![]() ![]() “ Jesus Christ is the Conqueror of death.”īecause Jesus conquered death at His resurrection, one day death will be no more. Jesus has to break through shock and paralysis and say, “Folks, let’s set him free.” Application Everyone is standing around with mouths open and eyes as big as saucers. I read these words and think about how comedic this scene must have been. Jesus tells the crowd to unbind Lazarus and let him free. Therefore, notice that Lazarus hears the Lord’s voice and comes forth, just as will happen at the end of the age. However, I believe that Lazarus’s resurrection is a microcosm of the final resurrection. I know that prophecy is of the final resurrection. The response of Lazarus here is the fulfillment of prophecy. But, we all know that Jesus has that type of power. Marshall Keeble used to say that Jesus called Lazarus by name to keep all the dead of all the ages from coming forth. Jesus cried, “Lazarus, come forth!” The dead man came out. Jesus knows what His Father will do and has complete confidence in Him. ![]() Notice that Jesus doesn’t ask His Father to help Him do this miracle, but He thanks Him for doing so. This demonstrates the hopelessness of the situation. Decomposition has set in, and it’s not going to be a pleasant smell. Martha tells Jesus that there will be a stench, for Lazarus has been dead for four days. You’d put a large stone at the entrance to keep curiosity seekers and animals out. It was common to bury people in caves in Jesus’ day. But, Jesus is about to do the greater miracle and establish Himself as the conqueror of death. Some of the Jews also said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” They’re right He could have–there are cases in the Gospels where Jesus does that very thing. Have you ever been so angry that you just burst out in tears? Is it not comforting to know that Jesus gets that angry at death? Is it not even more comforting to know that Jesus has the power to do something about His anger? The Greek syntax suggests this might should be translated, “Jesus burst into tears.” I think Jesus is empathizing with Mary and the other mourners here, but I think He is so angry that He just burst out crying. Jesus asks to see where Lazarus has been laid. He sees the victory of Satan in death, and the Lord wants to overcome it. The term “troubled” means “to agitate like water in a pool.” The idea is that Jesus is restless. Death is an enemy of the Lord Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. Jesus sees all the weeping, and “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.” The Greek term translated “groaned” literally means “to snort with anger.” Why does the Lord get angry when He sees the deep grief of Mary and the other mourners? Because death, and all the hurt and pain it brings, is part of the kingdom of Satan! Physical death is in this world because of sin: Romans 5:12-14. Jesus wants to declare to the world that He is the Conqueror of death! I think the Lord intended to allow Lazarus to die and to bring him out of the grave. Jesus stays in Jerusalem when He hears Lazarus is sick. ![]() John tells us that Jesus could have stopped Lazarus from dying (Jn 11:3-6). Jesus performed many miracles, and He could have stopped Lazarus from dying. Mary says to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” I’ve known some people in my time who couldn’t get through the death of a loved one without a great deal of help–I even had to help one family pick out a casket and make arrangements, and they had known death was coming for months. It’s almost as if the crowd thinks that Mary is so fragile that she cannot get through this without a great deal of help. Mary gets up to go where Jesus is, and the crowd that is in the house gets up to follow Mary, thinking that she is going to the tomb. Martha had encountered Jesus first, and she went to tell Mary, her sister, that Jesus wanted to see her. According to our inspired text, “ Jesus Christ is the Conqueror of death.” Let’s explore our text to learn that lesson. I really think it’s a shame that a lot of people know nothing about this text except that “Jesus wept.” This passage presents Jesus as so much bigger than One who simply gets angry and grieved over death. Kids learn that this text contains the shortest verse of Scripture. That’s the unmistakable conclusion from this morning’s text. Some of you have made prearrangements at the funeral home, and you’re not all that keen on the funeral home carrying out those arrangements anytime soon.īut, we’re not the only ones who hate funerals and funeral homes: Jesus hates funerals. ![]() Many of you have gone to the funeral home to say goodbye to someone who meant more to you than life itself. There’s not a person here this morning who doesn’t hate funeral homes. ![]()
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