John 11:1-3 – Just Another Day – Bible study

John 11:1-3, 17-26, 29-44 Just Another Day One of the most feared days is the inevitable day of death. While it should not be so, death seems feared by the saved as much as by the lost. I usually preach four or five funerals each year. Every funeral that I preach, I know will make no difference to the deceased. In all the funerals I have preached, not one dead person has ever been saved. Not one has ever expressed appreciation or displeasure with what I said. Not one has said "Amen" or "Oh, me." The funeral is not for the deceased. Funerals are for the living. However, right now I am not interested in preaching to the living, but to the dying. Every Sunday morning message, every Sunday night message, every Wednesday night message, and every other message I preach is to get the dying ready to be the dead. So listen up and understand some truths about dying so that if I am around when it is your turn, I will be able to tell them that you understood that the day of your death was just another day. I. God had a plan in Lazarus death. A. This is evident from at least two facts: 1. Jesus knew what was happening to His friend but tarried Lazarus was dead. John 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 2. Jesus told the disciples He tarried for "their" sakes. John 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. B. These two verses indicate that Jesus knew what was happening, but had a bigger plan to accomplish. 1. In the case of Lazarus, Jesus wanted the disciples to know in advance that He had plan. 2. Jesus always has a plan, but most of the time we are not told what it is. 3. In this case, the disciples were told enough so that when the plan was complete, they would realize it was Gods plan all along. 4. Because we know the end of this story, we can see how God brought glory to Himself through Lazarus death. 5. The fact that we cannot see the end of our stories should in no way diminishes the fact that through our deaths and the deaths of our loved ones , God is still bringing glory to Himself. C. To understand Gods plan for Lazarus, it is helpful to understand some truths: 1. God has never killed anyone. a. Sin kills. b. We all have the death sentence upon us from conception. Roman 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 2. God is miraculously working a miracle of mercy every moment of every day to keep us alive. Joh 10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. a. It is Gods desire that every human being have more joy and life than they have ever had before! b. If sin is what is kills us, it makes some sense that we should stay away from it. c. It is possible that sin shortens our lives. (1) Verse: Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (2) I know what sometimes say that our death dates are appointed; but if God extended the lives of some, it is possible that sin shortens the lives of others. 3. But no matter what, death will come. a. In a way, even the rapture is a form of death. b. The soul will still be separated from the carnal body and this is the basic definition of physical death. II. God has a plan in our deaths. A. Let me talk to those who must die for a moment. Wait a minute! That is all of us. 1. Man is afraid of death. 2. For the unsaved, that is understandable, but the Christian should understand that death is just another day for us. a. By that, I mean that God has a plan for our death just like He has a plan for our life. b. Even more, God is in control of our deaths just like He has been in control of lives. c. We need to make up our minds to face it right. B. Although God does not kill, He does control at least three aspects of our death. 1. Time a. God is the only One who holds the complete past, present, and future in His hands. b. If this is the time God selects, it is because this is the time death would do the most good. (1) Maybe this is the time when the individuals faith is the strongest. (2) Maybe this is the time when someone else is the most tender. c. Remember, death is not the issue. d. We must all face death. e. The issue is to accept this is the time God has chosen it. 2. Circumstances a. I believe God is control of how we die. b. That means that God selects the method of our dying, whether is peaceful or painful, speedy or slow, expected or sudden. c. God picks a death for us that He knows we can handle it, and that will bring honor and glory to Himself. 1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. d. No matter how much pain or shame God calls upon us to face in death, Jesus endured more. 3. Aftermath a. For those who are saved, surrendered, & serving, God will bring good out of death. Romans 8;28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. b. To a large extent, how we die may determine how much good God can bring from it. C. Now let me share one thing that I know is Gods plan for your death and mine: 1. It is Gods plan that we die with peace and in faith. a. It does not matter who you are, when you die, or how you die. b. This will be the plan of God for your death. 2. If you have not mastered worrying, do so now. a. Worry about your death will do as much good as worrying about anything else. b. None. 3. Instead, focus on having faith. In what? I will suggest a few: a. Have faith there is a heaven. Just believe it. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. b. Have faith that Jesus is with you. Trust Him. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. c. Have faith that death is nothing to be feared. Act like it. (Psalm 23:4 again.) d. Faith in the goodness of God. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. D. Death is coming, let us not squander the good that can come out of it by being faithless! III. God has a plan for the families of those who face death. A. Just as God has not left us to die alone, so God has not left the families to endure death alone. 1Thess 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1. Have you ever noticed that the story of Lazarus resurrection is not really about Lazarus? 2. It is about Mary and Martha! 3. Jesus could have raised Lazarus from where He WAS. 4. Jesus went to Bethany to give comfort to the bereaved. B. The same things that Jesus did for Mary and Martha, He does for us. 1. Jesus wept with Mary and Martha. John 11:35 Jesus wept. a. Theologians have long debated why Jesus wept. b. There was no need to weep for Lazarus. He was in heaven, although some speculate that Jesus wept because He was about to bring Lazarus back to this sin cursed world. c. Jesus certainly was not weeping for Himself. d. Most likely, Jesus was weeping for those who wept. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 2. Jesus gently encouraged Martha to take faith and hope and to believe. John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? a. Faith and hope are what takes the sting of death away. b. My goal in preaching a funeral is to transport the family from the grave to the heavens, for there they can see there where their loved ones are find comfort. 3. And THEN Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. a. After Jesus taught them how to deal with death, Jesus kicked death to the curb. b. The resurrection is the greatest comfort that God gives to the a bereaved family, but it does not happen that quickly for most of us. c. Why? (1) Its all in timing. (a) If Jesus raised them now, they would just have to die again. They would go through the pain of death again and wed have to go through the pain of losing them again. (b) If Jesus raised them now, wed be snatching them from heaven. (2) As much as we would like to have our loved ones back, there is really nothing worth them coming back. (3) It would only be for our own selfishness. (4) As hard as it may be to do so, it is better for us to wait a few more days and to go be with them. IV. God has an even bigger plan! A. Being saved, we now know that Jesus death paid for our sins. 1. Jesus death was the sin buster. 2. It broke the stranglehold of sin. 3. Although we should not abuse Gods freedom from sin, sin cannot hurt us anymore. B. However in our grief we sometimes forget that Jesus resurrection was the death buster. 1. When Jesus rose from the grave, He destroyed death. 1Cor 15:54 Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Death has nothing left with which to threaten the believer. Death cannot touch us! 3. For the believer, death is nothing more than a doorway from earth to heaven, from suffering to joy, from the temporary to the eternal. 4. For us, death is just another day. However for the unbeliever, death is much more. While death is the last step of sorrow for the Christian, it is the first step of horror for the non-Christian. If you are without Jesus Christ, you need to be saved today. I pray that you will.