AN UNPREACHED SERMON (202)
In the course of His public teaching Jesus made many claims for Himself. But the one that tops them all is “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though they die, yet shall they live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, 26). This is the core of our creed, the very heart of Christianity. Remove this claim and our faith collapses like a house of cards leaving us without any future hope. With this saying, Jesus anticipates His own resurrection and affirms there is such a thing for every believer. It must be reckoned as the greatest of all the I AM sayings. It enshrines a vital doctrine too precious to be relegated only to our Easter Sunday celebrations. Every Lord’s Day celebrates a risen Saviour ever present with us.
Unlike the first three gospels, John only records seven miracles of Christ and each contains an element of hopelessness. This one with Lazarus is a situation of utter despair.
“If only You had come when he was still alive” (11:21)
Anger and guilt are given full expression (11:21, 32)
Jesus was not closed to their pain. Deeply moved, He wept (11:35, 38).
TAKE THE STORY AT FACE VALUE.
This is a real, historical event. It happened and has all the hallmarks of something that took place: the two sisters’ confusion and despair, the frantic sending for Jesus to come quickly, and general grief all around.
The whole incident is a foretaste of the future. For what Jesus did for one man on that day is what He will do for all at the Last Day. “To be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise...by God’s power we will live with Him” (2 Corinthians 13:4).
Because of Jesus’ work, death is no longer a cul-de-sac, a dead end, or a finale. “Jesus advances to the tomb like a champion who prepares for conflict” comments John Calvin. And Aime Duval gives lyrical expression to this truth:
“Lazarus from the tomb advancing once more drew life’s sweet breath;
You too will leave the churchyard dancing for Christ has conquered death”.
USE THE STORY AS A PICTURE OF CONVERSION.
The power of Christ to raise the dead physically is only surpassed by His power to raise the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:5). When we turn to Him (the heart of conversion) He gives us new life which is nothing less than His own resurrection life. It makes us pause to ask, “Do you believe this? Do you possess this life?” (John11:26).
Jacob Epstein’s magnificent sculpture in New College Chapel, Oxford, of Lazarus emerging from the grave depicts him coming out of his tomb with the cloth bandages slipping away from him. This is what happens to all who turn in faith to Christ. They emerge into newness of life and the trappings of the old life fall away bit by bit (2 Corinthians 5:17), often with the help of others.
CONSIDER THE STORY AS A PICTURE OF THE CHURCH.
The sick, dead and buried Lazarus is illustrative of too many churches. “Putting new Christians into some churches is like putting a newborn baby into the arms of a corpse” wrote Samuel Chadwick.
Note the revealing phrase, “Take off the graveclothes and let him go” or “Loose him and let him go” (11:44). After Christ’s miraculous intervention Lazarus had life, but no liberty. And many congregations can be in that state. The Greek word used by John is APHESIS It is found extensively in Greek literature of prisoners being let out of prison and of horses at the starting line of a race course.
And if we ask ourselves, how can my church be raised from the stupor of death to become alive with the life of Christ, the answer is by the removal of all hindering obstacles. “Take away the stone” and “Take off the graveclothes” (11:39, 44). This means
Recognising and admitting they are there
Identifying and listing them
Separating legalistic tradition from the essentials of the faith
Systematically working through them
Preparing the way for Christ to act
St Augustine amusingly suggested that Jesus deliberately called out Lazarus by name. Had he not done so, a general call would have raised all the dead too soon; something that is reserved for the Last Day (John 5:24-26, 28, 29).
The raising of Lazarus is more than just a miracle performed on one man for the benefit of a whole family. It assures us that one day He will do the same for all, believer and unbeliever alike. “For we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ”. The resurrection is to be viewed as
A historical event (for Jesus and Lazarus)
A future expectation (for believer and unbeliever)
A present experience (for believers and the whole church)
Jesus asks, “Do you believe this?” The answer we give is of vital importance. The success of the church’s mission and our entire future beyond the grave depend on it.
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