We concluded our series called “Death to Life” at Gateway Church in Austin.
Discover the character and love of God as we journey through the 7 major signs in the Gospel of John. We will look at the life and work of Jesus through the eyes of one of his best friends and faithful disciples. In these 7 signs we encounter a depth to the glory and majesty of God, and how these truths can radically change our lives. They take us from lost to found; broken to whole; and from death to life.
Digging Deeper:
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
Discussion Questions
Message Video:
Message Audio:
Message Notes from Ross Sagehorn:
What do you do when what you hoped for doesn’t happen the way you thought it would, or doesn’t happen at all? Hold onto that thought.
Today we’re wrapping up this series we’ve been in for the last couple of months called Death to Life, where we’ve been studying the book of John together and learning how each of these miraculous signs we see from Jesus ultimately point to something bigger going on.
With each sign Jesus is revealing more and more of not only what he’s capable of, but also more and more of who he is. As in, who he is, what he’s like, and who he’s for—we’re getting a glimpse of Jesus’ heart for us with each story we read.
And here’s the question I’ve really been sitting with as I’ve been preparing for this—with everything we’ve seen and learned so far: If Jesus really is who he says he is, what does that mean for our lives today? Another way we could ask that question is like this: Why does any of this matter? Because, I mean, it should, right? I believe it does, but here’s the thing.
We’ve learned about all these stories, we’ve learned about these signs from Jesus, and we’ve learned some pretty important things about how we can put what we’re learning into practice. And that’s all really important! It’s all great.
But at the end of the day, we have to come to terms with not just the signs, but the person. We have to decide, what do we do with Jesus?
Not just what he can do, but who he is. So, let’s get into it.
The passage that we’re going to look at can be found in John chapter 11, and it’s actually a critical turning point in the context of the entire book of John.
Remember, we’ve been looking at the signs of Jesus and how each sign illustrates some aspect of Jesus’ divine authority—his power over nature, power over distance, power to bring abundance, power to speak into the struggles we face, etc.
This sign though, the seventh sign in the book of John, is climactic.
It’s like everything has been building to this moment, and the implications of this moment set the stage for the rest of the story—from here, wheels start turning that ultimately lead to Jesus on a cross and in a tomb. But, as we’ll also notice, the events here start to foreshadow the biggest plot twist of all.
So, we’re going to go slow and ask the questions, “God, what does this mean, and what do you want to show me?”
Because I have to be honest with you, as I’ve been studying for this, God has gotten my attention in some really unexpected ways. I think he can do the same thing for you.
We kick things off in John chapter 11, verse 1—here we go:
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” – John 11:1-3 (NIV)
We immediately learn that one of Jesus’ closest friends, Lazarus—one who is repeatedly referred to in this passage as a guy Jesus loved—is sick, and that detail is important.
Why? Because we know at this point, along with Martha, Mary, Lazarus, Jesus’ disciples, and countless others, that Jesus can heal sick people. He’s already healed the official’s son, and he wasn’t even in the same town; he’s healed the man by the pool who had been crippled for 38 years.
Healing people is easy for Jesus. Martha and Mary know that, they believe that, so they send word to Jesus. “Hey Jesus, Lazarus is really sick—and we know you love him, and unless you do something, which we know you can, it’s not looking good.” There’s an urgency to this request. So how does Jesus respond?
Look at this—verse 4:
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days… – John 11:4-6 (NIV)
Not what the sisters were expecting.
Not what they were hoping for.
Not only does Jesus do nothing, but he also seems to minimize the situation and intentionally delay any sort of action on his part.
So a really important question becomes, why? Why would he do that?
And I’ll add even more complexity to the situation—think about this.
We don’t have a ton of time to go into it, but in John chapter 5 Jesus explains that everything we see him doing is a direct result of what he hears from the Father, from God.
So, Jesus’ inaction here must be because God told him to do nothing. To wait.
And we’re back to the question, why? Why would this be what God wants? How does inaction bring glory to God, like Jesus mentions?
Keep that question in mind.
Let’s keep going with verse 7:
7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” – John 11:7-16 (NIV)
A couple quick things for context here. Two days after hearing the news of Lazarus, Jesus decides it’s time to go. He tells his disciples, “Hey, let’s go back to Judea.”
The city of Bethany—where Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are—is in Judea. So this is Jesus saying it’s finally time to go see them.
We also learn from a previous passage in John chapter 10 that Jesus and his disciples are in a place also called Bethany, but specifically Bethany beyond the Jordan. It’s about a day’s travel between the two towns. That’s really important and we’ll come back to it.
The point here is this: Jesus and his disciples are not in Judea. This is why the disciples have such a strong reaction to Jesus’ wanting to go back—the reason they’re not currently in Judea is because, in Judea, Jesus has a price on his head.
“They tried to kill you there, Jesus!” the disciples say. “Why would we go back?!”
This puts even more audacity on the request of the sisters, by the way.
They’re asking Jesus to come back to where he is a wanted man in order to heal their brother.
All of this makes no sense to the disciples.
As Jesus tries to explain, it really only gets worse. It’s a bit of a mess. Jesus is talking metaphorically of Lazarus only “falling asleep,” the disciples take him literally, and finally Jesus just has to level with them. “Guys, Lazarus is dead. And there’s something bigger going on here, and it’s for your benefit, but for now I need you to just trust me.”
This entire first movement in the story creates a bit of uncertainty. As in, what is going on, and what’s going to happen?
Let’s keep going with verse 17:
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – John 11:17-21 (NIV)
See, by the time Jesus arrives, it’s too late. He didn’t make it in time.
Martha calls it out. “Jesus, where were you?! If you had showed up, Jesus, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Ever pray a prayer that sounds like that?
Ever been left holding the pieces of your life, or a relationship you thought would go differently, or situation, or a diagnosis, you thought would turn out better, but it didn’t? And you prayed. Hard.
But then that thing, that person, that dream died, and your response, my response, was, “Jesus, where were you?”
But here’s what I realized this week as I studied this story: I don’t think Jesus was ever going to make it in time.
- We can do the math.
- Jesus was a day away from Lazarus.
- Martha and Mary send news that Lazarus is sick.
- That news takes a day to reach Jesus.
- Jesus hears the news and waits two more days.
- Which means we’re now up to three days since word has been sent.
- After that delay, Jesus travels to Bethany.
- It would have taken another day.
- It’s now been four days since the news was sent.
- When Jesus shows up, how long does it say Lazarus has been dead?
- Four days.
This means that Lazarus died shortly after the news of his sickness was sent to Jesus. And if that’s true, then regardless of whether he waited, or left immediately, Jesus was never going to make it in time to heal Lazarus.
Martha’s words to Jesus, then, which are literally repeated almost verbatim by her sister, Mary, later in the story—”Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”—these words, while deeply authentic to the sisters’ grief, miss the point. Jesus could have looked back at both Martha and Mary and said,
“This isn’t about whether I was here or not.” So, what’s it really about?
Let’s keep going:
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” – John 11:21-24 (NIV)
See, it’s clear that Martha has faith that, in the long run, with eternity in mind, she will see her brother again. She’s thinking about a reality someday. But Jesus has in mind a reality for today. And he responds with the single most definitive statement in the entire passage—one that forces a response.
“Do you know Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day, Martha…?”
How about this in verse 25:
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” – John 11:25-27 (NIV)
This is the point Jesus is trying to make. His inaction. His delay. His remaining obedient to the Father’s direction in all of it. All of the signs leading up to this moment. It all centers around that statement and question from Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life—do you believe it?”
That word believe is used nine times in this story—once nearly every five verses.
This is clearly the focus of the entire passage. Jesus says, “Martha, the hope you’re waiting on for someday is available to you today, so what are you going to do? Will you make the choice to believe it, or will you spend the rest of your life waiting for someday?”
It’s a question we have to ask ourselves, too, because we do the same thing as Martha, it just might sound different.
If I could just clean my life up a bit, then things will get better.
If I could just beat this addiction, then things will get better.
If I could just somehow beat this anxiety, or this depression, then things will get better.
If I could just find my special someone, and get married, and have kids, then things will get better. If he or she would just change, then things will get better.
Listen to me. There will be seasons of your life that will not make sense.
Circumstances will knock you down, over and over.
People will hurt you.
And your genuinely hoping for a better tomorrow is not a bad desire.
It’s just incomplete.
You do not need to resign yourself only to what could be true of your life somehow, someday. Why? Because:
Jesus offers resurrection power and life today—not just someday—but we have to make the choice to believe it and live like it’s true.
For Martha and Mary, Jesus makes it undeniable. And make no mistake, Jesus is torn up by what he sees happening in the wake of death and darkness.
Go back and read that part of the story. Jesus does not sit at a distance while we try to make sense of senseless circumstances; in all the gospels, this is where we see Jesus weeping with his friends. The language used to describe Jesus’ posture here is troubled, agitated, angry. Why? Because he knows this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be!
So Jesus does the impossible, that they then and we now might believe in a hope, and a power, and a life in him for today, even when we’re staring-down death.
Look at verse 39:
39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. – John 11:39-45 (NIV)
Jesus calls his name, and the dead man walks out of the grave.
He doesn’t belong there anymore.
And neither do you.
See, Jesus’ friends asked that he heal the sick; Jesus had plans to raise the dead, that they and we might believe that Jesus is who he says he is, and that he can and will keep every other promise he’s ever made to us.
That he’s not just a hope for tomorrow, on the other side of our funerals; that he’s a hope for today, right now, and from now on.
So, the question becomes: What do we do with that? I want to talk to two groups of people. First let me talk to the Christians in the room, those of us who would say, “Yeah, I’ve made the decision to follow Jesus.” Five minutes ago, five decades ago, it doesn’t matter—you’ve put your faith in the reality that Jesus is who he says he is and that he keeps his promises.
If that’s you, here’s my question:
Are you living your life like you believe that’s true today?
(Like, right now, with everything in your life going on)
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to the day-to-day challenges and circumstances I face, the ones that fight for my attention and my time, it can be really easy to forget about all of the ways I’ve seen Jesus prove himself over and over again in my life. I look back on the big moments and can say, “Yes, Jesus, I’ve seen you move in my life, but what have you done for me lately?” And I don’t like that my faith can be that weak, but sometimes it is!
See, Martha believed in Jesus. She had faith in Jesus to the point where she knew what happened after she died. The question she was wrestling with was not, “Jesus, can I trust you with my eternity?” Martha didn’t seem to need that question answered. No, her wrestling match was much more near-sighted. “Jesus, I know what happens when I die, but what good does that do me today? My brother is gone!”
And for many of us, having our faith rocked like that isn’t hypothetical, is it? See if any of this resonates.
You lost your job after you prayed it wouldn’t happen. And yeah, you know where you’re going when you die but Jesus feels about that far-off. Hope for tomorrow? Yes, you believe it. Hope for today? You’re just not so sure anymore.
Or what about the relationship you thought would last forever? Or the singleness you thought would just be a season, but that season seems like it’s lasting forever? See, you put your faith in Jesus, but you also put a little (or a lot) of faith in that person who either left too soon or never showed up in the first place. And day by day you lose a little hope because you never thought your life would look like it does now.
What about this—we might as well go there. In a few days there’s going to be an election. And, one way or another, a candidate will get sworn into office, and about half of the country will be pleased with that and the other half will not. Let’s make it more personal. About half of our church will be pleased with that and the other half will not. And the single-greatest commonality we share—our faith in and unity with God through Christ—has the potential to be tested by the amount of hope we may or may not have put in a political system to save us rather than our living savior, Jesus Christ.
Or listen, maybe you’re in a really good place right now. Your faith is solid. Sure, you’ve had your share of storms, but you’ve seen Jesus literally bring you through to the other side. That’s awesome. Isn’t it interesting, though, that when times are good and life is easy, we can fall into the trap of thinking we don’t need Jesus today?
And we would never say it that way, but how often can we go days without praying, or cracking open our Bibles, or go weeks or months without engaging this community called the church because we’re all good! We’re #blessed. “Thanks, Jesus! I’ll call you when I need you!” And we’ve deferred the opportunity to grow in our faith, grow in our daily hope, for a day in the future when one of two things will happen: Either Jesus himself comes back, or life gets hard enough that I finally decide I need him. At that point, I might even blame him. “Jesus, where were you?”
But what could change in our lives if we learned to live every single day with a raised-from-the-dead kind of confidence that infiltrates every moment? What if our prayers, in the midst of the hardest and most confusing circumstances sounded like this: “Jesus, my hope is still in you—today, tomorrow, everyday.
Regardless of God’s response, you know what we’re doing? We’re training our hearts and minds to believe that:
We walk with an ever-present hope because we walk with an ever-present God.
And when we do this, just watch him grow your faith.
Let me talk to the second group of people—this would be anyone who would willingly acknowledge, “I don’t currently follow Jesus.” Maybe you’re here exploring faith, maybe you lost a bet or something, or got dragged here—listen, I’m so glad you’re here, by the way.
And here’s what I think I probably know about your life and your story, even though we’ve maybe never met: You know what it feels like to put your hope in something, or someone, and have it not work out the way you thought it would, don’t you? All those examples I gave a minute ago? They’re not that far off, are they?
The job, the relationship, the political party, the substance, the dream, you name it—you hoped for something, and maybe not right away but someday you did or will realize that thing would never be able to satisfy like you hoped it would. See, our hope is not that Jesus will give us what we want in this life. Our hope is that, even if we never have those things then we’ll be okay because Jesus is enough and he is worth it.
And he isn’t just passing out proverbial “Get Out of Hell Free” cards. He has zero expectations that you clean up your life first, or get your act together, or have everything about life and faith figured out. That’s the really good news of the gospel: That while we were still in the midst of our sin and separation from God, God sent his son Jesus to live a perfect life in order to die as payment for the death penalty I owed because of my sin, and rise from the dead three days later, just like he said he would, so that everything would be ready for you and me to come to him, and believe in him, and call on his name, and be raised from the dead just like he was. John puts it this way as he starts to punctuate his entire account of Jesus’ life:
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. – John 20:30-31 (NIV)
Jesus isn’t offering you a second chance, or a third chance, or a thousandth chance.
Jesus is offering you a whole new life.
One that can start today.
Do you believe him?
That’s what so many are going to celebrate today, because that’s what baptism represents: My sin and shame going with me under the water, and my leaving it in the grave where it belongs as Jesus raises me to new life, that I may now follow him with my life. It’s a public declaration of a decision I’ve made to believe Jesus is who he says he is, that he is the son of God, that I am no longer dead, that I’ve been raised to life with him—that when Jesus called my name, I walked out of the grave, too.
It isn’t something I have to repeat over and over again because Jesus’ work on the cross is final—he paid for all my sin, for all time. And there’s nothing special or magical about that water—we filled that tank with a hose.
But there is something pretty incredible about a life being raised from the dead. In fact, the Bible says there’s a party going on in heaven for every single person who was once lost, but is now found. Who was blind, but now they see. Who was dead, but is now alive again.
