a close friend of jesus, lazarus, from bethany was very sick and dying. the sisters, martha and...

A close friend of Jesus, Lazarus, A close friend of Jesus, Lazarus, from Bethany was very sick and from Bethany was very sick and dying. The sisters, Martha and dying. The sisters, Martha and Mary, summoned Jesus to Mary, summoned Jesus to come. Jesus intentionally come. Jesus intentionally tarried and waited until tarried and waited until Lazarus was already dead for Lazarus was already dead for four days. four days.

His purpose was to raise Lazarus His purpose was to raise Lazarus back from the dead and back from the dead and demonstrate his divine power demonstrate his divine power so his disciples will believe in so his disciples will believe in him (vv. 14-15).him (vv. 14-15).

It is in this context where he It is in this context where he claims, “I am the resurrection claims, “I am the resurrection and the life”, his fifth “I Am” and the life”, his fifth “I Am” statement that gives hope to statement that gives hope to the dying world.the dying world.

Hope is rooted in Hope is rooted in the Person of the Person of

JESUSJESUS(vv. 21-25a, 27-37)(vv. 21-25a, 27-37)

• Jesus is considerate with Jesus is considerate with those who are disappointed.those who are disappointed.

1.1. Hope is rooted in the Person of Jesus Hope is rooted in the Person of Jesus (vv. 21-25a, 27-37)(vv. 21-25a, 27-37)..

Martha and Mary were Martha and Mary were disappointed with Jesus for disappointed with Jesus for his late arrival. They his late arrival. They expected him to come expected him to come quickly and heal their quickly and heal their brother.brother.

• Jesus is compassionate with Jesus is compassionate with those who are distressed.those who are distressed.


Jesus is not a stone-hearted Jesus is not a stone-hearted person who does not care person who does not care about others’ feelings. about others’ feelings. Jesus wept when he saw Jesus wept when he saw Mary and the Jews with her Mary and the Jews with her crying.crying.

• Jesus is patient with those Jesus is patient with those who doubt.who doubt.


Jesus was “deeply moved” Jesus was “deeply moved” for the second time but for for the second time but for another reason (vv. 37-38). another reason (vv. 37-38). Some Jews doubted his Some Jews doubted his goodness and greatness.goodness and greatness.

• Jesus is the source, the giver, Jesus is the source, the giver, and the keeper of life.and the keeper of life.


Jesus turned Martha’s Jesus turned Martha’s doctrinal statement (v. 24) doctrinal statement (v. 24) into his personal into his personal declaration (v. 25).declaration (v. 25).

Hope is rooted in Hope is rooted in the Promise of the Promise of

JESUSJESUS(vv. 25b-26)(vv. 25b-26)

• There is physical death.There is physical death.

2.2. Hope is rooted in the Promise of Jesus Hope is rooted in the Promise of Jesus (vv. 25b-26)(vv. 25b-26)..

““He who believes in me will He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and and whoever lives and believes in me will never believes in me will never die.”die.”

• There is spiritual death.There is spiritual death.


““He who believes in me He who believes in me will live, even though he will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will and believes in me will never die.”never die.”

• There is eternal death.There is eternal death.


““He who believes in me He who believes in me will live, even though he will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will and believes in me will never die.”never die.”

• Jesus promises life beyond Jesus promises life beyond the physical realm.the physical realm.


There is life after death. But There is life after death. But the kind of life you will the kind of life you will have depends on who you have depends on who you believe in.believe in.

• Jesus promises life beyond Jesus promises life beyond the physical realm.the physical realm.


Born once, die twice. Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once.Born twice, die once.

You need to be born again.You need to be born again.

Hope is rooted in Hope is rooted in the Power of the Power of

JESUSJESUS(vv. 38-44)(vv. 38-44)

• Four days in the tomb Four days in the tomb establishes the certainty of establishes the certainty of Lazarus’ death.Lazarus’ death.

3.3. Hope is rooted in the Power of Jesus Hope is rooted in the Power of Jesus (vv. 38-44)(vv. 38-44)..

The rabbis of Jesus’ time The rabbis of Jesus’ time believed that the human believed that the human spirit stayed close to the spirit stayed close to the physical body for three physical body for three days. days.

• God’s power demonstrated is God’s power demonstrated is always God’s glory always God’s glory celebrated.celebrated.


““Did I not tell you that if Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would you believed, you would see the glory of God?” see the glory of God?” (v. 40)(v. 40)

• By raising Lazarus from the By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus proves that he is dead, Jesus proves that he is the source, the giver, and the the source, the giver, and the keeper of life.keeper of life.


Jesus backed up his claim Jesus backed up his claim by raising Lazarus from the by raising Lazarus from the dead.dead.

• But Jesus’ greatest proof is But Jesus’ greatest proof is raising himself from the dead.raising himself from the dead.


““who through the Spirit of who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 1:4)Lord.” (Rom. 1:4)

a close friend of jesus, lazarus, from bethany was very sick and dying. the sisters, martha and...

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