“The Resurrection of Lazarus: The Miracle that Still Speaks Today.”

JOHN 11:38-44

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” (John 11:38-39)

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” �(John 11:40)

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

1.) The Human Obstacles We See and The Faith to Believe�

V. 38-40

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” (John 11:38-39)

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” (John 11:38-39)

The "stones" in our own live can be situations that seem absolutely finished and beyond repair (grief, failure, long-term problems).

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

MATTHEW 19:26

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” �(John 11:40)

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. ²⁶ Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

JOHN 11:25-26

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. ³⁹ But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

MATTHEW 5:38-42

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.” �“The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

JOHN 14:15, 21

Application

NO MATTER YOUR OBSTACLE TODAY; NO MATTER THE INCONVENIENCE; OBEY WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO AND THEN WAIT TO SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD. ACT FIRST, AND TRUST THAT GOD WILL RESPOND.

2) A Confidence that the Father Hears Us

V. 41-42

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

“¹⁹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.”

JOHN 5:19

“This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

1JOHN 5:14

²⁵ You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: �

Why do the Gentiles rage�and the peoples plot futile things?�²⁶ The kings of the earth take their stand�and the rulers assemble together�against the Lord and against his Messiah. (Ps. 2:1-2) �

²⁷ “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:25-30)

Application

• Pray His Word – “Father, your Word declares this (insert His Word). And considering my situation, I trust that you hear me, and you can operate in the same way. Move on my behalf.”

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

3) A Faith That Testifies of Christ’s Power�

V. 42

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

This statement emphasizes that our acts of faith are primarily meant to bear witness to God's power and validate Jesus as the Son.

The Signs Point to His Identity

• John 2 - Turning water into wine: The first miracle, which revealed Jesus' glory.
• John 4- Healing the nobleman's son: Demonstrating the power of Jesus' word to heal at a distance.
• John 5- Healing the man at the pool of Bethesda: Showing Jesus' ability to make people whole, physically and spiritually.
• John 6 - Feeding the 5,000: Revealing Jesus as the "bread of life" and provider for spiritual needs.

The Signs Point to His Identity

• John 6 - Walking on water: Illustrating Jesus' power over nature and his presence as a guide.
• John 9 - Healing the man born blind: Presenting Jesus as the "light of the world".
• John 11 - Raising Lazarus from the dead: The final and most powerful sign, showing Jesus' complete authority over death. 

“Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, ²⁵ because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

1COR. 1:24B-25

Application

• Let us pray that when He calls us to perform acts of faith, we will believe His power is available to show that Jesus is at work today.

4) Jesus Calls Forth Life and We Have A Role to Play.��

V. 43-44

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

The Dead Will Rise

JOHN 5:28-29

“⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.”

EPHESIANS 1:4

“⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!”

EPH. 2:4-5

“¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”

ROMANS 8:11

“You called my name�Then I ran out of that grave�Out of the darkness�Into Your glorious day.”

'GLORIOUS DAY - PASSION

Application

Recall your resurrection in Christ. In a journal entry, write down where you came from. Declare where you are going with your life in Christ because of the resurrection power that lives inside of you.

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⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

The Responsibility of the Community in the Resurrection Life

“You called my name�Then I ran out of that grave�Out of the darkness�Into Your glorious day.”

'GLORIOUS DAY - PASSION

“⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:” 

 1COR. 12:6-7

“You Are Free”

Application

• Are you walking around in Christ, heavy and bound? Do you need to be unwrapped? You need to see the avenues for your freedom. Its wholistic. We practice Deliverance in this Church. But Deliverance is only part of the solution. Come forward and see the hands and feet of Jesus that are willing to help you.

Application

• For others, is it time for you to step forward and help unbind people. Step forward to help. You were not saved and set free to be a bystander. You were called with a purpose and today, the Lord is calling you to do something. Here his call for your life.

RECAP

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