Jn.11:17,21-27,39-44, From Absolute Despair to Absolute Hope③ Sermon&B…

John 11:17, 21-27, 39-44, From Absolute Despair to Absolute Hope ③
11:17, 21-27, 39-45, 17.On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...21."Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22.But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23.Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24.Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25.Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26.and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27."Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."... 39."Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40.Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 41.So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42.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." 43.When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44.The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." 45.Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

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I. Jesus Is Greater Than Our "It Is Over"
Martha thought that if Jesus had come just a little earlier, Lazarus would not have died. However, Jesus is not merely someone who works before death; He is the One who is "the resurrection and the life." There are times when we say, "It is over," "I can't recover," or "My life is finished." However, our timetable does not determine God's timetable. Even if it appears late to people, it is not late to God.
II. Jesus Asks About "Faith" Even Before the Tomb
Jesus asked Martha, "Do you believe this?" Lazarus was still in the tomb, and no change had appeared. Nevertheless, Martha confessed, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God." Faith is not believing after the problem is solved, but trusting the Lord even when He is not yet visible. We do not believe because we know everything, but we believe in the Lord who knows everything.
III. Jesus Calls the Dead, "Come Out"
Jesus had the stone of the tomb moved and shouted in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" Even in a tomb that smelled after four days of death, the Lord's word brought life. Today, there may also be a tomb in our hearts of old wounds and despair, fear and sin, resignation and helplessness. We say, "It has been too long," but the Lord says, "Move the stone." "Come out." The raising of Lazarus is a sign that reveals the glory of Jesus, who will die on the cross and rise again. Although Lazarus died again, the life given to us in the resurrected Jesus is eternal. Therefore, for the saints, even death is not the end.

Resolution/ I will entrust back to the Lord what I had given up, saying, "It is over now." I will move by faith the stone blocking the tomb of my heart. I will rise from despair and fear and come to the Lord of life. "Yes, Lord. I believe."
Word/ "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.'"(John 11:25)

Prayer/ God the Father, who is the resurrection and the life, I believe that God's work does not end even at moments that appear to be the end in our eyes. Hold fast to our hearts that were discouraged, saying, "It is too late now," and grant us the faith to look to You even before the tomb. May you remove the stones of despair, fear, wounds, and sin within us, and enable us to respond with faith to the voice of the Lord calling, "Come out." May the tomb not be the end, but may the risen Jesus become our eternal hope. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bible Study/John11:17, 21-27, 39-44, From Absolute Despair to Absolute Hope ③

1. Observation of the Text
Lazarus had already been dead for four days(17). Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”(21). However, Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again” (23). Martha believed in the resurrection of the last day, but Jesus revealed Himself by saying, “I am the resurrection and the life”(25). Jesus had the stone of the tomb removed and said, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God”(39-40). Then, when He called, “Lazarus, come out,” the dead Lazarus came out of the tomb(43-44).

2. Interpretation of the Text
I. Jesus is greater than our ‘finished’(17,21,39). Martha thought, “If you had been here, Lord.” However, for Jesus, even four days of death was not the end. We may think, “It is over now,” but the Lord can manifest the glory of God in the very place where we think it is the end. The time that ends for a person is not the time that ends for God either.

II. Jesus demands ‘faith’ even in the face of death(25-26, 40, 42). Jesus first asked, “Do you believe this?”(26). Although Martha had not yet seen a miracle, she confessed, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world”(27). Faith is not something to be possessed after a problem is solved, but rather trusting the Lord even when the tomb has not yet opened.

III. Jesus commands the dead to “come out.” Martha stated the reality, saying, “There is already a stench”(39). However, Jesus said, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” And He commanded, “Lazarus, come out”(43). This is a sign showing the greater event of salvation that Jesus will accomplish in the future through His death on the cross and His resurrection. Although Lazarus died again, the resurrected Jesus gives eternal life and the hope of resurrection to those who believe in Him.

3. Application to Life
We, too, have areas that feel like a tomb. These include old wounds, an unforgiving heart, abandoned children, cold faith, and recurring sin and despair. We might say, “It is too old. It already smells.” However, the Lord speaks today: “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” My task is not to produce results, but to believe the Lord’s word and move the stone from the tomb.

4. Resolution for Today
What stone must I move today? Let us move away one stone of despair saying, “It is over now,” one stone of surrender saying, “I can’t do it,” one stone of old wounds and hatred, and one stone that caused me to give up on prayer.
And let us confess like Martha: “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.” The grave is not the final sentence. Neither failure, nor tears, nor death is the end. This is because Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life, is our final hope.

5. Concluding Prayer
Lord, who is the Resurrection and the Life, grant that we may look to Your power even in places where we think, “I am finished.” Grant that we may not lose heart before the grave, but confess, “Lord, I believe.” Help us to remove the stones of despair, wounds, sin, and fear within us, and let us hear Your voice of life saying, “Come out.” Holding onto Jesus, who conquered death and rose again, grant that we may live with hope today. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.