Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / John 11:1-17

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John 11:1-17 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  Amen. Please take your copy of God's word and join me in John chapter 11.
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  !
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  I believe that his leadership in three portions of 1 John was very helpful to us all.
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  If you were at all helped by him over these past weeks, be sure to express your appreciation for him,
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  the work that he put into that for our sake,
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  and join me in praying that God will grant him wisdom and discernment as he seeks out future ministry opportunities.
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  If you, in any measure, would like to see him stay here with us,
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  call your rich friends.
• 1:03
  I am told it turns out that he can be bought.
• 1:10
  I love you, Zachary. Thank you for your help in preaching.
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  Secondly, I am really thankful to be back in the pulpit and back in John's gospel account.
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  It is a blessing to spend my week engrossed in a text for our benefit.
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  It benefits me. I then in turn hope that it benefits you as we spend these next moments together.
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  And I just want to thank you for making that reality a possibility in my life.
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  Now, it's been a little while since we've been in this book together,
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  and at the conclusion of our last study of John,
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  Jesus has brought his public ministry to a close.
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  And we enter now into the portion of the book often called his private ministry.
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  He's not speaking to crowds any longer.
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  And he's traveled from Jerusalem northeast.
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  And you'll see in chapter 10 and verse 40,
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  he went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first.
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  And there he remained.
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  So he's in a remote place once again.
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  And now John tells us a profound story of Jesus's life.
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  And we will spend, Lord willing, three weeks studying this story.
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  Today's text is so particularly profound,
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  especially on the heels of Zachary rooting Christian love for one another in the love of Christ.
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  We have thought over these past weeks about what it means to love one another.
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  And he has said to us that it begins with the example of the impulse for that love is the love of Christ,
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  the way that Jesus loves his people.
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  And this text helps us to understand the nature of Jesus's love for us.
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  So pay attention to that theme as we read our text, and we'll discuss it further.
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  We're going to look at verses 1 through 17.
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  And before I read, let me pray on our behalf.
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  Father God, thank you for the gathering of your church this morning.
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  It's so good to be together with these people,
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  many of whom have professed faith in Christ by your grace to them,
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  many who have not.
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  little ones amongst us, guests perhaps.
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  We pray, Lord, you would work mighty works in our hearts today.
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  If we've already experienced the love of Christ, that you give us an enlarged vision for it.
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  If not, perhaps this day, the very first time,
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  someone would see how Jesus loves and turn in faith to him.
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  We humbly recognize that we need your help to do this.
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  We won't be able to believe this text's promises or obey its commands
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  or have affection for you as its author if you don't help us.
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  And so we pray that you will at this end.
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  Amen.
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  John chapter 11, beginning in verse 1.
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  Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
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  It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair,
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  whose brother Lazarus was ill.
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  So the sister sent to him, saying,
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  Lord, he whom you love is ill.
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  But when Jesus heard it, he said,
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  This illness does not lead to death.
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  It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
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  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
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  So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
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  Then after this, he said to the disciples,
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  Let us go to Judea again.
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  The disciples said to him,
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  Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?
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  Then, Jesus answered,
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  Are there not twelve hours in the day?
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  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world.
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  But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.
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  After saying these things, he said to them,
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  Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.
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  The disciples said to him,
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  Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.
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  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
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  Then Jesus told them plainly,
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  Lazarus has died.
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  And for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.
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  But let us go to him.
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  So Thomas called the twins, said to his fellow disciples,
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  Let us also go that we may die with him.
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  Now, when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for days.
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  Now, just on the outset, before we jump into any part of the context of this,
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  you may be scratching your head because your Bible probably divides verses 1 through 16
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  and then puts 17 with the next section.
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  And the reason we went to the verse 17 is because this is chiastic.
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  Because verse 1 corresponds to verse 17,
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  you will notice the mention of Lazarus in verse 1,
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  and then the mention down in verse 17.
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  And it draws our attention to these words that Jesus speaks in verse 9 and verse 10.
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  I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the literary structure this morning,
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  but I just wanted you to understand why we stopped at 17 today.
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  Now, most of us are very familiar with this story.
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  And knowing how the story ends can actually keep us from feeling the weight of its beginning.
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  Because for Mary and Martha, this is not a resurrection story.
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  Try to plant your feet in this part of the text today.
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  We know that Lazarus is raised.
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  But they do not know this.
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  At this point, it is a suffering story.
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  Their brother is sick.
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  Apparently, he is very sick.
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  In just a few days, he's going to die.
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  And they know someone who can do something about it.
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  The remedies are not working.
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  They are desperate for something to help their brother.
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  They know Jesus.
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  More importantly, they know that Jesus loves them.
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  And yet, Jesus does not come.
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  So again, we might get lost in the fact that we know he does eventually come.
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  And he does raise Lazarus from the dead.
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  But here is their brother.
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  And they are desperate that their brother might be healed.
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  And they are going to see their brother suffer to the point of death.
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  Now then, there are few things in the Christian life more difficult to reconcile than these truths.
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  Jesus loves me.
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  If I am in Christ, Jesus loves me.
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  Jesus has the power to prevent or stop my suffering, my anguish, my discomfort, my anxieties, etc., etc.
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  And yet, often, he doesn't.
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  Perhaps you have lived long enough as a Christian to know just exactly what I mean.
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  You prayed for healing, and the healing did not come.
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  You prayed for a wayward child, and the child continued to wander.
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  You prayed to be married, for work, for relief from some great loss.
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  You prayed for some burden to be removed.
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  And yet, you felt unsatisfied in your prayers.
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  And you know that God is sovereign.
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  He is omnipotent.
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  He can do anything that he desires to do.
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  You know that Christ loves his people.
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  You know he is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond everything that we ask or think.
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  And yet, you are still suffering.
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  And perhaps, that leaves you confused.
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  In this chapter, John wants us to see that the love of Jesus does not always look the way we think the love of Jesus should look.
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  But, it is so much better.
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  Jesus' love has a greater aim than our immediate relief.
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  Jesus' love has a greater aim.
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  We will see this in the first six verses.
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  At the beginning of the chapter, John introduces us to a man named Lazarus who lives in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha.
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  As John takes a moment to identify Mary for us, this is the Mary who will later anoint Jesus with ointment and wipe his feet with her hair.
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  This has not happened yet.
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  I think it is to be assumed that his original readers would have been so familiar with the story.
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  Or perhaps, John is leaving us to wonder what is going on with this woman.
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  And we will find out later the great intimacy of that moment.
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  The great love that Mary had for Jesus that she would do such a thing for him.
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  That comes in chapter 12.
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  The emphasis being here that she loves him and then he's going to be clear that he loves her.
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  He wants to know exactly who these people are.
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  These are not simply another part of the crowd that Jesus encounters in the course of his ministry.
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  Jesus knows this family.
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  Jesus is close to this family.
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  Stays with them.
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  Eats with them.
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  Jesus loves this family and they love him.
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  Verse 3 says that the sisters send word to Jesus.
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  There's a messenger.
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  Lord, he whom you love, Lazarus, is ill.
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  Notice what they do not do.
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  They do not tell Jesus what to do.
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  They do not say, Jesus, get back here immediately.
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  We need you in Bethany.
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  They do not send him a diagnosis and then recommend a treatment plan.
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  They simply tell him the problem.
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  I think these sisters know exactly who Jesus is.
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  Lord, the one you love is sick.
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  There's something beautifully expectant about this.
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  There's something wonderfully simple about it, isn't there?
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  They know that Jesus loves Lazarus and apparently that is enough reason to tell Jesus about their trouble.
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  Beloved, this is a lesson there for us.
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  This is a lesson there for us.
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  Christ loves you and he cares for your every concern.
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  You do not need to persuade Christ to become compassionate toward you.
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  If you belong to him, you will come to the one who already loves you.
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  Lord, here is the problem.
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  Lord, my child is wandering.
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  Lord, my body is sick.
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  Lord, I am frightened.
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  Lord, I do not know what to do.
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  Lord, the one you love is hurting.
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  Lord, I do not know what to do.
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  Lord, I do not know what to do.
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  Lord, I do not know what to do.
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  But notice how Jesus responds in verse 4.
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  He just says, this illness does not lead to death.
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  He seems to downgrade the seriousness of the situation.
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  And because we know the context, we know that it was in fact serious.
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  It seems strange that he would say such a thing because Lazarus is about to die.
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  Jesus would have been aware of this.
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  In fact, by the time Jesus reaches Bethany, Lazarus will have been dead for four days.
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  Jesus does not mean that Lazarus will not experience physical death.
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  He means death will not have the final word in this illness.
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  Jesus says that this illness is for the glory of God,
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  that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
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  Now, if you've been with us in our study of John, this should sound familiar to you.
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  Back in John chapter 9, Jesus and the disciples met the man who had been born blind.
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  And the disciples wanted to know whose sin had caused his blindness.
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  Jesus told them they were asking the wrong question.
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  This had happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
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  And now we discover something very similar here.
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  The disciples see the sickness.
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  Mary and Martha see the sickness.
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  Lazarus is suffering the sickness.
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  Jesus sees rather an opportunity for glory.
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  He knows what he's going to do.
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  He knows exactly how he's going to do it.
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  And says all of it is taking place that God and the Son of God would be glorified.
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  Jesus sees a greater opportunity through the suffering of Lazarus.
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  God's glory.
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  And then we arrive at verses 5 and 6.
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  I think these may be the most important in this first section.
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  Verse 5.
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  Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
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  John could not be clear at this point.
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  Jesus loves them.
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  There is no question about that.
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  There should never be any suggestion that what comes next happens because Jesus is indifferent to this family.
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  He loves Martha.
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  He loves Mary.
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  He loves Lazarus.
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  And so we see at the beginning of verse 6 a conjunction.
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  So.
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  Therefore.
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  Because.
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  This is what John is communicating to us.
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  Because Jesus loved Mary and Martha.
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  And Lazarus.
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  This is what he does.
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  When Jesus hears that Lazarus is sick.
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  He stays where he is.
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  For two more.
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  Days.
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  John does not say.
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  Jesus loved them.
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  But he waited.
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  The logic here is much more startling than that.
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  Jesus loved them.
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  So.
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  So.
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  He waited.
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  The delay of Jesus is not evidence against his love.
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  The delay of Jesus is somehow an expression of his love.
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  Now.
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  I think we.
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  Need to feel how difficult that is.
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  Because I'm quite certain that Mary and Martha did not experience those two days as an expression.
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  Of love.
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  I would imagine that they were confused.
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  They have sent word to Jesus.
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  And Jesus.
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  Does not come.
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  Lazarus has become.
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  Weaker.
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  Jesus does not come.
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  His condition is growing worse.
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  Jesus does not come.
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  And finally.
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  Their dear.
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  Brother.
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  Dies.
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  And Jesus.
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  Jesus.
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  Still.
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  Has not come.
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  Lazarus.
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  Is the.
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  Greek rendering.
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  Of the Hebrew.
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  Name.
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  Eleazar.
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  Which means.
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  God is my.
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  Helper.
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  And these sisters.
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  Received.
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  No.
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  Help.
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  For the death.
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  Of their brother.
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  If Mary and Martha.
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  Judge the love of Jesus.
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  Purely.
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  On the basis.
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  Of their circumstances.
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  They might.
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  Reasonably.
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  Conclude.
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  That Jesus.
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  Does not love them.
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  Why would he not come.
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  And help us.
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  They could question.
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  And John.
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  Says the opposite.
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  John says he does.
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  Love them.
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  So.
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  He.
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  Delayed.
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  That is why he.
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  Waits.
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  So here's something.
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  That we.
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  Need to know.
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  We need to meditate.
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  On.
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  About the love.
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  Of Christ.
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  Jesus loves.
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  You and I.
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  Too much.
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  To make our immediate.
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  Comfort.
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  His highest.
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  Priority.
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  He loves us.
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  Too much.
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  To make our immediate.
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  Comfort.
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  Our every whim.
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  Our every desire.
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  His.
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  Highest.
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  Priority.
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  We very often.
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  Define love.
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  This way.
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  If you love me.
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  You will.
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  Remove.
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  Whatever hurts me.
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  If you love me.
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  You will.
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  Give me.
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  What I ask for.
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  If you love me.
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  You will fix.
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  This circumstance.
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  Immediately.
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  If you love me.
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  You will make me feel.
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  Fulfilled.
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  And sometimes.
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  Jesus answers.
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  Our prayers.
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  Sometimes.
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  He works.
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  In the way.
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  We would most.
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  Like him.
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  To work.
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  But sometimes.
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  We pray.
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  God answers.
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  Sometimes.
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  We pray.
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  He does not.
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  Not always.
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  Do what it is.
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  We think.
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  He.
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  Should do.
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  And this is because.
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  Jesus is committed.
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  To something.
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  Greater.
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  Than our immediate.
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  Comfort.
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  Jesus loves us.
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  So much.
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  That he is not.
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  Primarily.
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  Concerned.
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  With our temporal needs.
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  But he is.
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  Primarily.
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  Primarily.
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  Concerned.
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  With our highest.
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  Good.
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  That is what biblical love is.
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  The object of your affection.
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  You do all that you can.
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  Even at expense to yourself.
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  To seek.
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  That object's.
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  Highest.
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  Good.
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  It is not always the good.
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  That we think.
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  We need.
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  It is our.
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  Highest.
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  Good.
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  Beloved.
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  What we need.
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  Is an.
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  Excuse me.
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  An eternal.
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  Experience.
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  Of God's.
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  Of God's.
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  Glory.
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  We need.
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  God.
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  Himself.
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  That is.
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  The highest.
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  Good.
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  Sometimes.
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  We experience that.
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  Through the prayer answered.
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  The gift given.
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  And sometimes.
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  We best experience it.
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  By the withholding.
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  Of the blessing.
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  We think.
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  We deserve.
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  Jesus.
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  Jesus.
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  Waits.
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  Because he intends.
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  To do something.
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  Greater.
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  To provide.
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  Something.
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  Greater.
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  To love them.
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  And us.
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  Maximally.
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  By showing them.
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  God's glory.
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  Mary and Martha.
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  Want Jesus.
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  To keep Lazarus.
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  From dying.
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  Jesus.
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  Intends.
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  To let Lazarus.
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  Die.
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  And then.
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  Raise him.
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  From the dead.
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  They want healing.
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  Jesus.
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  Intends.
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  Resurrection.
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  Their plan.
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  Is good.
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  His plan.
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  Is exceedingly.
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  Better.
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  And sometimes.
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  Beloved.
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  The most.
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  Difficult.
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  Act.
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  Of faith.
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  Is believing.
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  That the plan.
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  Of Christ.
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  Is better.
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  While you are living.
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  Somewhere.
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  Between.
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  The prayer.
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  And the answer.
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  So we can learn.
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  From this text.
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  Meditate on.
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  This reality.
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  Jesus's love.
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  Has a greater aim.
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  Than immediate.
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  Relief.
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  Secondly.
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  We can note.
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  That Jesus's obedience.
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  Is governed.
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  By the father's.
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  Time.
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  Time.
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  We see.
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  Starting in verse 7.
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  After.
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  Two days.
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  Jesus.
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  Says.
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  To the disciples.
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  In verse 7.
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  Let us go to.
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  Judea.
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  Again.
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  Mentioning.
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  Let's go back.
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  To Jerusalem.
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  Let's go back.
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  To that place.
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  Where I had been.
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  Threatened.
• 22:17
  To be stoned.
• 22:18
  To death.
• 22:19
  And the disciples.
• 22:19
  Respond.
• 22:20
  Exactly the way.
• 22:21
  We might expect.
• 22:22
  I think the way.
• 22:22
  We would have.
• 22:23
  Responded.
• 22:23
  Rabbi.
• 22:24
  The Jews.
• 22:24
  Were just now.
• 22:25
  Seeking to stone you.
• 22:27
  And are you.
• 22:28
  Going there.
• 22:28
  Again.
• 22:30
  Don't think this is paranoia.
• 22:31
  On the part of the disciples.
• 22:32
  They have.
• 22:33
  Recently watched.
• 22:34
  People pick up.
• 22:35
  Stones.
• 22:36
  With the intention.
• 22:36
  Of killing.
• 22:38
  Jesus.
• 22:38
  And now.
• 22:38
  Jesus says.
• 22:39
  Let's go back.
• 22:40
  And the disciples say.
• 22:41
  In essence.
• 22:42
  Why would we do that?
• 22:44
  This seems like the place.
• 22:46
  That we.
• 22:47
  Should stay.
• 22:48
  And Jesus.
• 22:49
  Answers them.
• 22:50
  With this.
• 22:50
  Language.
• 22:51
  About.
• 22:51
  Twelve.
• 22:52
  Hours.
• 22:53
  In.
• 22:54
  The day.
• 22:54
  The day was marked out.
• 22:56
  In that.
• 22:57
  Regard.
• 22:57
  Summer.
• 22:59
  Summer.
• 22:59
  Or winter.
• 23:00
  They were marking the day out.
• 23:01
  In twelve hours.
• 23:03
  Daytime.
• 23:04
  And.
• 23:05
  Nighttime.
• 23:05
  And he.
• 23:06
  Picks up this metaphor.
• 23:07
  The one who walks during the day.
• 23:09
  Does not stumble.
• 23:09
  Because.
• 23:10
  He sees.
• 23:11
  The light.
• 23:12
  The one who.
• 23:13
  Walks a night.
• 23:14
  Stumbles.
• 23:14
  Because the light.
• 23:15
  Is not.
• 23:16
  In.
• 23:17
  Him.
• 23:18
  Jesus.
• 23:18
  Here.
• 23:19
  Speaking.
• 23:19
  About walking.
• 23:20
  In.
• 23:21
  The father's.
• 23:22
  Will.
• 23:23
  Fully.
• 23:24
  Dependent.
• 23:25
  And.
• 23:25
  Fully.
• 23:27
  Obedient.
• 23:29
  John.
• 23:29
  Picks up this metaphor.
• 23:30
  In his.
• 23:31
  Later writing.
• 23:32
  This is in.
• 23:32
  First.
• 23:33
  John.
• 23:33
  Chapter one.
• 23:34
  Verse.
• 23:34
  Five.
• 23:35
  And following.
• 23:36
  This is the message.
• 23:37
  We have heard from him.
• 23:37
  And proclaim to you.
• 23:39
  That God is light.
• 23:40
  And in him.
• 23:41
  Is no darkness.
• 23:42
  At all.
• 23:44
  If we say.
• 23:44
  We have fellowship.
• 23:45
  With him.
• 23:46
  While we.
• 23:47
  Walk in darkness.
• 23:49
  The way of our life.
• 23:50
  Is not the way of God.
• 23:51
  We lie.
• 23:53
  And do not practice.
• 23:53
  The truth.
• 23:55
  But if we walk.
• 23:56
  In the light.
• 23:57
  As he is in the light.
• 23:59
  We have fellowship.
• 24:00
  With one another.
• 24:01
  And the blood of Jesus.
• 24:02
  His son.
• 24:02
  Cleanses us.
• 24:04
  All.
• 24:05
  Sin.
• 24:05
  Fully dependent.
• 24:06
  And.
• 24:07
  Fully.
• 24:09
  Obedient.
• 24:09
  Is what's being communicated.
• 24:10
  Here.
• 24:11
  By these words.
• 24:12
  We have seen.
• 24:13
  The idea of Jesus.
• 24:14
  Absolute submission.
• 24:15
  To the father.
• 24:16
  All throughout.
• 24:17
  John's gospel.
• 24:18
  Up to this point.
• 24:19
  And we'll see it.
• 24:20
  Continued.
• 24:20
  On.
• 24:21
  Jesus lives.
• 24:23
  According.
• 24:24
  To a divine.
• 24:26
  Timetable.
• 24:26
  He goes.
• 24:26
  Where he's told to go.
• 24:27
  He says.
• 24:28
  What he's told.
• 24:29
  To say.
• 24:30
  He has repeatedly.
• 24:31
  Said.
• 24:31
  That his hour.
• 24:32
  Has not yet.
• 24:34
  Come.
• 24:35
  His enemies.
• 24:36
  Have repeatedly.
• 24:37
  Tried to seize him.
• 24:37
  And John tells us.
• 24:38
  They could not.
• 24:39
  Because his hour.
• 24:40
  Had not yet.
• 24:42
  Come.
• 24:43
  Jesus is not.
• 24:44
  Controlled.
• 24:45
  By the fear of man.
• 24:46
  Jesus is not.
• 24:46
  Controlled.
• 24:47
  By political.
• 24:48
  Circumstances.
• 24:49
  He is not.
• 24:49
  Controlled.
• 24:49
  By his enemies.
• 24:50
  He's not even.
• 24:51
  Ultimately.
• 24:52
  Controlled.
• 24:52
  By the threat.
• 24:53
  Of death.
• 24:54
  He walks.
• 24:55
  In the day.
• 24:56
  Appointed to him.
• 24:57
  By his father.
• 24:59
  There's a fixed purpose.
• 25:01
  Mission.
• 25:02
  Fixed.
• 25:04
  Hour.
• 25:05
  And until that hour.
• 25:06
  Arrives.
• 25:07
  Jesus will accomplish.
• 25:08
  Everything.
• 25:08
  The father.
• 25:09
  Has given him.
• 25:10
  To.
• 25:11
  Accomplish.
• 25:12
  He sets.
• 25:12
  In the middle.
• 25:13
  Of this text.
• 25:14
  An example.
• 25:15
  For the way.
• 25:16
  His followers.
• 25:17
  Are to function.
• 25:20
  Jesus is going to Judea.
• 25:22
  Eventually.
• 25:23
  Because that.
• 25:24
  Is where.
• 25:25
  Obedience.
• 25:26
  Takes him.
• 25:28
  This is important for us.
• 25:29
  Because we have a tendency.
• 25:31
  To assume.
• 25:32
  That obedience to God.
• 25:33
  Should make life.
• 25:35
  Safer.
• 25:37
  Sometimes it does.
• 25:38
  But not always.
• 25:40
  Sometimes obedience.
• 25:41
  Takes you directly.
• 25:43
  Toward.
• 25:44
  Difficulty.
• 25:45
  Sometimes obedience.
• 25:47
  Costs.
• 25:48
  Something.
• 25:48
  At times.
• 25:50
  Everything.
• 25:51
  Sometimes doing the right thing.
• 25:53
  Makes your life.
• 25:54
  Harder.
• 25:55
  Rather.
• 25:56
  Than easier.
• 25:58
  We should reject.
• 25:59
  That very popular idea.
• 26:01
  That if we are living.
• 26:02
  In the will of God.
• 26:02
  Everything will somehow.
• 26:04
  Work out.
• 26:04
  Comfortably.
• 26:06
  Have.
• 26:06
  You.
• 26:07
  Not.
• 26:07
  Read.
• 26:07
  The Bible.
• 26:11
  Beloved.
• 26:11
  It is a tragic.
• 26:13
  Day.
• 26:13
  That there are people.
• 26:15
  Meeting.
• 26:15
  All.
• 26:16
  Over.
• 26:16
  Professing the name of Christ.
• 26:17
  I hope truly in Christ.
• 26:19
  That have no theology.
• 26:20
  Of suffering.
• 26:23
  Just take up.
• 26:24
  And read.
• 26:26
  The will of God.
• 26:27
  Led Joseph.
• 26:27
  Into a pit.
• 26:28
  And then into a prison.
• 26:30
  The will of God.
• 26:31
  Led Moses.
• 26:32
  Back to Pharaoh.
• 26:33
  The will of God.
• 26:34
  Led Daniel.
• 26:35
  Into Babylon.
• 26:37
  And to a lion's den.
• 26:38
  The will of God.
• 26:39
  Led Paul.
• 26:40
  Into beatings.
• 26:41
  And imprisonments.
• 26:43
  And shipwrecks.
• 26:45
  And the will of the father.
• 26:47
  Is leading Jesus.
• 26:48
  Back.
• 26:49
  Toward Jerusalem.
• 26:52
  Obedience is not.
• 26:53
  Always safe.
• 26:54
  It is.
• 26:55
  Always.
• 26:56
  Right.
• 26:57
  And Jesus knows.
• 26:58
  Precisely where.
• 26:59
  This road ends.
• 27:01
  The disciples.
• 27:02
  Are concerned.
• 27:02
  That going back to Judea.
• 27:04
  May result in his death.
• 27:05
  They have no.
• 27:07
  Idea.
• 27:07
  How right.
• 27:08
  They are.
• 27:08
  Because in the providence of God.
• 27:11
  What Jesus is about to do.
• 27:13
  For Lazarus.
• 27:13
  Will become one of the events.
• 27:15
  That intensifies.
• 27:16
  The determination.
• 27:17
  Of his enemies.
• 27:18
  To kill him.
• 27:20
  Jesus.
• 27:21
  Is walking.
• 27:21
  Toward.
• 27:22
  The tomb.
• 27:23
  Of Lazarus.
• 27:24
  But he is also.
• 27:25
  Walking toward.
• 27:26
  His very own.
• 27:28
  Cross.
• 27:29
  And he does it.
• 27:30
  Knowingly.
• 27:31
  He does it.
• 27:32
  Willingly.
• 27:33
  Does it.
• 27:35
  Obediently.
• 27:36
  We have that.
• 27:37
  Set for us.
• 27:37
  As this.
• 27:39
  Example.
• 27:39
  Of faith.
• 27:40
  The kind.
• 27:40
  Of faith.
• 27:41
  That he is trying.
• 27:42
  To work.
• 27:43
  Into his disciples.
• 27:45
  And into us.
• 27:48
  Thirdly.
• 27:49
  Note.
• 27:50
  That Jesus.
• 27:51
  Uses.
• 27:51
  Suffering.
• 27:52
  To strengthen.
• 27:53
  The faith.
• 27:54
  Of his people.
• 27:56
  Verses.
• 27:57
  Eleven.
• 27:57
  Through sixteen.
• 27:58
  Jesus.
• 27:59
  Says.
• 27:59
  In verse eleven.
• 28:00
  Our friend.
• 28:00
  Lazarus.
• 28:01
  Has fallen asleep.
• 28:02
  But I go.
• 28:03
  To awaken him.
• 28:04
  And the disciples.
• 28:05
  Misunderstand him.
• 28:06
  We see this right here.
• 28:06
  In the text.
• 28:07
  And to be fair.
• 28:08
  If I were standing there.
• 28:09
  I probably would have.
• 28:09
  Misunderstood him.
• 28:10
  As well.
• 28:11
  I think.
• 28:12
  Jesus.
• 28:13
  Means.
• 28:14
  Lazarus.
• 28:14
  Is.
• 28:15
  Literally.
• 28:15
  Asleep.
• 28:16
  Right.
• 28:16
  And that sends.
• 28:17
  Like good news to them.
• 28:18
  If a sick man.
• 28:18
  Is sleeping.
• 28:19
  Then maybe his body.
• 28:20
  Is.
• 28:21
  Recovering.
• 28:22
  It's a.
• 28:22
  Very good thing.
• 28:23
  When I'm sick.
• 28:24
  That I get to fall.
• 28:25
  Asleep.
• 28:25
  So they say.
• 28:26
  Lord.
• 28:26
  If he has fallen asleep.
• 28:27
  He will.
• 28:28
  Recover.
• 28:29
  He's getting his rest.
• 28:30
  That is.
• 28:31
  Good.
• 28:33
  But John.
• 28:33
  Explains.
• 28:34
  That Jesus.
• 28:34
  Speaking.
• 28:35
  About.
• 28:36
  Lazarus.
• 28:36
  Death.
• 28:38
  This is.
• 28:39
  One of the ways.
• 28:40
  Scripture.
• 28:41
  Sometimes.
• 28:41
  Describes.
• 28:42
  The death.
• 28:42
  Of God's people.
• 28:44
  Death.
• 28:44
  Is like.
• 28:46
  Sleep.
• 28:47
  That does not mean.
• 28:48
  That.
• 28:48
  Death.
• 28:49
  Is imaginary.
• 28:50
  It does not mean.
• 28:50
  Death.
• 28:50
  Is insignificant.
• 28:51
  And it certainly.
• 28:52
  Does not mean.
• 28:53
  That the loss.
• 28:53
  Of someone.
• 28:54
  We love.
• 28:55
  Should not.
• 28:56
  Grieve us.
• 28:58
  Jesus.
• 28:58
  Himself.
• 28:58
  Is going.
• 28:59
  To weep.
• 28:59
  At Lazarus.
• 29:00
  Is tomb.
• 29:02
  Death.
• 29:03
  Is an enemy.
• 29:04
  But for the person.
• 29:05
  Who belongs.
• 29:06
  To Christ.
• 29:07
  Death.
• 29:08
  Is also.
• 29:10
  Temporary.
• 29:11
  This is the entire.
• 29:13
  Point.
• 29:14
  Of this.
• 29:15
  Pericope.
• 29:16
  We will study it.
• 29:17
  At length.
• 29:17
  Next week.
• 29:18
  But we do.
• 29:19
  Well.
• 29:20
  To look.
• 29:20
  Forward.
• 29:21
  For just.
• 29:22
  A moment.
• 29:22
  To verses.
• 29:23
  23.
• 29:24
  Through 27.
• 29:25
  So look.
• 29:25
  There in John 11.
• 29:26
  Jesus said.
• 29:29
  To Martha.
• 29:30
  Your brother.
• 29:31
  Will rise.
• 29:33
  Again.
• 29:34
  Martha.
• 29:35
  Said.
• 29:35
  To him.
• 29:36
  I know.
• 29:37
  That he will rise.
• 29:37
  Again.
• 29:38
  In the resurrection.
• 29:39
  On the last day.
• 29:41
  Jesus said.
• 29:42
  To her.
• 29:42
  I.
• 29:43
  Am the resurrection.
• 29:45
  And the life.
• 29:47
  Whoever believes.
• 29:48
  In me.
• 29:48
  Though he die.
• 29:49
  Yet.
• 29:49
  Shall he live.
• 29:51
  And everyone.
• 29:52
  Who lives.
• 29:52
  And believes.
• 29:53
  In me.
• 29:53
  Shall never die.
• 29:54
  Do you believe this?
• 29:56
  She said.
• 29:57
  To him.
• 29:57
  Yes.
• 29:57
  Lord.
• 29:58
  I believe.
• 29:59
  That you.
• 29:59
  Are the Christ.
• 30:00
  The son of God.
• 30:01
  Who is coming.
• 30:03
  Into the world.
• 30:04
  That's the point.
• 30:05
  Of all of this.
• 30:07
  Future.
• 30:08
  Resurrection.
• 30:09
  Talk about it.
• 30:10
  At length.
• 30:11
  Lord willing.
• 30:11
  Next week.
• 30:13
  That future.
• 30:14
  Resurrection.
• 30:14
  Of our Lord.
• 30:15
  Jesus.
• 30:16
  And for those.
• 30:17
  Found in him.
• 30:18
  By faith.
• 30:20
  Us.
• 30:21
  A future.
• 30:22
  Resurrection.
• 30:23
  That awaits us.
• 30:24
  And that is why.
• 30:26
  Jesus can speak.
• 30:27
  Of Lazarus.
• 30:27
  As.
• 30:29
  Sleeping.
• 30:30
  This is a temporary death.
• 30:31
  That he's experiencing.
• 30:33
  Think about this.
• 30:35
  If your child is asleep.
• 30:36
  In the next room.
• 30:37
  You.
• 30:38
  Do not panic.
• 30:40
  Why?
• 30:42
  Because you expect them to wake up.
• 30:45
  First time parents.
• 30:45
  You.
• 30:46
  Watch that monitor.
• 30:47
  Like crazy.
• 30:47
  I can remember.
• 30:50
  Going in to check.
• 30:51
  On the boys.
• 30:51
  And they didn't seem.
• 30:53
  Like they were breathing.
• 30:53
  And you put your little hand.
• 30:54
  On their back.
• 30:55
  To make sure that they are.
• 30:57
  By the time you get to the third.
• 30:58
  You just go.
• 30:59
  Ah.
• 30:59
  It's going to be all right.
• 31:02
  It's going to work out.
• 31:02
  Right.
• 31:03
  You lay him down to sleep.
• 31:04
  You expect them to wake.
• 31:05
  Back up.
• 31:06
  Jesus speaks.
• 31:07
  Of the death of Lazarus.
• 31:08
  As sleep.
• 31:09
  Because Jesus knows.
• 31:10
  Exactly.
• 31:11
  What he is about.
• 31:12
  To do.
• 31:12
  I'm going to wake him up.
• 31:14
  He says.
• 31:14
  The disciples.
• 31:17
  Still do not understand.
• 31:18
  So verse 14.
• 31:20
  Jesus tells them plainly.
• 31:21
  Lazarus.
• 31:22
  Has.
• 31:23
  Died.
• 31:25
  And then Jesus says.
• 31:26
  Something that is perhaps.
• 31:27
  Even more.
• 31:28
  Startling than.
• 31:29
  His delay.
• 31:30
  That I mentioned.
• 31:31
  Earlier.
• 31:32
  He says.
• 31:32
  And for your sake.
• 31:34
  I am.
• 31:35
  Glad.
• 31:36
  That I was.
• 31:37
  Not.
• 31:38
  There.
• 31:39
  So that.
• 31:41
  You may.
• 31:42
  Believe.
• 31:42
  Jesus is glad.
• 31:46
  Not because death is good.
• 31:47
  Not because Mary and Martha's grief.
• 31:48
  Is enjoyable to him.
• 31:50
  Not because he is indifferent.
• 31:51
  To human suffering.
• 31:52
  Again.
• 31:53
  In just a few verses.
• 31:54
  Jesus himself.
• 31:55
  Will.
• 31:55
  Weep.
• 31:57
  Jesus is glad.
• 31:58
  Because he knows.
• 31:59
  What God is going to accomplish.
• 32:01
  Through.
• 32:02
  His death.
• 32:04
  And notice.
• 32:04
  For whose sake.
• 32:05
  Jesus says.
• 32:06
  This has.
• 32:08
  Happened.
• 32:08
  To his disciples.
• 32:09
  For.
• 32:10
  Your.
• 32:12
  Sake.
• 32:12
  Why has.
• 32:14
  Jesus.
• 32:14
  Allowed.
• 32:15
  Lazarus.
• 32:15
  To die.
• 32:17
  One of the answers.
• 32:18
  Is.
• 32:19
  Because.
• 32:20
  Jesus.
• 32:21
  Loves.
• 32:21
  His disciples.
• 32:22
  And intends.
• 32:23
  To strengthen.
• 32:25
  Their faith.
• 32:27
  And these men believe.
• 32:27
  Right.
• 32:28
  They're disciples.
• 32:29
  They've left everything.
• 32:30
  To follow him.
• 32:31
  They've seen him.
• 32:31
  Turn water into wine.
• 32:32
  They've seen him.
• 32:33
  Heal the sick.
• 32:33
  They've watched him.
• 32:34
  Feed thousands.
• 32:35
  They've watched him.
• 32:35
  Walk.
• 32:36
  On the sea.
• 32:37
  They believe.
• 32:38
  In measure.
• 32:39
  But their faith.
• 32:40
  Needs to grow.
• 32:41
  Their faith.
• 32:41
  Needs to be.
• 32:42
  Strengthened.
• 32:43
  Because they're.
• 32:44
  Approaching events.
• 32:44
  That will test.
• 32:45
  Their faith.
• 32:46
  Beyond anything.
• 32:47
  They presently.
• 32:48
  Imagine.
• 32:50
  Very soon.
• 32:50
  They're going to watch.
• 32:51
  Jesus.
• 32:52
  Arrested.
• 32:53
  They'll see him.
• 32:53
  Beaten.
• 32:54
  They'll see him.
• 32:54
  Crucified.
• 32:55
  They'll watch his body.
• 32:56
  Taken down from a cross.
• 32:57
  And placed in a.
• 32:59
  Tomb.
• 33:00
  And when that happens.
• 33:02
  They're going to need.
• 33:02
  To remember.
• 33:03
  That they follow.
• 33:04
  A savior.
• 33:04
  Who has authority.
• 33:05
  Over death.
• 33:07
  Jesus.
• 33:08
  Preparing them.
• 33:08
  They cannot see it.
• 33:11
  Jesus.
• 33:12
  Certainly can.
• 33:14
  This suffering.
• 33:15
  Is preparing them.
• 33:15
  For suffering.
• 33:16
  They have not.
• 33:17
  Even encountered yet.
• 33:18
  And Jesus.
• 33:19
  Purposes.
• 33:19
  To give them.
• 33:20
  Hope.
• 33:20
  Beyond.
• 33:22
  The suffering.
• 33:23
  And God.
• 33:24
  Does this.
• 33:24
  Exact.
• 33:25
  Thing.
• 33:25
  In a life.
• 33:27
  Of all Christians.
• 33:29
  There are things.
• 33:30
  God.
• 33:30
  Teaches us.
• 33:31
  In suffering.
• 33:32
  That we simply.
• 33:33
  Do not.
• 33:33
  Learn.
• 33:34
  The same way.
• 33:35
  Anyway.
• 33:36
  Else.
• 33:36
  You can know.
• 33:39
  Intellectually.
• 33:40
  That God.
• 33:41
  Is sovereign.
• 33:42
  And then you suffer.
• 33:43
  And you learn.
• 33:44
  To trust.
• 33:45
  His sovereignty.
• 33:47
  You can know.
• 33:48
  Intellectually.
• 33:48
  That God.
• 33:49
  Is sufficient.
• 33:50
  And then.
• 33:51
  Everything.
• 33:51
  You thought.
• 33:52
  You needed.
• 33:52
  Is stripped away.
• 33:53
  And you discover.
• 33:54
  That God.
• 33:54
  Actually.
• 33:55
  Is.
• 33:56
  Sufficient.
• 33:58
  You can know.
• 33:59
  Intellectually.
• 33:59
  That Jesus.
• 34:00
  Will never leave you.
• 34:01
  Or forsake you.
• 34:01
  And then.
• 34:02
  Everyone.
• 34:02
  Else.
• 34:03
  Leaves.
• 34:05
  You discover.
• 34:06
  That Christ.
• 34:08
  Has remained.
• 34:10
  Theology.
• 34:11
  Learned.
• 34:11
  Through tears.
• 34:12
  Is most regularly.
• 34:13
  Most dearly.
• 34:15
  Held on to.
• 34:17
  God.
• 34:17
  Loves us.
• 34:18
  Enough.
• 34:19
  To put us.
• 34:20
  Through it.
• 34:21
  So that we can have.
• 34:22
  More of him.
• 34:24
  God.
• 34:25
  Puts truth.
• 34:25
  Deep.
• 34:26
  In the hearts of his people.
• 34:27
  Through suffering.
• 34:28
  So that we will.
• 34:29
  Trust him.
• 34:30
  We'll believe his promises.
• 34:31
  Hope.
• 34:31
  In future glory.
• 34:33
  Look.
• 34:34
  More.
• 34:34
  Like.
• 34:35
  His son.
• 34:37
  Perfectly.
• 34:38
  Trusted.
• 34:39
  Perfectly.
• 34:39
  Obeyed.
• 34:41
  Jesus says.
• 34:42
  I am glad.
• 34:42
  For your sake.
• 34:43
  That I was not there.
• 34:44
  So that you may.
• 34:47
  Believe.
• 34:49
  Beloved.
• 34:49
  It is entirely possible.
• 34:50
  That the thing.
• 34:51
  You are presently.
• 34:52
  Asking God.
• 34:52
  To remove.
• 34:54
  Is something.
• 34:54
  God is presently.
• 34:55
  Using.
• 34:55
  To deepen.
• 34:56
  Your dependence.
• 34:58
  Upon him.
• 35:00
  It doesn't mean.
• 35:00
  That you should.
• 35:01
  Stop praying.
• 35:01
  For relief.
• 35:02
  Mary and Martha.
• 35:03
  Were right.
• 35:04
  To sin for Jesus.
• 35:05
  Paul was right.
• 35:06
  To pray.
• 35:06
  That his thorn.
• 35:07
  Would be removed.
• 35:09
  Jesus himself.
• 35:10
  Prayed.
• 35:10
  In.
• 35:11
  Gethsemane.
• 35:13
  We pray.
• 35:14
  We plead.
• 35:15
  But having prayed.
• 35:18
  We trust.
• 35:20
  And faith.
• 35:22
  Eventually.
• 35:22
  Learns to say.
• 35:24
  Father.
• 35:25
  I know.
• 35:25
  What I want you.
• 35:26
  To do.
• 35:27
  But I trust.
• 35:28
  What you.
• 35:30
  Intend.
• 35:30
  To do.
• 35:31
  That is.
• 35:34
  Mature.
• 35:35
  And maturing.
• 35:36
  Christian.
• 35:37
  Faith.
• 35:38
  A settled.
• 35:39
  Confidence.
• 35:41
  In our God.
• 35:43
  Then Thomas.
• 35:44
  Speaks in verse 16.
• 35:45
  And poor Thomas.
• 35:46
  Is remembered.
• 35:47
  Throughout church history.
• 35:48
  Primarily as.
• 35:49
  Doubting.
• 35:50
  Thomas.
• 35:51
  But.
• 35:51
  He should get a little credit.
• 35:53
  Here.
• 35:54
  Thomas.
• 35:55
  Understands.
• 35:55
  The danger.
• 35:56
  Of going to Judea.
• 35:57
  He is convinced.
• 35:58
  That going back.
• 35:59
  Toward Jerusalem.
• 36:00
  May get.
• 36:00
  Jesus killed.
• 36:01
  And apparently.
• 36:02
  He thinks.
• 36:03
  They may be killed.
• 36:04
  As well.
• 36:05
  And Thomas says.
• 36:06
  Let us go.
• 36:07
  That we may die.
• 36:08
  With him.
• 36:10
  There's something.
• 36:11
  Wonderfully ironic.
• 36:12
  Here.
• 36:13
  Thomas thinks.
• 36:13
  The disciples.
• 36:14
  Are going with Jesus.
• 36:15
  So that they can.
• 36:16
  Die with him.
• 36:17
  What Thomas.
• 36:17
  Does not yet.
• 36:18
  Understand.
• 36:18
  Is that Jesus.
• 36:19
  Is going.
• 36:19
  So that he can.
• 36:20
  Die for them.
• 36:21
  So that they.
• 36:22
  Will be resurrected.
• 36:23
  With him.
• 36:26
  I think.
• 36:26
  That's really cool.
• 36:27
  Jesus.
• 36:29
  Jesus will not.
• 36:29
  Finally.
• 36:30
  Save his people.
• 36:30
  By asking them.
• 36:31
  To lay down.
• 36:32
  Their lives for him.
• 36:33
  Jesus will save his people.
• 36:35
  By laying down.
• 36:35
  His life.
• 36:36
  For them.
• 36:38
  Remember.
• 36:39
  What we learned.
• 36:39
  In chapter.
• 36:40
  10.
• 36:41
  The good shepherd.
• 36:43
  Lays down his life.
• 36:45
  For the sheep.
• 36:45
  And now.
• 36:46
  The good shepherd.
• 36:47
  Begins walking.
• 36:48
  Back.
• 36:49
  For Jerusalem.
• 36:51
  A last point.
• 36:52
  And in brief.
• 36:53
  In closing.
• 36:54
  Jesus.
• 36:55
  Is never.
• 36:57
  Late.
• 36:59
  Verse 17.
• 37:00
  Now.
• 37:01
  When Jesus came.
• 37:02
  He found.
• 37:02
  That Lazarus.
• 37:03
  Had already been.
• 37:03
  In the tomb.
• 37:05
  For.
• 37:05
  Days.
• 37:07
  Lazarus.
• 37:08
  Is not.
• 37:08
  Newly.
• 37:09
  Dead.
• 37:10
  He has been.
• 37:10
  Buried.
• 37:11
  The mourners.
• 37:12
  Have come.
• 37:13
  The funeral.
• 37:13
  Has taken place.
• 37:14
  Mary and Martha.
• 37:15
  His worst.
• 37:15
  Fear.
• 37:16
  Has been.
• 37:16
  Realized.
• 37:17
  Humanly.
• 37:18
  Speaking.
• 37:18
  The situation.
• 37:19
  Is over.
• 37:21
  Jesus.
• 37:21
  Is too.
• 37:23
  Late.
• 37:24
  Humanly.
• 37:24
  Speaking.
• 37:25
  That's how it appears.
• 37:27
  And next week.
• 37:28
  Lord willing.
• 37:28
  We will hear both.
• 37:29
  Martha and Mary.
• 37:30
  Say essentially.
• 37:31
  The same thing.
• 37:31
  To Jesus.
• 37:32
  Lord.
• 37:32
  If you had been here.
• 37:33
  My brother.
• 37:33
  Would not have.
• 37:34
  Died.
• 37:35
  In other words.
• 37:35
  Jesus.
• 37:36
  You could have stopped this.
• 37:38
  And they're right.
• 37:39
  Jesus could have stopped it.
• 37:41
  He could have healed Lazarus.
• 37:42
  He could have.
• 37:42
  He healed him.
• 37:43
  From a distance.
• 37:44
  Jesus.
• 37:45
  Jesus could have kept Lazarus alive.
• 37:47
  But.
• 37:48
  He didn't.
• 37:50
  And here's the truth.
• 37:50
  That John wants us to begin seeing.
• 37:53
  As we look toward next week.
• 37:56
  Jesus is not late.
• 37:57
  He has delayed.
• 37:58
  But he is not late.
• 38:00
  Jesus is never late.
• 38:02
  The promise of the gospel.
• 38:03
  Is that for everyone.
• 38:04
  Who belongs to Jesus Christ.
• 38:05
  Death itself.
• 38:06
  Will finally be.
• 38:08
  Reversed.
• 38:08
  Lazarus.
• 38:09
  The resurrection.
• 38:10
  Lazarus.
• 38:10
  The one we'll read about.
• 38:12
  In chapter 11.
• 38:13
  Is temporary.
• 38:14
  He's going to die again.
• 38:16
  And then have a final.
• 38:18
  Eternal resurrection.
• 38:19
  What happens here.
• 38:21
  In this chapter.
• 38:22
  Is a sign.
• 38:24
  It's pointing us.
• 38:25
  To someone.
• 38:27
  Greater.
• 38:29
  Jesus does not merely.
• 38:30
  Have the ability.
• 38:32
  To give life.
• 38:33
  Jesus is himself.
• 38:34
  The resurrection.
• 38:36
  And.
• 38:37
  The life.
• 38:38
  And we'll dive into that.
• 38:41
  Next week.
• 38:42
  So in.
• 38:43
  Summary.
• 38:44
  Reminder.
• 38:45
  Number one.
• 38:46
  Jesus' love.
• 38:47
  Has a greater aim.
• 38:49
  Than our immediate relief.
• 38:51
  Number two.
• 38:52
  Jesus' obedience.
• 38:53
  Is governed.
• 38:53
  By the father's.
• 38:55
  Timing.
• 38:56
  Number three.
• 38:57
  Jesus uses suffering.
• 38:59
  To strengthen the faith.
• 39:01
  Of his people.
• 39:02
  And number four.
• 39:04
  Jesus.
• 39:05
  Is never late.
• 39:06
  Let's pray together.