John 11:1-16

1. God’s Weird Ways…God’s Weird Ways…
John 11:1-16John 11:1-16

2. God’s Weird Ways…God’s Weird Ways…
 For me, the hardest problem I haveFor me, the hardest problem I have
to handle as a Christian is…to handle as a Christian is…
 What to do when God does not doWhat to do when God does not do
what I have been taught to expectwhat I have been taught to expect
him to dohim to do
 He loves us enough to delayHe loves us enough to delay
answers to our prayers sometimesanswers to our prayers sometimes

3. Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus ofNow a certain man was sick, Lazarus of
Bethany, the village of Mary and her sisterBethany, the village of Mary and her sister
Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed theMartha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the
Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet withLord with ointment, and wiped His feet with
her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Soher hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So
the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord,the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord,
behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But whenbehold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when
Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is notJesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not
to end in death, but for the glory of God, soto end in death, but for the glory of God, so
that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

4. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and
Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick,Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick,
He then stayed two days longer in the placeHe then stayed two days longer in the place
where He was. 7 Then after this He *said towhere He was. 7 Then after this He *said to
the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8
The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the JewsThe disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews
were just now seeking to stone You, and arewere just now seeking to stone You, and are
You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered,You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered,
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If
anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,

5. because he sees the light of this world. 10 Butbecause he sees the light of this world. 10 But
if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles,if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles,
because the light is not in him.” 11 This Hebecause the light is not in him.” 11 This He
said, and after that He *said to them, “Oursaid, and after that He *said to them, “Our
friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, sofriend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so
that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 Thethat I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The
disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he hasdisciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has
fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesusfallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus
had spoken of his death, but they thought thathad spoken of his death, but they thought that
He was speaking of literal sleep.He was speaking of literal sleep.

6. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly,14 So Jesus then said to them plainly,
“Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for“Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for
your sakes that I was not there, soyour sakes that I was not there, so
that you may believe; but let us go tothat you may believe; but let us go to
him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who ishim.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is
called Didymus, said to his fellowcalled Didymus, said to his fellow
disciples, “Let us also go, so that wedisciples, “Let us also go, so that we
may die with Him.”may die with Him.”
John 11:1-16John 11:1-16

7. God’s Weird Ways…God’s Weird Ways…
 Ever Get frustrated with God?Ever Get frustrated with God?
 Ever wonder “Why in the world…?”Ever wonder “Why in the world…?”
 Today I want to talk about theToday I want to talk about the
most difficult thing in Christian lifemost difficult thing in Christian life
 If I polled you, that “thing” mightIf I polled you, that “thing” might
be many different “ones”, but Ibe many different “ones”, but I
think the passage today willthink the passage today will
illuminate you on the subjectilluminate you on the subject

8. 4 Characters today…4 Characters today…
 The Critical PatientThe Critical Patient
 The Concerned SistersThe Concerned Sisters
 The Cringing DisciplesThe Cringing Disciples
 The Confident SaviourThe Confident Saviour
There is a great lesson for us hereThere is a great lesson for us here
today…today…

9. 1.The Critical Patient1.The Critical Patient
 Vv 1-2, Lazarus, from the HebrewVv 1-2, Lazarus, from the Hebrew
“Eleazar– One whom God helps”“Eleazar– One whom God helps”
 Not the same Lazarus mentioned inNot the same Lazarus mentioned in
Luke 16 as a beggarLuke 16 as a beggar
 His import is that He is dying, notHis import is that He is dying, not
which particular ‘Lazarus’ iswhich particular ‘Lazarus’ is
described, btwdescribed, btw

10. 1.The Critical Patient1.The Critical Patient
 Vv 3-4, Jesus uses the wordVv 3-4, Jesus uses the word
‘phileo’ describing His love for‘phileo’ describing His love for
LazarusLazarus
 He said, “This sickness will not endHe said, “This sickness will not end
in death…” remember thatin death…” remember that
 In V 5, however, Jesus ‘agapao’In V 5, however, Jesus ‘agapao’
the three of themthe three of them
 ? I’ll get there in a minute? I’ll get there in a minute

11. 2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters
 Vv 3-6, Lazarus was sick enough thatVv 3-6, Lazarus was sick enough that
they sought out Jesus immediatelythey sought out Jesus immediately
 They were confident in His love forThey were confident in His love for
Lazarus and his record of healingsLazarus and his record of healings
 They also asked in complete humility,They also asked in complete humility,
without demand, and in surrender towithout demand, and in surrender to
His love—What do I mean by that?His love—What do I mean by that?

12. 2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters
 Now to “agapao” in v5. Some will ask,Now to “agapao” in v5. Some will ask,
 ““What kind of messed-up love allowsWhat kind of messed-up love allows
Lazarus to die?!?”Lazarus to die?!?”
 We’ve already refuted the “weak-We’ve already refuted the “weak-
faith-or-sin-in-their-lives-argumentfaith-or-sin-in-their-lives-argument
 Also, I must once again nail down theAlso, I must once again nail down the
heresy of the Word of Faithheresy of the Word of Faith
movement…movement…

13. Understand what they did not…Understand what they did not…
 Listen to me carefully, please. God’s love for theListen to me carefully, please. God’s love for the
believer is not a pampering love, but a perfectingbeliever is not a pampering love, but a perfecting
love through trials.love through trials.
 His love for us/ours for Him is no guarantee that weHis love for us/ours for Him is no guarantee that we
will be sheltered from problems and pains of life.will be sheltered from problems and pains of life.
 Remember, Father God loves His Son perfectly, yetRemember, Father God loves His Son perfectly, yet
allowed Him to experience the shame of the cross.allowed Him to experience the shame of the cross.
 We must never, think that love and suffering areWe must never, think that love and suffering are
incompatible. Together shape us, mold us, andincompatible. Together shape us, mold us, and
transform us into the image of Christ.transform us into the image of Christ.

14. 2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters
 When we find ourselves encounteredWhen we find ourselves encountered
by disease, disappointment, delay, andby disease, disappointment, delay, and
even death, our only hope andeven death, our only hope and
encouragement is the Word of Godencouragement is the Word of God
 We must live by faith, not by sight.We must live by faith, not by sight.
 Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the dayPsalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day
of trouble; I will deliver you, and youof trouble; I will deliver you, and you
shall glorify Me.”shall glorify Me.”

15.  According to John 1:28 and 10:40, JesusAccording to John 1:28 and 10:40, Jesus
was at Bethabara, about 20 miles fromwas at Bethabara, about 20 miles from
Bethany, a hard day’s journeyBethany, a hard day’s journey
 Jesus sent him back with an encouragingJesus sent him back with an encouraging
message in v4message in v4
 But then he did the WEIRD thingBut then he did the WEIRD thing
 He waited 2 more days before leaving– byHe waited 2 more days before leaving– by
the time they arrived, Laz dead 4 daysthe time they arrived, Laz dead 4 days
2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters

16. 2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters
 Let’s clear any confusionLet’s clear any confusion
 Was Jesus waiting for Lazarus to die?Was Jesus waiting for Lazarus to die?
 No– Lazarus was dead by the time theNo– Lazarus was dead by the time the
messenger arrivedmessenger arrived
 Then, why did Jesus delay two moreThen, why did Jesus delay two more
days?days?
 Jesus was on the Divine TimetableJesus was on the Divine Timetable
 He was waiting for 2 reasons, I thinkHe was waiting for 2 reasons, I think

17. 2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters
 1) Greater authenticity to the miracle1) Greater authenticity to the miracle
 The fact that the man had been dead four daysThe fact that the man had been dead four days
gave greater authenticity to the miracle andgave greater authenticity to the miracle and
greater opportunity for people to believe,greater opportunity for people to believe,
including His own disciples.including His own disciples.
 2) Overcoming the Jewish folk tale2) Overcoming the Jewish folk tale
 According to an old Jewish folk take, theAccording to an old Jewish folk take, the
spirit of a dead person hovers over one’sspirit of a dead person hovers over one’s
 dead body for three days for an opportunitydead body for three days for an opportunity
to return to itto return to it

18. 3. The Cringing Disciples3. The Cringing Disciples
 Vv 7-14, the ministry at Bethabara was goingVv 7-14, the ministry at Bethabara was going
well, many were believingwell, many were believing
 They didn’t know how soon, but they knewThey didn’t know how soon, but they knew
there was a price on Jesus’ headthere was a price on Jesus’ head
 They weren’t keen on returning to BethanyThey weren’t keen on returning to Bethany
because it was so close to Jerusalembecause it was so close to Jerusalem
 Vv 9-10– nothing will extend or shorten God’sVv 9-10– nothing will extend or shorten God’s
planned timing for your life’s ministryplanned timing for your life’s ministry

19. 4. The Confident Saviour4. The Confident Saviour
 Vv 15-16, Jesus was not glad Lazarus had diedVv 15-16, Jesus was not glad Lazarus had died
 He was glad this situation would build HisHe was glad this situation would build His
disciples’ faith– power over deathdisciples’ faith– power over death
 Lots of jokes about Doubting ThomasLots of jokes about Doubting Thomas
 His faith was weak but his love for Jesus wasHis faith was weak but his love for Jesus was
beyond all elsebeyond all else
 Would you die for Jesus? Thomas eventuallyWould you die for Jesus? Thomas eventually
did, as a martyrdid, as a martyr

20. The Take-Home…The Take-Home…
 True trust in God gets stronger when He isTrue trust in God gets stronger when He is
silentsilent
 God’s answer to prayer is always far greaterGod’s answer to prayer is always far greater
than what we expect. Don’t box Him up!than what we expect. Don’t box Him up!
 Our lives are granted and scheduled by God toOur lives are granted and scheduled by God to
live for His glory. Don’t waste life inlive for His glory. Don’t waste life in
selfishness-- you’ve been bought!selfishness-- you’ve been bought!
 Don’t just say that you are willing to die forDon’t just say that you are willing to die for
Christ, be willing to live for Christ first.Christ, be willing to live for Christ first.