Victory over death part 1

April 4, 2020

Tomorrow is “Palm Sunday.” It is the start of the final week of Jesus’ earthly life. Christians around the world consider it a holy week.

The set up for the most dramatic confrontation between good and evil begins with a resurrection. The story is found in John 11. I invite you to find a Bible and follow along.

Verse one is like the dramatic music that signals a turn of events. It starts with “A man named Lazarus was sick.” [NLT] There is a bit of explanation about Lazarus, he has two sisters who call for Jesus to help. [2 – 3] At this point Jesus does something strange. We might start a Congressional investigating over what He knew, when He knew it, and why He acted the way He did. John states, “he stayed where he was for the next two days.” [verse 6] The next verse records Jesus’ decision to go “back to Judea.”

The disciples object [verse 8] because Jesus’ life is in jeopardy. Jesus gives a cryptic answer about walking in light and stumbling in darkness [verses 9 – 10]. Then Jesus declares in verse 11, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” [NLT] They don’t understand so He has to tell them in verse 14, “Lazarus is dead.”

Why did Jesus allow His friend to die? I’m so glad you asked!!!

Jesus' lesson is dramatic. A lot of theology comes from this chapter. Especially about who Jesus is and the resurrection of the dead. We’ve all been to funerals. Chances are you have heard a verse or three read from this chapter.

After some more misunderstanding from Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus leads a procession to the grave of His friend. There are a lot of people crying. “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.” [John 11:33] I’m not amazed at the mourning. That’s the natural trajectory of human experience. People die, we miss them, and we mourn their passing.

What amazes me is found a two verses later; for effect, it is the shortest verse in the Bible (in English). “Jesus wept.” 

With all the deep emotion the story continues, “Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” [John 11:38 – 39] For the record, the Greek does say that Jesus was angry. Actually it has the force of being VERY angry.

I don’t think it was because the people were having a hard time wrapping their mind around what Jesus was about to do. I don’t think it was because they accused Him of not being efficient enough to prevent Lazarus’ death [verse 37]. I think Jesus was angry because He was feeling the sting of death. Death is the consequence of sin.

After a bit of dramatic set up we read, “Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” [John 11:43 – 44 NLT]

I can’t imagine the power of that shout. It literally raised the dead. The power of Jesus’ command to do what “everyone” would say was “impossible.” But this is not even “the tip of the iceberg” of Jesus power. Someday at His command the dead will be raised, everyone will be judged, there will be a new heaven and earth, and “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [Philippians 2:10 – 11 NLT]

Six days before the Passover, Jesus returned to Lazarus’ home [John 12:1]. The next day Jesus entered Jerusalem as its rightful king. The King of Glory stepping toward certain death on the cross. Winning a victory for us forever. Robbing sin of its power. Soothing the sting of death. Crushing the head of Satan.