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April 9 - John 11 - "Judging Jesus"

MPC 9th April 2017.

Chris Hogbin

We live in a world of big claims. Now I don't know about you, but whenever I hear a big claim, I'm skeptical. Where's the proof? I mean, I'm not gullible.

Tom Sietas claims that he can hold his breath for over 20min. What do you Reckon?

How can we judge whether Tom's claim is true or false? How do we know whether to believe any claim? I used to practice holding my breath for spear fishing. I got up to two minutes 45 seconds. Which I thought was pretty good. twenty minutes. Sounds ridiculous.

I think the only way we can tell whether something is worth believing is by having a look at the evidence. With such a wild claim, Tom's got to back it up... which he did.

Tom Sietas held his breath for the world record of 22minutes and 22 seconds inside a glass water tank on national tv in June 2012.

You can believe Tom in his claim, because he backed it up with action. That's how it works, if you make a claim, I'll believe it if it can be backed up with evidence.

Here at MPC, we've been working through the book of John together. And all the way through the book, we've seen some huge claims made by Jesus. Today we're having a look at John 11. Jesus has already made the massive claims that he's come from the father. That he's God's son. And people have been weighing his claims. Judging Jesus.

Today in John 11 it's the biggest claim of all. Life and death.

Take a look at his words to Martha in verse 25.

He says, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live... even though they die."

What's it going to take to back up and claim like this?

Let me ask you this, What's it going to take for someone like you to actually believe him?

He's not claiming something trivial like he can hold his breath for a half hour. He's claiming... power over life and death. Which when you think about it for a minute is astonishing. Especially under the circumstances we're looking at here. And the story that's unfolding from the start of the chapter. Because it's a genuine life and death situation.

Mary and Martha have sent for Jesus. And it's urgent. Because their brother, who's one of Jesus' best mates, is critically ill. They've seen Jesus has the power to heal, and they know that Jesus loves their brother, so they ask him to come as fast as he can. I reckon it's a pretty reasonable request. My old man's a doctor, and I often give him a call when one of my kids is sick. He loves my kids so he always comes straight away.

Jesus responds just how you'd hope. He's going to be okay. He says, don't worry. This sickness won't end in death. And yet when you look at his words carefully in verse 4, there's something deeper going on.

And what he does next - it's completely bizarre. See if you can predict the next part of the verse, I'll give you the first half... Keep in mind Jesus loves this guy, it's an emergency, and Jesus has just said his sickness won't end in death. Alright, here we go: verse 5:

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick he...

Look what it says. Verse 5: Jesus loves these guys. Verse 6. So... when he heard Lazarus was sick... he stayed where he was... two more days,

And Lazarus dies. I mean, what help is that? If he loves them? He's a healer. Why didn't he come and heal?

But just keep in mind. Jesus said the sickness isn't going to end in death. So maybe there's more to come. But at this point, Martha and Mary are beside themselves. Because it seems it's too late. Why didn't he come sooner?

Look what Martha says in verse 21; and Mary says the same words in verse 32... Why didn't you come?

if you'd been here, my brother would not have died.

They're devastated. Their brother... is dead. They've been through hell the past four days. Not to mention the time leading up to his death. The shock of the death, the funeral; it's a black time. Whichever way you slice it, death sucks. Even Jesus is moved to tears. You can see in verse 35; famous as the shortest verse in the bible; "Jesus weeps". This is a real death, real loss. As terrible as yours or mine will be.

This is a family tragedy. So you can understand where the sisters are coming from. Their frustration. "If Jesus listened to us and came when we asked, he could have prevented all of this and our brother would still be here." I get it.

See Jesus could have gone and healed Lazarus while he was sick. We know he can do that. We've seen it before. That's what everyone expects. He's healed a guy crippled for 38 years. He's given sight to a blind man. But he didn't heal Lazarus. He let him die.

What could be so important that Jesus would put these friends he loves through all this pain? Remember the puzzle in verse 5 and 6. Jesus loved this family. so he delayed two more days. And let him die. How is it love to let him die?

The answer is, they're going to get the benefit of a front row seat in the events that are going to move the story to it's climax. As we saw a couple of weeks back when we jumped ahead to chapter 12.

The glorification of Jesus is in his own death. And his resurrection.

Go back to verse 4 and take a look at his words. Nobody knows exactly what he means yet. But here's what he says. Check out verse 4:

Jesus says, "This sickness will not end in death. No it is for god's glory so that god's son may be glorified through it."

Here's the thing. When Jesus uses that word glorified he knows what's coming. Glorified not by being crowned with gold, but with a crown of thorns on a cross.

Lazarus is in Judea and Judea is where they want to kill him. And the disciples know that. Verse 8, they say Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and you're going back?

But for Jesus, that's exactly the point. And we'll see it unfold. That as you can see in the next chapter, when the hour comes for him to be glorified it's going to be exactly through dying. Like a kernel of wheat. That dies to produce many seeds.

It's all part of the plan as he heads towards his hour of glory. His death At the cross. And his resurrection.

And what he's about to do here is going to both provoke that and give a glimpse of the outcome. To Mary. And Martha. And Lazarus. And anyone else who's ready to look at the evidence. And believe his claims.

Verse 15 - Jesus says to his disciples,

Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.

He's even more direct when he's talking to Martha. The verse we looked at before. Because he says "believing in me" - is the key to not just life, but eternal life. Look again. Verse 25.

I am the resurrection and the life.The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Now again. A big claim needs big evidence to back it up.

And by delaying, and letting Lazarus die... Jesus has set the scene. To show that he's more than just a healer. He's a death defyer. He's a life bringer. He's the resurrection and the life.

Watch and see if he can pull it off. Maybe it'll help you believe as well.

They're outside the tomb. Verse 41. And Jesus prays. And then reminds us one more time. That he's come from the father. And that's the source of his power. Verse 41.

They took away the stone. Then Jesus looks up and says, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

See, if they end up trusting him; if they end up believing him. It's not just Lazarus who gets life. It's the crowd as well. eternal life.

Watch what happens. Verse 43...

He calls in a loud voice - to the dead guy! - "Lazarus, come out!"

And verse 44,

the dead man comes out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,and a cloth around his face. Jesus says to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

I asked you earlier, what would it take you to believe that someone has the power over death? For me, seeing them actually raise someone from the dead is pretty compelling. Claiming to have power over death is massive and I need to see evidence. This evidence Jesus gives us demands attention from even the greatest sceptics.

If you're a sceptic yourself, it's worth asking. What more would he have to do For you to take him at his word?

But even at this point, you'll notice the verdict goes two completely different ways. Many more are believing, but the rejection grows stronger as well. Why is that?

Let's think about the process of coming to believe a claim, having a new belief in something. When you're faced by a claim like this and you're convinced that it is true, there'll often be implications that come as a result. Sometimes the implications are insignificant like in Tom the breath holding guy's case. Doesn't matter whether you believe or not.

But coming to believe in Jesus has huge implications.

Many who were with Mary and Martha just now see what Jesus does and believe in him. They're convinced by what they've seen hat Jesus is who he says he is and therefore his promises are true. That he is the resurrection and the life. And that the one who believes in him will never truly die. See, this raising of Lazarus points to the promise of our own resurrection. Which ultimately far outweighs any hardship that could come in this life. Have a look. Verse 45.

Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did... believed in him.

Death... has lost its sting!

But here's the flip side. It's not that the Pharisees don't see what Jesus has done. It's not even that they don't believe that he's done it. It's that they don't want to accept the consequences. The implications.

There's a political layer. And there's the personal layer as well.

"What if everyone starts following him? It'll just upset our fragile relationship with Rome."

Which will totally mess up the safety of their nicely controlled rules and religion where they're in charge. Have a look at verses 47-48:

What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.

It'll be a whole change of the power structure. Which is actually what happens even today. If you take Jesus at his word. And believe his claims. It means he's going to be in charge. He's going to call the shots on your priorities and your life decisions and your moral code. There's no trying to hide it, there will be implications if you choose to believe in and follow Jesus, and these are too great for many to bear. I don't think today is much different. many people decide to reject Jesus, just like these Pharisees did.

Watch what happens.

They need to put a stop to him fast. The high Priest Caiaphas has his say in verse 49 and 50; and it's hugely ironic. Because in the way the story plays out, it's exactly what's happening. Just in a slightly different way.

Follow his words from v49. He says

You know nothing at all! You don't realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.

And so in v53,

53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

Which ultimately is the way that Jesus is going to be glorified. Exactly as he said.

Although there's a problem with their logic, isn't there? Deciding to kill the one who says he's the resurrection and the life; when he's just demonstrated beyond doubt that he is!

They're saying, "let's get rid of the guy who's just shown he has power to raise the dead... . by killing him." How do you reckon that's going to go for them? It's like trying to get rid of a fish by throwing it in the water. Next week as we celebrate Easter, we'll see how they go.

If you've been following this series we've called Judging Jesus, you'll see for now, the case has almost been built. The big claim that he has power over death. He's backed it up, and generations of Christians have believed that. In a way that changes lives. And changes the way they see death.

Andrew was a fit guy in his late 40's from my old church. He had some ongoing stomach pains a couple of years back. He saw his GP for a check-up in the February. Turns out it was pancreatic cancer. And he died 6 weeks later. The night he died, he held the pastors hand; they were both in tears; and Andrew gave thanks that this was not the end; that he'd soon be resurrected the way Jesus has promised.

At the funeral, his wife Melissa held on to the same hope. And she still does today. Because Andrew and Melissa have seen Jesus at work. And they take him at his word. There's huge hope in that. Countless Christians... have done that. Because they actually believe that Jesus really is... the resurrection and the life.

We all judge Jesus, either to be who he claims to be; or we reject him. Where are you sitting as we near the end of our journey through John? If you're still sitting on the fence, come along next week to see the climax as we jump ahead to the final chapters.

And then if you haven't already, you'll be in a position to judge Jesus for yourself.