Series Beholding the Lamb 23 IS THERE LIFE AFTER the GRAVE? John 11:1-44

Series Beholding The Lamb 23 “IS THERE LIFE AFTER THE GRAVE?” John 11:1-44

Intro- Job asked the question Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again?Will there be Life after death? Death is an unpopular topic. But it is a Fact of Life. It was said that when Socrates, the Greek philosopher drank the poison Hemlock, and lay down to die, he was asked by his friends, is there life after death? He replied, I sure hope so!

I HAVE KNOCKED ON Many a door and Asked them Life’s Greatest Question; If you died TODAY, do you know if you will go to Heaven? And I have heard many say- I Sure Hope So! You better know so. Death is an enemy we all face. Death is Not the end of the Line. Death is but a doorway that we pass through to eternal life. Death has been described as a Departure.

The Apostle Peter testified that at death he would put off his body. 2 Peter 1:14- Knowing that shortly I must put offthis my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.

Jesus’ promise to the thief on the cross shows that death is a departure. Luke 23:43-And Jesus said unto him,Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Aren’t you glad he didn’t say you’re gonna dream you’re in paradise! But today thou shalt BE…)

Verses 1-2 We note The CRITICAL CONDITION of Lazarus- He is sick. Sickness is not uncommon. Sickness means something is not right in your body! Obliviously, Lazarus was critically sick. He was so sick that is caused in verse 3… verse 3-COMPASSIONATE CONCERN of these Ladies-they were so concerned for their brother that they sent for Jesus. Isn’t it good to know there are people who care? Verse 4- a CALMING CONFIDENCE of the Lord- When Jesus heardthat, he said,This sicknessis not unto death, but for the glory of God, (I thought about our own little Ryliegh Ledford, Why her Lord? Why not some of these mean members that want to cause all kinds of trouble?) that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.(John 11:4)

Notice if you will, the ISSUE is DEATH & DYING… and in verse 6 we see DELAY! At a time when Mary & Martha needed Jesus right then- He sat still for 2 more days!

I. THE PROBLEM OF DEATH page 2 We’re all critically ill. We’re all dying of the disease of sin. All of us are going to die one day.Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

A. DEATH IS AN UNHAPPY EVENT- here was an ordinary family, living in an ordinary place, and death invaded their home. Death’s never convenient! Death always brings division, defeat & discouragement. Death means Separation. Physical Death is separation of the soul from the body. Spiritual Death is separation of the soul from God. Eternal Death is separation of the soul and body from God for All Eternity. Death is an Unhappy Event!

B. DEATH IS A UNIVERSAL EVENT- Death enters the home of the saved & the unsaved. Death touches the rich & the poor. When we hear of death, it affects us. Does it not move you when you hear of someone dying? They are living one moment and gone the next. In recent weeks the miners who were trapped in the mines… The earthquakes that destroyed lives and many lives were taken in death.

C. DEATH IS AN UNEXPECTED EVENT- an old fable tells the story of a man that made an agreement with death. A man made an agreement with death, but only on one condition. You must send me a warning before you come. To which death agreed. As time went by, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, months turned into years. And as the man was sitting in his home considering all his wealth, death came and tapped him on the shoulder. Death said, you time is up. The man said, what are you doing here so soon? You didn’t send me a warning like we agreed. Death said, but I did send you warning. In fact I sent many warnings! You failed to recognize them. Just take a look into the mirror and you’ll see some of my messengers. Look at your hair. Once it was full & black. Now it’s thin and white! Look at the way you cock your head to hear me my voice! Look at how close you stand at the mirror because your eye sight is growing dim. I see your not ready for me but your time is up!

Proverbs 27:1Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. James 4:14Whereas ye know not whatshall be on the morrow. For whatis your life?It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Will death come UNEXPECTED for you?

II. THE PERSON OF DELIVERANCE– (vs.25a) page 3 Can you sense the tide beginning to turn? Aren’t you glad there’s a Hero on the scene?Aren’t you glad there’s a solution to our Delima? John 11:2121Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.(Mary was saying, Lord, Where have you been? I sent for you and you didn’t come. Why didn’t you come and make Lazarus all better like you healed all those other people? Lord I don’t understand!)

And standing there, in the stinch of death, 25Jesus said unto her,I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:(Jesus was saying, I’m the one that can get you out of that grave when no one else can! I’m the one that can that can release you from the grip of death!)

A. JESUS WAS DEMONSTRATING HIS PURPOSE- Life doesn’t not begin at 40. Life begins at Calvary. Life begins when you bow on your knee and confess to almighty God, You have Sinned and you want His forgiveness and you trust the death of Christ as payment for your sin. And you believe Jesus Arose from the grave! JESUS PURPOSEisnot to add years to your life. HIS PURPOSEis to add LIFE to your years! You may be in this building. And you may even be breathing yet your just existing! Just because you draw a paycheck doesn’t mean you are living. The Bible talks about man is Dead in trespasses and sins! Physically you’re alive but spiritually you’re dead! What you need is for God’s Holy Spirit to pass by your way with the Shock Paddles of Life and give you a jolt!

At this point, Lazarus is dead. His body is laying in the grave. He does not need an EDUCATORto get him out of the grave! Lazarus didn’t need a MOTIVATORto get him out of the grave! He needed a RECUSITATORto get him out of the grave!

Lazarus was dead!He Needed LIFE!And standing outside that tomb was the Life-Giver! Jesus said:“I am the resurrection and the LIFE.”

Jesus’ PURPOSE is to GIVE LIFE!

B. JESUS WAS DEMONSTRATING HIS POWER- May I remind you, there’s only been ONE PERSON that ever lived that could Raise people from the dead! There’s only been ONE MAN that broke up every funeral he attended! 1. Jesus Raised OTHERS From The Dead - Jairus's daughter - Mark 5:41-42; the Widow of Nain's son - Luke 7:11 and Lazarus - John 11:43-44.

Jesus proved His power over death and the grave by raising these people from the dead. 2. Jesus Raised HIMSELF From The Dead– Remember Jesus said, I have the power to lay my life down, and I have the power to take it up again 3. Jesus PROMISED To Raise His CHURCH From The Dead - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are aliveand remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17Then we which are aliveand remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Those who have trusted Jesus as their personal Savior can have the confidence that Jesus will one day resurrect their bodies from the grave. #1- The PROBLEM of DEATH…#2- The PERSON of DELIVERANCE

III. THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE- (vs.25b-26) Jesus said, “he that believeth in me, thought he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

A. THE SCOPE OF THIS PROMISE-“whosoever” Do you realize this promise is to you and me! Rich or poor; Black or white; Illegal immigrants and legal immigrants!

B. THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS PROMISE-“whosoever BELIEVETH” It’s so simple a child can grasp it! BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

C. THE SURENESS OF THIS PROMISE- “shall NEVER DIE” Jesus said, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, YET SHALL HE LIVE”

IV. THE PLAN OF DELIVERANCE- (VS.26b) “Believest thou this?” A. This Is The Only Plan That Guarantees ENTRANCE Into Heaven - Acts 4:12. B. This Is The Only Plan That Guarantees ESCAPE From Sin And From All Its Baggage. Heb. 2:3

Do you believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life? Martha said: 27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. (John 11:27)

(Ill. "Bruce Larson in his book, Living Beyond Our Fears, tells a great story about a judge in Yugoslaviawho had an unfortunate accident. He was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. His wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and, as was the custom in that particular town, he was placed in a room under a crypt in the town cemetery for 24 hours before burial. In the middle of the night, the judge came to, realized where he was, and rushed over to alert the guard, who promptly ran off terrified."Fortunately, he returned with a friend, and they released the newly revived judge, whose first thought was to phone his wife and reassure her. He got no farther than, 'Darling, it's me--' when she screamed and fainted. Next he went to the houses of several friends, who were sure he was a ghost. In a last desperate measure, he called a friend in a distant city, who had not heard of his death, and who interceded for him with his family and friends.")

Imagine the shock that your lost friends would feel when they saw the difference that Jesus can make in you.

Will you be prepared when God calls for you in death? Job asked the question, If a man die, shall he live again?Job 14:14 Without a doubt, YES we shall live again. In Heaven or in HELL.

The Question God is asking you today is- BELIEVEST THOU THIS?