April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
LIFE AFTER DEATH John 11:25-27 When you die, what do you think will be on the other side? •
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Hinduism teaches that one is almost endlessly reincarnated based on the law of karma. Eventually the soul is absorbed into Ultimate Reality. Islam teaches that there is a paradise and a hell. Martyrdom is the only sure-fire way to go to paradise. Buddhists believe that through enlightenment the soul is continually reincarnated until it reaches an ultimate state of non-existence called nirvana. Atheists believe that there is no life after death. New Age teaches that souls are evolving toward union with God and will eventually find spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Historic Christianity teaches that once a person dies there is eternal communion with God in heaven or eternal separation from God in hell. One’s destiny is determined by one’s response to Jesus Christ.
Don’t you think it is vitally important that you know what will happen to you after you die? As you can see, there are several philosophies from which to choose. I know one thing: I don’t want to be wrong about
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something so important! My goal is to pick the philosophy that is true. With all my heart I believe that historic Christianity has it right.
CHRIST ALONE PROVIDES LIFE AFTER DEATH! During this message I want to support this audacious belief that I have literally staked my eternal destiny on. During His earthly ministry, Jesus developed a close friendship with a family in Bethany. Their names were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Near the end of His life and ministry Jesus received word that Lazarus was extremely sick. Rather than drop everything and rush to Bethany, Jesus continued ministering because His own death was drawing near. When Jesus finally made it to Bethany, Lazarus was already dead and had been buried for four days. No doubt decomposition had already set in. Mary and Martha’s hopes had been dashed, and they were disappointed in Jesus. The conversation that took place between Jesus and Martha is filled with significance for them and for us. These are the words we will focus on today. [READ THE TEXT]
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April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
1. THE CLAIM HE MAKES (25)
Why did the Holy Spirit inspire John to write this gospel account with so much precision and purpose? Look at these verses…
“I am the resurrection and the life” To get a firm grasp of this statement you must understand the context of this gospel account. This is the fifth of seven “I AM” statements in this gospel. • • • • • • •
John 6:35—“I am the Bread of Life” John 8:12—“I am the Light of the World” John 10:7—“I am the Door” John 10:11—“I am the Good Shepherd” John 11:25—“I am the Resurrection and the Life” John 14:6—“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” John 15:1—“I am the True Vine”
When Jesus uttered these “I AM” sayings, He was boldly declaring that He was God in the flesh! The Jewish leaders understood this, and they were enraged. There are seven miracles recorded in this gospel. • • • • • • •
John 2:7-11—Turning the water into wine John 4:48-50—Healing the official’s son John 5:6-7—Healing of the lame man John 6:5-12—Feeding the 5000 John 6:15-25—Walking on the water John 9:3-7—Healing of the blind man John 11:38-46—Raising Lazarus from the dead 3
“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30–31, NASB95) Martha needed to know more of who Jesus really was. She needed to grasp the riches of His grace and the limitlessness of His power. Basically Mary and Martha had thrown in the towel. From their perspective it was all over. Lazarus was dead and gone. The mourners who were there to comfort them believed it was all over also. The disciples thought for sure that Lazarus was gone for good. If only Jesus had been there four days ago! Jesus’ words it this situation are bold and daring—“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.” Again, the use of the “I AM” statement is His claim to being God. Is anything too difficult for God? Note the order: first resurrection, then life; because resurrection opens the gate to immortal life. Jesus Christ is ever the Conqueror of death. Not only is He this by and by in the resurrection on the last day; He is
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April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
this always. That is exactly the truth which Martha failed to grasp. 1
be a resurrection to a glorified body minus all the sin and frailties of this life.
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:20–24, NASB95)
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42–44, NASB95)
Jesus is God and He alone has the power to bring life out of death!
There is the repeated promise that those who believe in Him will immediately possess eternal life.
2. THE HOPE HE DELIVERS (25b-26a)
For the unbeliever death is a hopeless end; for the believer, death is an endless hope!
11:25 “He who believes in Me will live even if he dies”
That there will be a resurrection of unbelievers, not to “life” but to the second death, where they shall exist in conscious torment forever and ever, is mentioned in other scriptures such as Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20, etc. 2
Jesus is God and He has the authority to raise our dead bodies to life!
Here Jesus is promising the resurrection of the bodies of believers to life eternal with God in heaven. This will 1
William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 1-2, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to John, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), Jn 11:25.
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Arthur Walkington Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John (Swengel, Pa.: Bible truth depot, 1923-45), 596.
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April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
11:26
3. THE FAITH HE REQUIRES (26b-27)
“And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die”
11:26
Obviously Jesus does not mean that the believer will not die physically. He means that death cannot rob them of the eternal life they received as a gift. Here is the promise of immortality of the soul. “The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:10–12, NASB95) When a believer dies, life with God continues. This is what Paul meant in Philippians 1:21. It is what David meant in Psalm 23:6 when he said, “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It is exactly what Jesus meant when He said to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
“Do you believe this?” When Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?” He is concerned about only one thing. The issue is not do you love Me, do you serve Me, do you know about Me, or even do you support Me. The issue is do you believe Me? Faith is the only link between Christ and ourselves. It is by faith, by faith alone, that these great truths are accepted. Hence, Jesus demanded that Martha should personally appropriate what she had just now heard from His lips, namely, that as a result of who He is— namely, the resurrection and the life—the life of a believer even conquers death. “Do you believe this?” says Jesus to Martha. 3 11:27 “Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world”
Jesus is God. He has authority to raise our bodies from the dead and to give us a deep sense of security that we will live with God forever! 3
CHRIST ALONE PROVIDES LIFE AFTER DEATH! 7
William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 1-2, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to John, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), Jn 11:25.
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April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
Martha’s words are in the perfect tense, indicating a fixed and settled faith. “I have believed and I will continue to believe!” 4
It was the same authoritative word that He spoke to the leper—“Be clean”—and immediately the leprosy that threatened his life was gone!
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It was the powerful word which commanded a legion of demons to leave a tormented man—“Be gone!”—and at once they fled.
She believed that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah). She believed that Jesus was the Son of God. She believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Until you place your faith in Jesus for who He is, you can never embrace the truth of life after death. Let me ask you—do you believe?
CONCLUSION How did the story turn out? [READ JOHN 11:28-46] Remember now, every person who followed Jesus to the tomb that day thought it was over. Lazarus was gone for good. Jesus spoke with authority and power. That word was packed with the same authority and power as when He spoke to the howling winds and the white-capped waves of the Sea of Galilee—“Hush, be still!”—and there was instantaneous calm.
Jesus was glorified that day and many people believed in Him. Fast forward a few weeks. The scene is Jerusalem. Jesus Christ has died on the cross and paid for the sins of the human race by absorbing the wrath of God. He was buried. Everyone thought it was over… • • • • •
Caiaphas, is it over? “Yes, that false prophet is dead and I am glad!” Pilate, is it over? “Yes, it is over and now those pesky Pharisees and priests are out of my hair!” Mary, is it over? “Yes, my precious Son is dead!” Joseph of Arimathea, is it over? “Yes, I buried Him in my own tomb!” Peter, is it over? “Yes, it is over. Our Lord is dead!”
But, then on that first Easter morning you could almost hear the devil yell to the tomb—“Hold Him tight! Don’t let Him go.” 4
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), Jn 11:17.
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April 8, 2012 CFBC—Easter Sunday
The tomb squeezed Jesus’ dead body like a vice-grip while death taunted Him—“I will bring You to corruption!” But wait. God Himself stepped into that tomb and said, “Get up, My Son; it’s time to conquer the devil and death once and for all!” And Jesus rose from the dead! It wasn’t over for Lazarus and it wasn’t over for Jesus, because HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!
CHRIST ALONE PROVIDES LIFE AFTER DEATH! Do you believe?
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