the same one, they in person,
we in hope. You can be turning to the gospel
of John, chapter 11. While you are turning, I want
to read a verse in Romans 15. Romans 15, verse 4, says this. Whatsoever things were written for our learning, that we through
patience, that means wait, And comfort of the scriptures
is when they are written for God's people. Whatever things
are written aforetime are written for our learning, that is, to
learn, and that we, through patience, just wait, and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope. There it is again. This story in John 11 is very
familiar to us. We've looked at it many times
before, and oh, it's so appropriate right
now. This was written, this happened
for our learning. This was written, this happened,
this story, this real story. The man named Lazarus happened,
and it was written and recorded for our learning, that we with
patience, Mary and Martha were going to
have to wait and see, and comfort of the scriptures. This is going
to give us comfort. I know it is. I've already received
it. Well, verses 1 through 3, let's
read these verses. Now, a certain man was sick named
Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. Now, this was that Mary which
anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair,
a great sinner, whose brother Lazarus was sick, and therefore
his sisters sent unto the Lord say, Lord, behold, he whom thou
lovest is saved." The Lord visited this little house. I can just
imagine it was a very plain, ordinary little house. Lazarus, evidently the whole
family lived there. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived
there together, and our Lord, it says, was there quite often. He visited that house quite often. And he loved them, every one
of them. Look at verse 5. It says, Jesus
loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Now, right there it
says he loved them. Now, one of them was sick. Which
one? It's up to the Lord when he determines. One of them was sick, and it
happened to be Lazarus, in God's good purpose. He was sick, gravely
ill, seriously ill, terminally ill. Why? Why? Why? You know, there is only one answer
to anything. We really don't need to ask why.
There is one answer. Look at the next verse, verse
4. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto
death, but for the glory of God. we don't, that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby. That's why everything happens. That's why this whole ball of
dirt exists, for his glory. One reason, one answer to all
things, for the glory of God, for the glory of the Son of God. This happened and everything
happens to glorify God's eternal purpose, which he purposed in
Christ Jesus before the world began. It glorifies his eternal
purpose. Now, we don't see all things
yet, do we? We don't see all things yet.
We preach in part, we prophesy in part, we know in part. But
when that which has come, we're going to know. We're going to
look back and say, that's the only way he could have done it.
for his glory. He got more glory that way, didn't
he? And we're going to give him more
glory, to bring glory to his wisdom. To bring glory to his wisdom.
I wouldn't have done it that way. No, you wouldn't. You're
a man. You'll see as God sees. Understand
that? To the glory of his wisdom and
his power, to see how the He brings something out of nothing.
He brings infinite glory out of infinite tragedy, to the praise of the glory of
his grace. And to glorify the Son of God
who came down here to fulfill that purpose. How did he fulfill
the purpose of God? How did the Son of God glorify
God? How did Christ glorify God? By living the most tragic life
ever lived. from the day he was born and
finally end up being killed at 33 years old. But that brought God the most
glory ever. You see, we don't see, we don't
know, but we'll know, we'll know, we'll know. That's what Christ
said. Now, this is not unto death. He said it's not unto death.
Remember that now. This is not unto death, not for
Christ. If you read the title of this message, it's not unto
death. For the world it is. Many who
suffer sicknesses in the world, it is unto death. That's it,
that's it. This is all there is. But not for believers, not
for those whom Christ loved. The Lord loved Mary and Martha
and Lazarus, it says so. And he said so, it's not unto
death, but for the glory of God. Look at verse 6. When he had
therefore heard that Lazarus was sick, when he had heard it. See, God is writing this in our
language. When he heard it. You mean he
just happened to hear it? Well, when he heard, it says
that verse 6, He abode two days in the same place where he was. When Lazarus came down with his
sickness, what it was, we don't know. But it says that he, Christ
the Lord, the Lord of glory, abode, stayed right where he
was, the same place, right there, stayed right there. See, he waited, he's going to
wait to get the greater glory. He's going to wait. He waited
till all hope, all fleshly hope, was gone. There was only one hope in him.
There was only one person. He waited till it was plain that
Lazarus was dead. He waited to get greater glory. This story is not just a story
of a man being raised from the dead. This is not just a story
to display the power of Christ to raise the physically dead,
to raise them from the dead. That's not why this was written. This was written for our learning.
This was written to show us a much greater story, to show us how
Christ raises every single sinner who is dead and trespasses, every
single one, how he calls them and raises them. That's what
this is all about. It's not just a story to show
us how Christ can raise people physically from the dead. This
is the story of salvation. That's why this was written,
for our learning, spiritual understanding. He stayed where he was, and so
it is with all whom Christ saved. The Lord waited to get greater glory. He was
going to get greater glory if Lazarus was just sick, and even
deathless sick and gravely ill, and with his last breath and
Christ would have raised him, there would have been glory.
But he waited until after he had been dead four days to get
greater glory. And so it is with Christ, all
whom he saves, he waits to get greater glory. He waits until
it is obvious that only one can save that old boy. Christ comes to save dead sinners. He stayed where he was. I like
this line. He stayed where he was. He abodes
still. He stayed where he was, in the same place where he was.
He stayed there. Where was he? Where was Christ before the world
began? That old black preacher said
he was in his glory. He is reigning. He is sitting
on the throne, reigning, ruling over all in the armies of heaven
and the inhabitants of earth. Reigning and ruling. Where was
Christ when Lazarus died? His sisters kept saying, if he
had been here, where was he? He was in his golden hands. He
is reigning and ruling. He is on his throne. Where was
he when he was hanging on the cross? Where is he always? The same
place where he always has been. Reigning, ruling, reigning, ruling. Look at verse 7. And then after
that, he said, after two days, he said to his disciples, let's
go to Judea again. See, he had just been there.
He was just in Jerusalem, up in chapter 10. If you want to
look up there, look at chapter 10. He said some of the things
he said in chapter 10. Oh, what a chapter. I and my
Father are one. My sheep here, my boys, you're
not my sheep, like I told you. I and my Father are one. He said
in verse 38, the Father is in me and I am in him. Well, they
took up stones to stone him. They picked up rocks, they were
angry, furious, and they tried to kill him. kill him, but no
man can kill him. Look at it, verse 39, they sought
again to take him, but he escaped out of their hand. It says he
went away beyond Jordan into the place. Now, he was in Jerusalem, and it says he went across the
Jordan. This was several miles, this
was about 25 miles he walked. Do you know where he had to go? He had to walk right by Bethany. Where is Bethany? That's where
Lazarus is. Get the picture here. Our
Lord was in Jerusalem, and they sought to stone him, but he left. He left town and walked right
by Bethany, right beside Jerusalem. He didn't stop. He didn't stop.
He could have. I'll tell you what he did do,
though. He spoke a word. Somebody in Bethany, he did something
to him. What'd he do? Made him sick. Lazarus was sick. And he went
over to Jordan and waited for him to die. He says, now it's time to go
back. Time to go back. They said in verse 8, look at
this, this is good. I almost just skipped right over
this to get to the story. Verse 8, these disciples said,
Lord, let's not go back there again. The Jews have laid salt
to stone there. You're going to go there again?
Let's don't go there, they'll kill you. He said another place, no man
taketh my life from me. Verse 9, he said, "'If any man
walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light
of this world. But if a man walk in the night,
he stumbleth, there is no light in him. Don't go, you'll be killed.'
Christ said, No, no man taketh my life from me." Now listen, people, nobody takes
our life from us, either. No thing takes our light from
us, either. The Lord killeth and maketh the
light. Isn't that right? And he said, if we walk by faith,
we walk in the daytime, we walk by faith in Christ who is the
light, the light of his word, we fear no evil. Psalm 91. Thousands are fought by faith.
not come now, unless I say so." He said, unless I say so. Understand that? No man can kill me, and no man
can kill you. Do you remember when they came
to get Christ in the garden? Do you remember? Many, many times they sought
to kill him, many, many times they sought to kill him, but
it's said he passed right by them, passed right through them,
because his hour wasn't yet to come. Our days are appointed. The number of our days are appointed,
our bounds are set, we cannot pass the hour. He's zipping down the road two
feet from a car at 70 miles an hour. What if, what if, what if? Believers, we're immortal until
God says so. No man taketh my life from me.
The Lord killeth. He giveth this, he raiseth us,
he wounds, he heals, he decides, he does this. We walk by faith,
walk in the light, our Lord said, you fear no evil, and you won't
stumble. It won't fall, it will fall away, it won't stumble up
there. Look at verse 11. They didn't
understand. He said unto them, Our friend
Lazarus sleepeth. It says the Lord loved Lazarus,
so did the disciples. wherever the Lord went and whoever
he fellowshiped with, truly their fellowship was with them, too.
They loved Lazarus, too. They got to know Mary and Martha
and Lazarus. They got to know them well, and
they loved them. And he said, our friend, Lazarus, sleeper. Sleeper! They didn't understand. Sleeper? Listen very carefully. The same
God who in the garden thousands of years earlier said to Adam,
the day you eat thereof, thou shalt surely die. Die. When God says, die, it means
death. He said, die and you shall die,
didn't he? Well, this is that God, some
thousand years later. standing on this earth, and he
said, he's sleeping. He changed it. For one of his loved ones, he
changed it from death. Because in a minute we're going
to see how he says, he that liveth and believeth in me shall never
die. Believe it's not this? Look at this, verse 11. Let me continue. Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth, but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Christ
came to raise his people from the dead. Yes, spiritual death. Verse 12. Then his disciples
said, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. If he sleep, he'll do
well. They didn't understand, did they? So our Lord spoke to them in
a language that they understood. Look at the next verse. He said
unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. He's dead. Was he? But he's dead to this world. He's dead to this world, that's
for sure. No consciousness of, no desire
for, no thoughts of, not influenced by, totally immune to this world. He's dead, but is he dead? He's sleeping, but if he's dead,
he's dead. Now, as I said, this is a picture
of salvation. It's a picture of salvation,
how Christ quickens those that he loves, how Christ raises those
who are dead and trespasses in sin, how he came to earth to
bring us to glory. He's been gone several thousand
years, hasn't he? He had been. Then he came to
this earth to do a work, then he went back, just like he went
to Jerusalem to do a work, and then crossed over Jordan. He's
coming back to raise us. He came the first time to raise
us from spiritual death, and then went back beyond Jordan
and said he's coming again to receive us unto himself, to raise
us body, soul and spirit. Verse 15 says, And I was unglad
for your sakes, that I was not there. To the intent. I'm glad, Christ said, I'm glad. I'm glad for your sake. All things work together for
good. I'm glad for your sake Listen, look at these words,
our Lord's words here. To the intent you may believe. What's this all about? The trial
of your faith. You don't know if you have it
until it's tried. To the intent, to the purpose. What's this all about? For the
purpose that you might believe, that you might trust me. I'm
going to teach you to trust me. I'm glad I wasn't there. I'm
glad, for your sakes, that I was not there to the intent that
you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go unto him. Let's go. You know, we're going to look
back. We're going to. And the only way we're going
to find some peace now is for God to give us faith, to give
us to the intent that we might believe and see. Where does the scripture say
it in Psalm 119? It says, If I hadn't hoped to
see his glory, I would have perished in my affliction. To the intent that we might believe,
to strengthen faith, they despaired of themselves, didn't they? They
lost all hope, didn't they? They lost all hope. Who did they
look to? Who did it make them turn to?
All hope was gone. I'm sure they sought out physicians,
I'm sure they sought out the best of it. Who did they look
to? Who did they turn to? Jehovah Raphael. The Lord did heal them. Well,
he said, but let's go, let's go unto him. And I like this,
verse 16. I like this. Thomas. You know, Thomas, later on he failed miserably,
didn't he? He failed miserably. He said,
I'm not going to believe. Thomas wasn't there when the
Lord appeared. He was unbelieving, doubting.
But right here, I like what Thomas said. I love this. Verse 16,
Thomas, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow disciples,
Let's also go, let's die with him. Let's go die with him. Isn't that all our desire? Number
one, be crucified with Christ. We're not going to live until
we do. Be crucified with Christ. And don't all believers say,
Come quickly, Lord, come quickly? Just like they say, Come quickly,
Lord Jesus, come quickly. Isn't that what we say? We pray all the time, we get
together and we pray and we sing, Lord, come quickly. He said,
Even so, I come quickly. And they say, Even so, come,
Lord Jesus. Let the amen say, Come. The Spirit of the Body
say, Come. We all say, Come. Well, he did
for our brother. Quickly! Bless God. He did it! Let's go by with him. I was alone with our brother one
morning in the hospital, Brother Joe. He and I were reading the
scriptures, speaking. I said, Brother Joe, if you don't
make it through this, what do you want me to tell everybody?
I don't think I told you this. He said, Tell them Christ is
coming for them, too. He's coming for them, too. Soon
enough. Let's go die with him. Huh? Thomas said, let's go die
with him. They're going to kill you, Lord.
No, they can't kill me. They can't kill me, and they
can't kill you if you're with me. Well, let's just go die with
them. Let's go. What are we worried about? Let's
go. What do you say? Okay, Thomas. Look at verse 8 and 17. Well,
when he came, when Christ came, he found that he had lain in
the grave four days already. He laid there. When Christ came,
when Christ came to this earth the first time, when Christ came
to this planet the first time, man had been dead in trespasses
and sin for four thousand years. Dead, dead. Life came, man's
dead. Light came, man's in darkness. the grave. Oh, what a cesspool
of iniquity this world is, is it not? For 4,000 years? We talk about the dark ages.
You look back over time and see all the corruption in this world,
and you think, oh, it's what a horrible place. And it's been
going on even longer. It's just darker and darker and
darker and darker in a cesspool of iniquity. And the Lord came
to this earth and had been The man had been dead for 4,000 years. You know, when Christ came for
you, a believer, I don't know how old you were, Henry, when
the Lord started dealing with you. Do you remember? You were up in years, weren't
you? Twenty, thirty? Some people lay in the graves. 20 years, 30 years, 40 years,
50 years. I knew some very few, but some
way up there in 70-some-odd years. They had a long time. Well, in
verse 18, it says that Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem about
15 furlong. That means just a little less
than 2 miles. The Lord was in Jerusalem, and
he passed right by. He could see the town. He could
have gone in there. He spoke a word and made Lazarus
sick. He went right by, passed by,
and let me tell you something. Lazarus never left his mind. He was never off his mind. He was never out of his thoughts.
The disciples probably had forgotten about him, you know. Not the
Lord. Lazarus was engraved on the palm of his hand. He said, Let's go, I'm going
to wake him out of his sleep. Passed right by him, but Lazarus
never left his thoughts. Can you believe that? That's
the way it is with all his people. This is how our God can think
of all of his people all the time? That's how big our God is. Verse
19 and 20 says, And the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort
them concerning their brother. Now, Martha, as soon as she heard
that Jesus was coming, went and met him. Mary sat still in the
house. The Jews came to comfort Martha
and Mary. They came to comfort. That's
a good thing to do. They wanted to comfort, as friends do. But none could comfort. They tried. This is good. You know where
Christ was. It says that Christ came to Bethany,
but he didn't go in. He didn't go into town. He stayed outside. He didn't
go into town. That's what the scripture says
about every believer who wants to go to him without the Mary
Martha. Here. I don't know what a. of how the gospel is not found
in religion, not found in organized religion, not found in this mess,
this worldwide mess called religion of Christianity. It's not there.
If you want to go to Christ outside the camp of modern religion,
it's not at the mourner's bench. It's not shaking a preacher's
hand. Get him out of the way. Our brother used to say that
to me all the time. he felt like he had preached
the gospel, he would say, I didn't see any of you today. I saw Christ. Incidentally, do you remember
how we mentioned Brother Joe a lot this morning? We held kind
of a private funeral for Virgie, remember, back when Virgie passed
away? It was on Wednesday night, I
believe it was, when we buried her, maybe Thursday. And remember,
we said, before all the world gets here, before all these unbelievers
and gawkers and sightseers get here and all this, let's have
her service now. Well, Bethany was about two miles
from Jerusalem, about two miles. I like this. Is he a God in hand
and not a God afar off? Was he God when he was in Jerusalem,
God when he was over Jordan? Was he God when Lazarus was well,
or was he God when Lazarus was sick? It was all things in his hand
when he came to Bethany, and he didn't even enter the town. Martha said unto Christ, Lord,
if thou hast been here, my brother had not died." Well, you know, that's half-true. It's true. Whenever our Lord
attended a funeral, that person raised from the dead. Our Lord
attended about three funerals, I think it was. Every one he
attended, the person didn't raise. You can't stay dead in the presence
of God. If Christ ever comes to you, you can't stay dead. Every funeral he attended, the
person rose. And everyone whom Christ comes to, he'll quicken.
He quickens together with himself. I know that even now, whatsoever
thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Oh, that's true,
Martha, that's so true. You just keep that in mind, Martha.
Even now, even now, his will will be done, even now. Look at this, verse 23, Our Lord
said unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. But Martha said, but Martha said,
but Martha said, but Martha said. Oh, I wish I could listen to
God's word more and quit talking, don't you? But Martha said, I
know, I know, I know. Do you, Martha, do you know?
Oh, Michael, you don't know anything yet. You just be still and know
that I'm God. If you keep your foot when you
go to the house of God and not be hasty to utter anything before
God, when God's in the heaven, thou mirror that your words be
few. Michael, just hush. I know, look at this, what she
said, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at
the last day. And Christ said unto her in verse 25, I am the
resurrection. in the life. I hope the Lord will give us
ears to hear this right now. I don't think I've ever seen
this before. Martha kept talking and asking,
talking and asking, saying, if you, if you, if you had, if you
were, Martha, I am. What do you mean, if I? I am. If you'd have been, if I'd have
been, I am. I am, therefore you are. I am, therefore this is. If what? I am. In him we live and move and have
our being. I am, therefore this is. If you'd
been here, I know he's going to rise. We need to rise. I am
the resurrection. You get a hold of a little bit
of that? Huh? Because I am, this is. Because I am, therefore you are. It is not if God will. It is
God is. If God will. If God will what? God is. You
hear that, Sherry? If only God, if only what? Known unto God are all his works
from the beginning. I am that I am, and this is what
it is. Is anybody getting a hold of
this like I am? Anybody? I am the resurrection. You're not going to a place,
you're in me right now. No, you don't, sir. You've got
to flesh this veil of flesh. Christ said, I am the resurrection
and the life. The resurrection and the life.
The resurrection is not an event. It's a person. You ever seen
those bumper stickers? Oh, I hate bumper stickers. But
that one that says, in case of rapture. What do you mean in
case of? What is rapture? Paul said in
Ephesians, we've been quickened together, raised together. Seated with him right now. Right now. Can you get a hold
of that? Right now. If you're alive unto God, if
you're hearing what I'm saying, it's because you've been raised. Do you understand that now? Do you understand that now, Heather,
if you understand what I'm saying? Because you're alive unto God. I don't understand a preacher
who is alive unto God because he is quickened to give us eyes
to see and ears to hear and a heart to receive. Listen to me, Lazarus had already
been raised from the dead. Whenever it was that Christ came
to Lazarus and revealed himself to him and Martha, Mary was dead
in trespasses and sin, wasn't she? She was dead, a harlot. Christ came to her one day and
said, Live! He said, that's what he said,
Live! He raised her from the dead. He raised Lazarus from
the dead. Lazarus was alive. What did he do? He just went
to sleep. He believed that they would never
die. He didn't die, he was alive. God just woke him from sleep. A living soul, a second Adam,
a quickening spirit. Spirit, spiritual life, a new
creature in Christ, alive under God. He can't kill it. He can't
sin. Lazarus had already been raised
from the dead when Christ came. Lazarus was alive before God,
wasn't he? Somebody may ask, where did Lazarus
go when this happened? It sure wasn't purgatory, like
some fools say. There is no such place. Scripture
says, in a moment, the twinkling of an eye will be changed. Scripture says, raised from the
dead, as soon as we die, we are raised from the dead. Well, Lazarus
now, but Lazarus hadn't come back here. Where was he? Known unto God are all his works.
He doesn't give an account. He was sleeping. I don't believe the Lord would
have taken him and shown him glory. I really don't. He did Paul, and that's why Paul
kept saying, Oh, I have a desire to depart and be with the Lord,
which is far better. He said, To die is a gain. I've been there. To die is a
gain, with all to live and flesh and everything that is needful
for you, but oh, I have a desire to depart. He saw it, Sam, he
saw it. I don't think he let Lazarus
see that. He couldn't have lived here. He couldn't have made it
any longer, could he? He wouldn't have wanted to. So
where was he? I don't know, but he brought
him back, didn't he? Look at verse 26, and this is
our hope. Christ said in verse 26, "...whosoever
liveth and believeth." Who's going to believe Christ? Whosoever liveth. Which comes
first? Which came first here? Whosoever
liveth and believeth. See that? As many as received
him, to them gave he the power, John 1.12, to them gave he the
power to become the sons of God. As many as received him, why
did they? To be born of God. To be born of God. when they
were born. When were they alive? When were
they alive? There's always a question, an
argument going on today. When are they alive? Silly question. Are they alive when they realize
it? Are they alive when they say,
Hey, I'm alive! I believe I'm alive! They were
alive when they were conceived. They were alive when they were
born. They were alive when they cried, and then one day they
started realizing it. Mom, Dad, flowers. So it is with all whom God saves. The word of God is called the
seed that he plants, and known unto God. Only known unto God
is when he plants that seed. When will you say, Well, I saved
in ninety-five? No, I've not saved at all. God plants that seed, and parents
or whoever, husbands, wives, where there is seed, there is
hope. So I would say where there is
life, there is hope. Where there is a seed and lungs that are
under it, there is hope that it will be planted. What about
those who left? Well, there is hope that the
seed was planted. God planted the seed, like that
prodigal son. One day he came to himself, something came out,
this hope. Well, he that liveth and believeth
in me shall never die, Christ said, shall never die. Believest
thou this? He that liveth, now this is the
Son of God, he that liveth and believeth, Lord, I believe, must
be alive. and believe it, in me, shall
never die." Never die. Believe it or sell it. He can't lie, and we can't die. Virgie didn't die. Helen Fralin didn't die. Joe
Parks didn't die. We're the ones in the land of
the dead. Oh, it's got to open our eyes. We're in the land of the dead,
they're in the land of the living. They're dwelling in light, in
life. We're the ones in darkness, they're
in sunlight, S-O-E, light. There's no need of the S-U-E,
and that pales in comparison. That city that Revelation said
has no need of the sun. The Lamb is the light thereof.
We're the ones in darkness, and clouds are covering our faces.
It's a cloudy day, and the sun is shining. Whether we see it or not, we're
the ones in darkness. We're the ones going through
the valley of the shadow of death. There comes the Mount Zion. The
sun always shines on Mount Zion. We're the ones. You understand that? He that
liveth will never die. Believe a sign of this? We're the ones living in a dead
place. They didn't die. Let's go die
with them, that we might live. Remember verse 27 and 28, Yea,
Lord, I believe, I believe. Do you believe? I believe. What do you believe? That thou
art the Christ. If there is a Son of God which
should come, yes, he should come. Should he come? He better. Should he die? He must. Should he rise? I hope so. Should I die? I have to. Will he come? Yes, he will. When she had so said, she went
up her way and called Mary her sister, secretly saying, Master has come, and he's calling
for you. Look at this. As soon as she
heard that, she arose quickly and came. Where'd she go? Where'd
Martha go? She went to cry. Where'd Mary go? She went to
cry. Now, see verse 30, he wasn't
yet come into town. It was in that place where Martha
met him, outside the camp. And the Jews, here's what the
Jews thought, verse 31. The Jews who tried to comfort
her said they saw her rise up hastily and went out and followed
her. She was going to the grave to mourn, to weep there. No,
she's not. She's going to go worship. That's
all that's left to do now, isn't it? That's all that's left to
do now, is worship. Someday we're going to see that
that's all there is. Old Brother Scott said, Christ is all if he's all you've
got. You understand that? Some understand
that now, don't you? Christ is all, if he's all you've
got. Where is she going? Is she going
to mourn? No, she's going to Christ, going to worship. Not going to the grave, she's
going to worship Christ. You see that? Going to worship
Christ, not mourn, but worship Christ. The poor cast all her
care on him. Oh, he cares for her. Oh, that's
why he came. That's why he passed by, and
that's now why he came back. Verse 32, when Mary was come
to him, where'd she go? She fell down at his feet. That's
where he always found Mary, wasn't it? Say, Lord? Now, she was just
flesh. He knows her frame, but Lord,
if, if, if, if thou, If thou hadst been here, my brother
had not died, Mary. I was here, and that's why your
brother did die." Well, when the Lord saw her weeping,
and the Jews also weeping with her, he groaned in spirit. man of sorrow, acquainted with
grief and compassion, and he knows our frame, or he himself
was compassed with the firmity of the scripture, said that he
was troubled. Oh, that's a good word right there. Troubled himself. He put himself through trouble.
Did he go through sorrow in the morning? Oh, we don't know. I have thought of it. Verse 34,
he said, Where have you laid him? He knew, because he put him there. But this is a question like he
asked Adam in the garden, wasn't it? Adam, where are you? Look
at you now. Where has sin laid him? Look
at what God's creation, this world, what it was when God created
man and then what man comes to. Where has sin laid him? Literally in
the gutter, literally in the ground. I said, Lord, come and
see. And he did, and he came to this
earth to see. And the Lord saw to it. Verse 35, Christ wept and said to the Jews, Behold
how he loved him. You just don't know. You just don't know. I'm telling
you, you don't love him like he loved him. You just don't know. Greater
love hath no man than this. Behold how he loved them. We're
going to see some of that. Some of them said, Could not
this man who opened the eyes of the blind have caused that
even this man should not have died? Christ groaned in himself again,
and there was a cave and a stone lay upon it. Christ said, Take
away the stone. May he take away our stony heart.
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this
time he's stinking. He'd been in the grave four days. Christ waited. Dead. He waits till we stink. You're
not going to be saved. The Lord's not going to raise
you, me, until we start stinking. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Salvation is not from troubles, it's from sin. The Lord is not going to save
us and raise us until we start stinking. Do you understand that? He stinketh, though it's time. Read on. Christ said unto her,
Said not I unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe? Did not
say that? Thou shouldest see the glory
of God. They took away the stone from the place where the dead
was laid. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank
thee that thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always,
but because of the people, that's why I sit here. We stand by that,
that they may believe that thou hast sent me, that they may believe
to the intent that they might believe, that they may believe
thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken,
he cried with a loud voice. Lazarus, come forth." Somebody said, if he hadn't said,
Lazarus, all the gates would have opened. My sheep, hear my
voice. I know him, I call him by name,
Lazarus, come forth, sinner, come forth. And he that was dead
came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, face was
bound about with a napkin. Isn't that a picture of when
God first reveals the gospel to us? And we come out, but we
don't know anything, we don't see much. But we heard a call,
didn't we? And we still got all those religious
grave clothes and all that ignorance left about us, and Christ says,
start taking it off. He told others, didn't he, John?
Others. That's why he sends his gospel
preachers, for the perfecting of faith. Take that blindfold
off. Take the shackles off. Let him go. Let him go. Let him
go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him
go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. He does it. He does it twice. He lets us go. Now I'm out. Loosen. Let him go. Lazarus died. Now he's sleeping. But wait a minute. He had to
die of something, didn't he? Did he die later on? The Lord
raised him. Did he die? Did he die? No, he that liveth
and believeth in me shall never die. Believe us, Salvia? Christ did it twice, raised this
man three times. Do you believe this? That's Lazarus'
story, Mercy's story, Ellen's story, Joe's story. This is my
story. Is it yours? Let's sing that
song. Verse 2, number 255, Blessed Asura, the Lord Jesus Christ
is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory
divine. I'm an heir of salvation. Purchased
of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story. This was my story. Lazarus, he's stinking, so I
came. All right, let's stand and sing.
Two fifty-five. Blessed are those who love Jesus
as mine, For what a poor taste my glory divine. Here is salvation, purchase of
God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story,
this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story,
this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Perfect submission,
perfect delight. Visions of rapture now burst
from my sight. Angels descending ring from above. Echoes of mercy, whispers of
love. Sing it out! This is my story,
this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day
long. This is my story. Praising my Savior all the day
long.