WTTW: GOD'S WORD

SUNDAY

“Disturbing Death & Resurrecting Life”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 11: 17-37

Paraphrase

By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days and that Martha and Mary were being comforted by many Jews who had come the short distance from Jerusalem to their home. Upon hearing that Jesus was coming, Martha ran to meet him saying, “Lord if you had come right after getting the message my brother was ill he wouldn’t have died although I believe that even now God will give you anything you ask.”

When Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise again she told him she believed her brother would rise in the resurrection at the end of times. However, when Jesus asked her if she believed if He was the resurrection and the life and whoever believed in him would live and never die, Martha confessed her faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who had come into the world.

After her confession, Martha returned home and told Mary that Jesus had arrived and was asking for her at which point Mary quickly went to him and fell at his feet saying, Lord if you had immediately come my brother wouldn’t have died.”

Upon seeing Mary and the Jews who had come to comfort her weeping, Jesus, being emotionally moved through his entire being asked where Lazarus had been buried. When they showed him, He wept. Seeing this, some of the Jews remarked how much Jesus loved Lazarus while others complained that while he had given sight to a man born blind he couldn’t keep his friend from dying.

Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that Jesus was the Resurrection and the Life.

II. INT: How did Jesus reveal he was the Resurrection and the Life?

III. ANS: Jesus revealed he was the Resurrection and the Life through:

1. Lazarus dying before He arrived. vv 17-21

2. Martha confessing Him Christ. vv 22-27

3. Death disturbing Him deeply. vv 28-37


B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

II. INT: How does Jesus reveal he is the Resurrection and the Life?

III. ANS: Jesus reveals he is the Resurrection and the Life through:

1. His dying on the Cross.

2. Our confessing Him the risen Christ.

3. Our death disturbing Him deeply.


Prayer

LORD, Thank You for Your Son who did not fear the death of others nor his own death on the Cross.

LORD, Glory and honor to You for Martha’s confession of faith in Your Son as the Christ, the Resurrection and the Life and for the power of Your Holy Spirit so that we too can profess our faith in Your Son as the risen Christ.

LORD, Thank You for caring about us, about our death, and for You Son being so disturbed about it that when You sent Him into the world He was obedient to You even unto death on a cross that we may live eternally with You.

LORD we ask that You accept our Thanksgiving and Praise as we lift it up to you today knowing that the gift You have given us is not based on our having done anything to earn it but instead is freely given to all who believe and receive. .

In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.