE MOST GLORIFIED. IT'S NOT OUR WISDOM. IT'S NOT EVEN OUR TIMING. I MEAN, WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT THAT IN THOSE EARLY VERSES IT SAYS, "JESUS HEARD THAT THOSE WHO HE LOVED HAD LOST THEIR BROTHER," AND, OR THAT HE WAS ILL AT THAT POINT. AND SO WHEN HE HEARD THAT LAZARUS WAS ILL, HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS TWO DAYS. NO, NO, THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE AMBULANCE RIDE. THIS IS THE TIME TO GO. BUT JESUS SAYS, "NO, I KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD TO BE REVEALED." AND SO HE DID NOT GO UNTIL IT BECAME FOUR DAYS LATER TO THE GRAVESIDE WHEN THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT LAZARUS WAS DEAD AND CHRIST'S POWER HAD TO BE THE ANSWER TO WHY HE ROSE. BUT WE STRUGGLE, BECAUSE HIS TIMING IS NOT OUR TIMING. HIS WISDOM IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN OURS. KATHY AND I GOT A LETTER THIS WEEK FROM OUR OLDEST SON AND HIS WIFE. AND IT WAS WRAPPED LIKE A PRESENT. AND THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW, DON'T OPEN IT UNTIL WE GET THE PHONE CALL. DON'T PEAK LIKE WE DID AT OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT. DON'T YOU DARE," YOU KNOW. OPENED THE WRAPPER, BOOK'S TITLE: "ADOPTION IS A FAMILY AFFAIR." WE'RE THRILLED. BUT WE KNOW THE PAIN THAT HAS GOTTEN OUR SON AND HIS WIFE THERE: YEARS OF INFERTILITY, HEALTH PROBLEMS AT A YOUNG AGE NO YOUNG COUPLE SHOULD HAVE TO FACE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND HERE WE RECOGNIZE AS WITNESS OF THEIR FAITH AND WITNESS TO THE WORLD AND WITNESS TO THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE SAID, "BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE FOR LIFE, AND WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A CHILD. AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ANOTHER CHILD'S LIFE." AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE PATH I CHOSE FOR THEM. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT I WOULD HAVE, BUT I PRAISE GOD THAT HE KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT. AND HE HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER AND HIS WISDOM SO THAT WHEN GLORY IS BROUGHT TO HIM, IT'S NOT JUST FOR HIS GLORY: IT IS FOR OUR GOOD. THAT IS WHY WE STRUGGLE SO MUCH. I MEAN, YOU CAN HEAR PREACHERS ALL THE TIME SAY THAT GOD'S CHIEF GOAL IS HIS OWN GLORY. WE CAN KIND OF NOD AND SAY, "NO, THAT SOUNDS THEOLOGICALLY CORRECT." BUT WE STRUGGLE. AND THE REASON WE STRUGGLE, WE SAY, "DOESN'T THAT SOUND EGOTISTICAL?" GOD'S GOAL IS HIS OWN GLORY. UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE MUST RECOGNIZE HIS GLORY FOR OUR OWN GOOD. "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE," HE SAYS. "WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME, HE HAS ETERNAL LIFE." WHY DO I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION? WHY DO I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE GLORY OF GOD IS IN JESUS? BECAUSE THAT'S FOR MY GOOD. IT IS MY RESCUE FROM A FALLEN, BROKEN, DIFFICULT WORLD TO RECOGNIZE WHEN DYING AND DARKNESS SEEM TO BE ALL ABOUT ME, I HAVE TO LOOK TO THE ONE WHO'S BEEN GLORIFIED. I HAVE TO LOOK TO SOMEONE GREATER THAN I, MORE POWER AND MORE WISDOM, TIMING RIGHT, WAYS I CANNOT EXPRESS. IN A BROKEN WORLD, I NEED HIM TO HAVE THE GLORY SO THAT WHEN I HAVE THE HURT IN MY LIFE, I WILL LOOK TO HIM AND BELIEVE HE HAS THE POWER AND THE GLORY. HE IS THE RESURRECTION. AND THAT'S WHY I TURN TO HIM. AND THAT MEANS AS I'M GOING THROUGH THIS LIFE, SOMETIMES THE DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS, SOMETIMES THE HURTS THAT I CAN'T EXPLAIN, I'M NOT WAITING FOR THE RESURRECTION JUST TO BE PIE IN THE SKY BY AND BY, SOME DEATH CONSEQUENCE WAY OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. THE FACT THAT HE IS THE RESURRECTION MEAN THAT I LIVE IN THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION EVERY DAY. HE IS MY STRENGTH. HE IS THE POWER. HE IS THE HOPE IN DARKNESS. IN ALL THE DYING THAT I MUST DO, THAT YOU MUST DO IN THIS BROKEN WORLD, HE IS LIFE. HE IS RESURRECTION AND LIFE AND GIVES US POWER AND HOPE THAT WE NEED NOW, NOT JUST SOME DAY. [APPLAUSE] YOU'LL GET TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT MY FORMER STUDENTS, BUT I LOVE THEM. [LAUGHTER] AND ONE OF MY MOST INSPIRING, CRAIG GARRIOTT, TOOK HIS FAMILY AT A YOUNG AGE DOWN INTO THE INNER CITY OF BALTIMORE. AND THIRTY YEARS AND FIVE CHILDREN LATER, HIS WIFE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. AND SHE WROTE THESE WORDS: "I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN WE WENT WE WOULD JUST SCRAPE BY JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE FOR YEARS. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WOULD LIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO HEARD VOICES OR SPENT MOST OF THEIR LIVES IN JUVENILE HALL OR PRISON, THAT I WOULD SHARE A HOUSE WITH WOMEN WHO SOLD THEIR BODIES, SNORTED COCAINE OR WHOSE BOYFRIENDS CHOKED AND PUNCHED THEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY CHILDREN WOULD BE LEAD POISONED; THAT THEIR FRIEND WHO ATE AT OUR TABLE LIKE A GODSON WOULD NOT GO TO COLLEGE WITH THEM BUT WOULD GO TO PRISON INSTEAD; THAT A LITTLE BOY WITH NO DADDY AT HOME WHO HAD BAKED COOKIES IN MY KITCHEN AND HUNTED SNAKES WITH MY SON WOULD ONE DAY LIE ON THE STREET IN A POOL OF BLOOD. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS SCRAPED RAW JESUS COULD HEAL ME; THAT WHEN I WAS BROKEN, GOD COULD USE MY BROKENNESS, THAT HE WOULD USE US IN SPITE OF OURSELVES, THAT JESUS WOULD SHINE SO CLEARLY, THAT LIFE COULD SPRING UP AGAIN IN HOPE WHERE THERE WAS ONLY DARKNESS AND DYING BEFORE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WOULD LIVE TO WITNESS A THOUSAND RESURRECTIONS,; THAT CHURCH MEMBERS WHO HAD STRUGGLED TO PAY THE RENT WOULD ADOPT NIECES AND NEPHEWS TO SAVE THEM FROM DRUG ADDICTED PARENTS; THAT A WOMAN WHO SAW A TEENAGE MOTHER ROLL HER BABY'S STROLLER INTO AN EMPTY HOUSE AND ABANDON IT WOULD RAISE THAT BABY AS HER OWN; THAT MEN WHO SMO--, SNORTED COCAINE WOULD GET CLEAN AND WOULD COME TO JESUS; THAT WOMEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY THEIR FATHERS WOULD BE HEALED AND WOULD RESCUE OTHERS. I SAW RESURRECTION AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION. AND WHEN HE IS WITH US AND IN OUR LIVES, LIFE BEGINS AGAIN DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY. RESURRECTION IS NOW. IN ALL THE DYING, IN ALL THE HURTING, WE CAN LIVE AGAIN, START OVER, HOPE AGAIN, HAVE AGAIN A REALISTIC HOPE THAT THE GOD OF ALL CREATION IS IN MY LIFE." THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT JESUS CALLS YOU TO BELIEVE: THAT HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; THAT WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN HIM WOULD NEVER DIE, AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN HIM WOULD HAVE LIFE ETERNAL BECAUSE HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE FOR US NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.