Jesus and His Friend
Notes
Transcript
Teri Leinbaugh story [1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories from Edward K. Rowell]
BFF - Best Friends Forever
friend — noun. a person you know well and regard with affection and trust. (Facebook friend may or may not meet this definition. Better labeled “connection”)
companion — noun. a person who is frequently in the company of another; sometimes with the connotation of a friend.
acquaintance — noun. someone whom another knows personally; perhaps on the level of a friend.
associate — noun. a person who is part of a band of people associated temporarily in some activity.
member - noun. person who is a part or member of some thing, group, or organization.
connection — noun. person joined socially with another or others.
human - noun. part of the human race
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
As we go through the gospel - we’ve been looking for grace and truth - I’ll point those out as we go this morning.
Today is sermon 25 in John. We have 29 more to go. God’s Word - John’s Gospel - has a lot to say to us.
Last week in Chapter 10: Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication) - Jewish leaders trying to seize him - he escaped and went to where John had been baptizing in the early days - many came and believed.
Today’s reading in Chapter 11 finds us a short while later.
Chapter 12 - six days before Passover
Chapter 13 - Thursday evening before the Crucifixion
Chapters 14-17: 99% red letters - Jesus Words
Then into the trial, death, burial, Resurrection, and post-resurrection.
Today we start a familiar story to many of us. The raising of Lazarus. We’re going to take 3 weeks to look how Jesus conducted himself for his friend, Lazarus.
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s Word:
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,
7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.
10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
FRIENDS
FRIENDS
Verse 5 - loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus - dear friends
I like the way NLT shares in verse 3:
3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
It is nice to have dear friends, ones you love.
Friends on our November trip:
Kurt - married us - Cheri since elementary; biology partner in high school 1977; he officiated our wedding in 1986; he moved and we visited him in South Carolina the first time in 1988.
Spent two nights in middle of Florida - Bud and Brenda insisted “we have a room” - friends of my parents at VBC - Brenda was friend in a time of need for Cheri before we were married; a few years ago informed me “our funeral director has your name and number.”
Jim and Peggy - Friends in Port Charlotte - our youngest and their son - friends since 4 years old; all through school; in each others weddings - a number of Christmas together after our stove conked out 1 year
A week before visiting with them - Peggy texted me about our arrival time:
I replied: We have all afternoon/evening available. We are spending Friday night there in Port Charlotte at the Country Inn & Suites. We'll leave Saturday morning around 7 for Fort Lauderdale.
Peggy: Why are you staying there when you could stay with us?
Me: We didn't want to impose. We're getting up early on Saturday.
Peggy: Goodness! No imposition
Me: That's up to you. I can cancel the hotel.
Peggy: Good grief! Cancel!
I believe this is similar to the friendship Jesus had with Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in the village of Bethany.
Jesus considers us friends. He tells His disciples later in chapter 15:
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Jn 15:13.
Is Jesus your BFF? Do you realize the GRACE, the unfailing love, that comes from Jesus Christ? The love He has to be your friend? Your BFF?
GOD’S GLORY
GOD’S GLORY
Lazarus’ sickness happened for the glory of God. Jesus didn’t rush to Bethany. He stayed where he was for 2 more days.
This TRUTH is hard to take, it is hard to understand sometimes - God is sovereign. Nothing happens without his knowledge and without his allowing it.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 11
Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus makes decisions that seem irrational to the people around Him, but they accomplish God’s greater purposes.
God expect’s “life” to draw us closer to Him, to rely on Him, to be BFFs with Him, to trust Him with our very lives - now and forever.
Pain, grief, sadness, happiness, joy, - the gamut of life that comes our way - in all the happenings of our lives - God intends to show His glory. I can’t explain or even understand all the intricacies of that TRUTH - but the Bible is clear about.
Well - we know the ending of Lazarus story. Jesus raises him from the dead.
That’s the ending of our story, too. We join Jesus in the Resurrection and for eternity where the Glory of God provides everything for us.
TOLD THEM PLAINLY
TOLD THEM PLAINLY
I like having resources available to study and prepare a message.
On the other hand, sometimes I don’t like having all those resources available.
Sometimes, I miss the early days of my preaching - read the scripture - in context - not only scriptures before and scriptures after - but the context of the Bible. That’s a lot to take in - commentaries and study aids are nice - but relying on the Words of our friend Jesus is best.
God has provided His Word. Yes, there are some mysteries yet to be revealed to us, but there is a lot that is told to us plainly. The Holy Spirit helps us to discern the real GRACE and TRUTH from the distractions and lies of Satan and the world.
Nicodemus - “born again?” - trying to figure it out how to go back into his mother’s womb. Jesus said - “the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”
In verse 11 - a common saying “fallen asleep” - disciples response - sleep is good when you’re sick.
Jesus told them plainly “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”
Do you believe in Lazarus’ friend Jesus?
Do you believe in the plain plan of salvation through Jesus?
Do you live your life to bring glory to God? To bring glory to Jesus, your BFF?
Do you trust in Him?
As our closing hymn says: “'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, just to take him at His word.”