Newsflash: Jesus is in control!
We are into the Easter season a time when we rejoice and reflect on what Jesus has done for us
We are here because we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again but do we believe that He is in control?
Let’s look at this story. Lazarus resurrection took place just a few weeks before Easter
John 11:1-3
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
Mary and Martha sent a request (prayer) to Jesus for help
John 11:4-6
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus there are two things I need us to look at here
- Jesus delayed his “answer”
- Jesus said this sickness was not unto death but Lazarus died.
John 11:7-10
7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea. 8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
This is a great and wonderful promise from Jesus.
– Jesus is in control of your future if you will walk in the light with Him
-Think about it when you have been praying, being in the word, thinking about the Lord do you mess up? Not very often if you do at all
– BUT when you choose to walk in your own light, which is really no light at all you will constantly stumble
Let that sink in for a minute…
John 11:11-15
11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
Have you ever been confused by something the Lord has told you? What about something the Lord has done or not done?
It is OK to keep asking questions, keep asking until you get some clarity.
He is in control of death, our future, and especially our enemies!
John 11:16
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
I need to pause here to correct and save the reputation of someone
This is “doubting Thomas” saying this Didymus (meaning twin) in other books.
John 11:17- 27
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”
Martha was in a, “I believe but help my unbelief moment”
Think about how great your fear of death is!
Death does not have control over us Jesus does and as a Christian there are only two reasons for you to leave this world
- You have completed the task the Lord has laid before you
- God has asked you to do something and you refuse to do what He asked and that was the only thing he had left for you to do
John 11:28-39
28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him. 30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
The scene now changes to Jesus’ response to Mary!
Jesus is angry but what is he angry about?
Then he weeps. Why did he weep?
Jesus took control of the power of sin and death when he went to the cross and if we choose to trust him then that power has been broken in our lives as well Romans 6: 1-11 and then Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
John 11:40-43
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Remember the definition of fear False Expectations Appearing Real.
Have you ever wonder why Jesus called Lazarus to come?
What more could He do for you?
“I’ve got this, he gave us the preview in Lazarus of his power and authority
Because He is in control….
- We can trust him that even though your answer may be delayed He loves you and will fulfill it with the biggest plan possible if you will trust him
- If He has made a promise to you, He will fulfill it
- You can have questions and he does not get irritated with you asking until you understand, He is secure in being God so questions are a joy for Him to answer
- He has taken over the power of sin and death
- Don’t limit either His power or His love for you both are unending!
Allow this to be a beginning thought for celebrating an amazing Easter