The title of the message today
is The Lord Loved Lazarus. The Lord Loved Lazarus. And I encourage you to go home
and read this entire story. This family at Bethany, Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus are introduced to us in Luke chapter 10. But
here in the Gospel of John, the story runs from the first verse,
here in verse 11, on into chapter 12. And I'll begin with reading
three verses that specifically state that the Lord loved Lazarus. In verse 5, it includes his sisters,
Mary and Martha. Now, Jesus loved Martha and his
sister and Lazarus. When Lazarus got sick and the sisters sent the message
to the Lord Jesus, this love is stated in verse 3 by the sisters
in the message they sent. Therefore his sisters sent unto
him, saying, Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. That's twice we've read that
he loves Lazarus. And then another verse on in
the chapter after Lazarus has died and is buried and the Lord
comes and he's weeping with the sisters. And verse 36 gives the
testimony of the Jews, what they said about Him standing there
weeping with Mary and Martha. Verse 35 says Jesus wept. And
then verse 36, then said the Jews, behold how he loved him. So three times we've read the
Lord loved Lazarus. I want to begin by saying nowhere
in the New Testament do we find that those who profess Christ
who follow Christ, who live genuinely what we call a Christian life,
nowhere do we find that they're exempt from trouble, from heartaches,
from sorrow, from grief in this world. But to hear it nowadays, some tell it, if you're right,
life will be rosy. And if trouble is your lot, you
must not be right with God. But our Lord clearly taught,
and the scriptures throughout teach, if you're right, life
will be rough. If you belong to the Lord in
the world, you shall have tribulation. Well, this family had trouble,
disappointment, sorrow, And I've been looking at this story this
week in light of my own life, and this is really how we should
all look at scripture. What is it to me? That's the
question. How does it apply to my circumstances
in my life? It's not just history. A lot
of the Bible is history, and in this history, There are principles. It is how God deals with people
like you and I. So read the scriptures looking
at Christ, but read the scriptures looking for yourself. And there
is so much here in this story. And I just want to point out
10 things, some maybe with very little comment, they're so obvious,
but tremendous things, tremendous lessons for you and I today in
this story of scripture, the Lord loved Lazarus. Number one, Christ's love is
a personal love. It's personal, it's individual.
It's not enough for your heart and mind to know that God loves
others. You want to know that he loves
you. And His love is not a general
love, but a specific love, a certain love. I've commented many times
through the years about this word certain in the New Testament,
occurring so many times. A certain man, a certain woman,
a certain city, a certain place, a certain time. And here again
it is in verse 1 of John chapter 11. Now a certain man was sick
named Lazarus. Emphasis is placed on individuality. Special individuality. Not special
to men. This world wouldn't miss you
at all. But special to God. And you need to understand this
morning Your birth into this world was no accident with God. You don't need to talk a whole
lot about what your parents' intentions was and, you know,
this child or that child was an accident and wasn't meant
to be and all that kind of garbage. Oh, no. With God, your birth
was no accident. Sustaining your life to this
present moment was no accident nor coincidence with God. And this morning, regardless
of your name, reputation, age, education, or abilities, God
wanted a you. Just like you, right here and
right now, you are in God's arrangement For this time in history, this
place, this hour, you may think you're floating through this
world with no purpose, but it's not so. And we need to realize
that, that our God is far bigger than happenstance, coincidence. It just so happened, oh no, he's
a God of purpose. So it's a personal love. And
then number two, I would have us note the perspective of this
love, God's love, Christ's love. Note in verse three, when the
sisters sent the message to Jesus that Lazarus is sick, they do
not emphasize that Lazarus loves Jesus, but that Jesus loves Lazarus.
You see, it's not, Lord, behold, he who loves you is sick. But
it's, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. I'm telling you,
it's a pretty sick religion that wants to approach God on the
basis of how valuable we are to Him. How much we love Him. How much he owes us, that's pretty
sick, pretty sick. And these sisters had more sense
than that. They didn't say, Lord, our brother, oh, he loves you
so much and he's sick. No. They apply to the Lord's
love for him. He whom thou lovest is sick. That's the order. 1 John 4.10,
herein is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4.19, we
love Him. Why? Because He first loved us. That's the only reason we love
Him. That's the only way possible we could love Him. There was
nothing in us to love God. It's what he put in us. We love
him because he first loved us. Now I believe Lazarus loved the
Lord, but these sisters were wise enough to make their plea
not from the perspective of Lazarus' love for Christ, but Christ's
love for Lazarus. How foolish people are to speak
of our love for Him, our obedience to Him, our faithfulness to Him
as the basis of His love for us. Never, never. He loves us
because, not because we first love Him, but we love Him because
He first loved us. That's the perspective. While
we were yet sinners, Paul said, not when we stopped being sinners,
But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were
unlovely, he loved us. When we were not worth dying
for, and we're still not, he died for us. The perspective
of this life. And then number three, the purpose
we find in this whole story. Upon receiving this news that
Lazarus is sick, Jesus said to his disciples in verse 4, when
Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not unto death. It's not unto death. In other
words, this is not God's predetermined way or time for Lazarus to leave
this world for good. But there's another purpose.
And verse 4 continues, the sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the son of God might be glorified thereby. You see, when this is all over,
Lazarus is raised from the dead. God will be glorified among his
people through his son, Jesus Christ. The purpose. Romans 11, 36, for of him and
through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. Revelation 4, 11, thou
art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for
thou has created all things and for thy pleasure they are and
were created. for His glory, for His glory.
It does not come natural for us to look at things in life,
troubles, disappointments, heartaches, and say, well, somehow, someway,
this is for the glory of God. That doesn't come natural. God
has to give us that. God's purpose is too high. for the natural man to understand. But it's his purpose, Isaiah
14, 26. This is the purpose that is purposed
upon the whole earth. And this is the hand that is
stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed,
and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out
And who shall turn it back? No need in us bucking against
what God has ordained. Saul of Tarsus on the road to
Damascus, later to become the noted Apostle Paul. But on that
road to Damascus, he is Saul of Tarsus, the greedy old Pharisee,
Jew, hater of Christ and his people. And it is God's appointed
hour, and he arrests him on that road to Damascus. And here's
what he said to him. It is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks. That prick was like an ox goad
to move him on up the road, on down the road. And he said, Bud,
you can't kick against what I'm doing. You can't balk against
God. He's going to do. He's going
to do. So purpose, the purpose of it.
is for the glory of God. And then number four, the patience
of this love. Now these sisters, quite impatiently,
I can imagine they're at the house waiting, looking out the
door, looking down the road every few minutes to see if he's coming.
And Lazarus' condition is getting worse by the hour. And they don't
have a lot of patience. And these sisters are thinking,
well, we've sent the message. That's all we can do. We do hope
he gets here in time. That's what they're thinking.
Because he loves Lazarus, we know he'll come as quickly as
he possibly can. That was not the case. That was not the case. Verse 6 says, When he, talking
about Jesus, had heard, therefore, that he, Lazarus, was sick, he
abode two days still in the same place where he was. Now that does not sound like
love to us, that Jesus seemingly ignored the message for two days. But you see, Jesus knew the purpose
of the whole story. The sisters didn't. He knows
the purpose of everything going on right now in my life and yours.
We don't. The two days were necessary.
And it was all part of His love. It was all part of working toward
the glory of God in this whole ordeal. The patience of love. And then number five, the pain
that these sisters felt. Lazarus died. When it seems that
love has failed, Jesus has not yet come. How disappointing. We know he could have done something
if he'd have been here. You see, sometimes things get to the point of almost bringing out complaint. I don't guess they said it out
loud, but they might have had the thought, what is he doing
that is so important that he couldn't have been here by now? He was just deliberately staying
away. That's what he was doing. But there's the pain and the
sorrow in the hearts of Martha and Mary. And they think it's
all over. They've buried Lazarus. He's
been dead three days. Several writers have said that
the four days are very significant. The Jews were very superstitious
people. Some of it made sense, some of
it didn't. But they had a superstition that
when a person died, the spirit of that person lingered nearby
for three days. And sometimes one they thought
dead would revive and recover. Maybe he was just unconscious
or whatever and would get better. That obviously happened on occasion. And with them in the superstition,
there was a measure of hope for three days. Well, I'm not saying
Mary and Martha had any of that superstitious ideas. They've
already buried him. But that all the Jews might know,
Lazarus is fully dead. He's not just unconscious. He's
not just in a coma. He's gone. It's over. It's been
four days. He's dead and buried. And in verse 14, Jesus said unto
the disciples before he even came, Lazarus is dead. He's a goner. And the pain of
these sisters, the disappointment, the finality of it all comes
out in both of their testimonies. Look in verse 21. This is Martha. Then said Martha unto Jesus,
Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. We know you would have done something
if you'd have been here. And I guess another way of saying
it would be, this is kind of what she was thinking, if you'd
have been able to get here in time, he wouldn't have died.
And by the way, nobody ever did die in the presence of the Lord
Jesus Christ. even on the cross, he died before
the other two. And then in verse 32 is Mary's
testimony. Then when Mary was come, where
Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto
him, same thing her sister said, Lord, if thou hadst been here,
my brother had not died. We had hope! long as we thought
you might make it before he died. But it's too late. Too late.
And the Lord responded to Martha's pain by saying in verse 25, I
am the resurrection and the life. Wonderful as that is, and we
understand that statement, but she never understood that. And
then in verse 34, he responded to Mary's pain with a question. Where have you laid him? Where have you laid him? They're
saying it's over. He's saying it's not over. It's
not over. Then number six, we would note
the participation Christ calls for in his love for Lazarus. Could he not have raised Lazarus
before he ever even came to Bethany? Sure. Could he not have done it while
he was there at the house talking to the sisters and Lazarus come
walking in? Yeah. No, but it's done this
way. It's all for the glory of God.
And there is a measure of participation. In verse 39, he gives the command, Ye, away the stone. It's not a suggestion for consideration. Maybe I could work better. Maybe
Lazarus could hear me better if we take away the stone. No,
that wasn't it. It wasn't a suggestion. It wasn't
just something to consider. It's a command. A command. It's not, would you take away
the stone? It's not a question. It's a command. Take ye away the stone. In other words, move that stone,
he's saying. Well, could he not have moved
it? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. He's God. He could speak to the stone and
it'd roll out the way without anybody touching it. Or he could have brought Lazarus
forth with the stone still right there. But Christ called for human participation
in this work of divine love. He don't need our help to accomplish
his work, but when he gives a command like this, Apart from obedience
to it, he won't work. He doesn't need our cooperation,
but he's going to have it. He's going to have it. 1 Corinthians 3, 9, Paul said,
for we are laborers together with God. Laborers together. Be involved. Do what God gives
you to do. Do it with all your heart and
mind and soul to honor Him. If these musicians up here a
few moments ago, if they never touched the instruments until
we come to church, that's the only time they ever played. It
might not sound so good. And a singer, I hadn't forgot
about you, Rosalie, if a singer only sings when they get up in
front of a crowd, it might not turn out like they hoped. See,
there's practice, there's involvement, there's preparation, there's
involvement. Take ye away the stone. Work
at it. If a teacher never opens the
Bible and prepares a lesson, just come and stand before the
class. It's not likely to go so well. If a preacher never studies and
prays and prepares, it's not going very far. And if all the rest of people
just come to church with no forethought, No prayer, no preparation, no
heart. Just come and go through the
motions. It's not worth much. We meet to worship. We meet to
lift our hearts in unison to the Lord, having done so privately
already. I heard a message one time about
the taters. And of all the taters in the church, of all the taters
in the church, spectators are in least demand, but they're
the most plentiful. And participators are most in
demand, and they're the most scarce, you see. Take ye away
the stone. Don't waste your life wondering
if God is, if God can do anything with somebody like me. Just use all your energy to roll
the stone away. Expose your deadness. They said
by this time he's a stinking. Expose your stinkiness to God. Tell Him all of it. And say, Here I am, have mercy on me.
If there's anything left of me, if there's anything at all you
can do with this mess, I want you to do it. And then number
seven, the prayer in connection with his love. Look at verse
41. Then they took away the stone
from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up
his eyes and said, Father, I think thee that thou hast heard me.
I guess there might have been some critical ones whispering
around on the outskirts saying, he's stalling for time. No, he's talking to the Father. Father, I think thee that thou
hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest
me always. But because of the people which
stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent
me. Father, that all these may believe
that you've sent me, I pray. And now number eight, the power
of this love, verse 43. And when he thus had spoken,
he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Now here again is a command,
not a suggestion. It's not, Lazarus, would you
please consider getting up to keep from embarrassing me? No. It's a command. It's not, Lazarus, we're going
to sing one more verse, would you please come? No. It's not, Lazarus, would you
exercise your free will that I hear people talk about, which is really not free. No,
it's not that. It's not, Lazarus, if you'll
take that first step, I'll help you. I've heard that so many
times. If you'll take that first step.
God will take it from there. Dead people can't take that first
step. God initiates and does the work
or it's never done. Lazarus can't take the first
step, he's dead. He can't lift a finger. He can't
do anything but stink. This is a powerful command. of Christ's love, Lazarus, come
forth. And with no effort on Lazarus'
part, he comes forth. He can do nothing but come forth.
He can't refuse to come forth. And in a moment's time, in that
powerful word from Christ, he's standing there outside the tomb. He does come forth. It's the
power of Christ's love at work. And then number nine, the perfection
of Christ's love. Look what he said here in verse
44. And he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with
grave clothes. You know how you heard how they
did it in those days, wrap them like a mummy, you know. And his
face was bound with a napkin or a cloth. He's alive, but he's bound, helpless, speechless, motionless. And Christ is not going to leave
him in that shape, but he then says, loose him and let him go. Where do you think he's going
to go? He's going to go on loving Christ, just like he did before
he died, because Christ loved him. And we see from this, the Lord
hadn't saved anybody and left the grave clothes on them. He has loosed us and let us go. And His letting us go results
not in our going our own way, but in going His way, in seeking
His way. People who think they can live
as they please because they're saved have got it just backwards.
They can live as they please because they're not saved. That's
the deal. In Mark chapter 5, When Christ
dealt with that demon-possessed man of Gadara there by the seashore, the first words of that guy was,
after the Lord changed him, he said, I want to go with you.
I want to go with you. I want to go with you. Blind
Bartimaeus, Mark chapter 10, Christ opened his eyes and said
to him, go thy way. Get on with your life. Go on
about your business. Go thy way. You're free to go.
But the last line of that text in Mark 10 says, He followed
Jesus in the way. Remember the story in Luke 17,
Christ cleansed ten lepers and told them to go. But one of the
ten was not just cleansed physically. but spiritually. And the Bible
says that he came back and fell at Jesus' feet. To be set free
means to follow Him in the way. The perfection of His love, it's
a reciprocating love. We love Him because He first
loved us. And it never fails, it never
fails. If you don't really love the Lord, don't hoot too much
about Him loving you. Because if He loves you, you'll
be brought to love Him. That's the order of Scripture.
That's sovereign grace. He doesn't save us in our sins.
He saves us from our sins. He doesn't save us to live hellishly. He saves us to live heavenly. Number 10, Christ's preeminence
in all things at all times because of His love. Christ's preeminence. In chapter 12 and verse 1, then
Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, this is where
this family lived, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom
he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper,
and Martha served. But Lazarus was one of them that
sat at the table with him. Now they prepared a supper. Martha
served, verse 2 says. Mary sacrificed, verse 3 says,
but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Notice the preeminence. It's
Lazarus' home. It's his table. Why didn't it say Jesus was sitting
at the table with Lazarus? It's his table. But no, it says Lazarus is sitting
at the table with Jesus. When he's in the house, it's
his table. It's his house. He's the preeminent one. Paul
said in Colossians 1.18 that in all things he, Christ, might
have the preeminence. That's all things in my life
and in your life. He's not your co-pilot. He's
the pilot or he's not on board. Somebody says, well, I sure hope
the Lord's on my side. Well, he's not. You'll have to
get on his side. That's where he's working. He didn't come to take sides
and he don't come to take sides. He comes to take over. And I want him taken over in
my life, don't you? Amen. Most people fear the IRS
more than they do a rattlesnake. And because of this, we go to
an accountant, take all our papers and receipts and hand it over
gladly. And say, you handle it. Do for me what you can. I trust you with it. That's how we should go to the
Lord. With everything in our lives. Verse 4 of chapter 11 said the
Holy Spirit was for the glory of God. And
that's how we should go to Him. Lord, whatever's left of me,
in spite of me, whatever else you choose to do
for my good, for your glory, I want you to do it. The Lord loved Lazarus. It didn't exempt him from sickness,
trouble, death, sorrow, pain, but it was for the glory of God. And we're not exempt from all
these things. But I'm glad to say this morning,
not only the Lord loved Lazarus, but the Lord loves me. Stand
with me.