Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last week we saw how suffering presents an opportunity to glorify God.

An opportunity to make much of Him.

A chance to show the world God’s power and character.

We saw suffering afforded us an opportunity to glorify God in a way not available to us in the absence of it.

By verse 17 the suffering of Lazarus had ended.

He had died and gone to heaven.

But the suffering of Mary and Martha was just beginning.

They were in the intense grief of the recent passing of someone they loved dearly.

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The way people express their grief was somewhat different from the way we do so in our day.

The funeral was a simple, quiet, intimate occasion for the family to grieve.

After the funeral others would come to offer condolences and grieve with the family.

In fact, it was customary to hire flute players and professional wailers/mourners to help in the process.

Mary and Martha were a well known, wealthy family.

There were a lot of professional mourners among them on the day Jesus came to them; lot of people from Jerusalem.

Among these were a LOT of people who loved Mary and Martha but disliked Jesus.

“The four days may be significant.

There was a Jewish belief that the soul stays near the grave for three days, hoping to be able to return to the body.

But on the fourth day it sees decomposition setting in and leaves it finally”

Morris, L. (1995).

The Gospel according to John (p.

485).

Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.

B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

“There are sources attesting the rabbinic belief that the soul hovers over the body of the deceased person for the first three days, ‘intending to re-enter it, but as soon as it sees its appearance change’, i.e. that decomposition has set in, it departs.”

Carson, D. A. (1991).

The Gospel according to John (p.

411).

Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

So by this point all hope was lost.

Lazarus was dead four days, buried and the professional mourners, family and friends were grieving with Mary and Martha.

Their suffering was at its high point.

Grief is a powerful emotion.

It can be overwhelming and devastating.

When you are in the grip of intense grief it feels like it will never end.

The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio.

When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death.

At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad.

After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar's last poem had been lost forever.

Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible.

The poem was gone.

If we stay in mourning, we lose so much of life.

In the midst of these powerful emotions Jesus comes to see these two women.

It is very important for us to remember the intensity of their emotional state as we read these verses

When grief comes to our life…Will we be found clinging to our faith?

Martha’s Story

When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him.

And in this moment, this woman, grieving terribly, demonstrates an incredible faith.

Her’s is not a statement of anger or hurt, it is not a rebuke…her statement is one of deep faith.

She, in affect stated, “Lord, if you had been here I know you could have healed my brother.

But you weren’t and He died.

This does not diminish my faith in you as Messiah.

In fact, I know even now that God will give you whatever you ask.”

Martha is amazing.

She knew Jesus could heal her brother.

She knew if Jesus had come while Lazarus was sick He would have been healed.

But instead of questioning the love of Jesus or why Jesus chose not to come and heal Lazarus, she reaffirms her faith that He could have done so and is still the Messiah, God.

How many of us would have screamed out, “Why didn’t you come?

You could have healed him and you didn’t!

Why didn’t you help us when we needed you???”

But not Martha, she trusts God and has faith in His Christ.

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God does not always move the way we would hope.

It is in these moments that our faith is tested.

Will we believe and trust Him…will we believe in His goodness…even when we do not receive the answer that we ask.

I often hear people talk about God’s goodness when things go their way.

“Dad made it through surgery…God is good!” “I got the new job…God is good!” “I prayed and God gave me a wife…God is good!”

But what about those times when things don’t go the way you hope?

When your prayers are not answered.

When your dad doesn’t make it through…you lose your job and you remain single well into your 30’s?

Is God good then?

How often do we hear people testify to such?

How many times have you heard someone say, “I got fired…God is good!”

God’s goodness is never dependent upon me or my perception of His choices for me or my loved ones.

Martha is a woman who understands this...

One day C.H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend.

As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof.

At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE.

Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message.

"Weather vanes are changeable," he said, "but God's love is constant."

"I don't agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend.

"You misunderstood the meaning.

That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."

"I don't agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend.

"You misunderstood the meaning.

That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."

Jesus you are powerful, good and the Messiah…I did not get from you what I wanted…but you are still powerful, good and the Messiah!

You still love me just the same!

One of the greatest testimonies to the genuineness of our faith is our continues belief God’s goodness, power and love when we have been disappointed in God’s choices for us.

Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."

Glorify — Be a demonstration of God’s power and character.

Can you say with Martha…God you know what is best…you are still good…and I trust your choices for me.

This is not something we can do in the natural man.

This is not the response of someone living a life in their own will, emotions and understanding.

These are the words of a man or woman walking in relationship with God immersed in the power of His Spirit.

Glorify — Be a demonstration of God’s power and character.

Martha knew Jesus and lived her life from the genuineness the relationship she had with Him

I Am The Resurrection and the Life

Your Brother will rise again — Upon the testimony of her faith Jesus reassures Martha that Lazarus will rise again.

She takes this as commonplace consolation of a resurrection that is to come someday in the future at the end of the age.

Of course Jesus means this but He means something else as well…Lazarus was going to rise today!