John 11:17-32 Trusting Jesus to "Fix It"

John 11:17-32 Trusting Jesus to "Fix It"

October 7, 2023

Four days in The Tomb v. 17

Jesus

his arrival in Bethany intentionally.

By the time Jesus arrived it was clear that He was too

to help Lazarus

and Mary had been waiting for

days for Jesus to arrive.

Comforters From Jerusalem vv. 18-19

loud

and emotive displays would be a way to

the dead and the family.

God wanted

for everything that was going to take place

Going to Meet Jesus v. 20

and Martha both respond very differently to Jesus

Martha is

and full of energy. She gets up and goes to meet

Consider the Lord’s rebuke of Martha in Luke 10:41-42: Jesus

Martha for choosing

over Him - Not for being active.

In this passage

activity is taking her to

Lord, if you had been there v. 21-22

both sister’s make the

statement. This is not talking back or

Jesus.

Jesus does not

them.

our disappointments and

with Jesus is ok

1 Peter 5:6-7 - God encourages us to cast our

on Him.

When we cast our cares and anxieties and disappointments on Jesus, it is an act of Humility, faith and trust which draws us closer to Him

Yet Even Now I know

Martha has most likely never seen anyone raised

the dead. She has no expectations of Jesus.

She seeks out

because she

Him to do something.

Our most basic expression of faith is

Jesus out in times of

He will rise again vv. 23-24

The doctrine of the resurrection of the

is taught throughout the Old Testament.

However - Jesus

with authority when He talked about Lazaurs being

The Resurrection and the Life vv. 25-26

Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are forever with the Lord. They are not unconscious they are with their Lord in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.” (Spurgeon)

What must we believe to gain eternal life?

We must believe that He is the great

. We must

in Him as the only source of

and life

This Ἐγώ εἰμι egō eimi - I AM – statement is one of

I AM statements in John’s Gospel. This is the only one that is stated as a

invitation. All of the rest are given as part of a teaching, sermon or public address of some sort

Yes Lord v. 27

Martha affirms her faith by announcing that Jesus is

Messiah – Christ – Annointed One

Son of God - the Davidic King who God promised

The Coming One - see Psalm 118:25

Responding to the Lord’s call v. 28-29

Mary is

to act, she is less active. However when

calls her she goes without

Lord, if you had been there v. 32

Mary fell down at Jesus’ feet in a sign of

and total surrender

She made no

She made no

of faith

But she asks the same question

Martha or Mary

Jesus does not rebuke Martha or Mary and He doesn’t elevate one over the other…

Although the sisters had many differences in how they wait upon the Lord, they did some things the same:

They went to Jesus

They looked to Him to fix their hurt

The poured their disappointment out to Him and took comfort in Him

Because Jesus is our

I AM, we can

in Him to provide

, to provide direction, to

our sorrows and “fix” our hurt. And when we do that, He almost always surprises us with something

.