Jesus Is More Than Just A Friend
John 11:1-44

I know that this week has been a very difficult time for me as well as you. It has been surreal and depressing to say the least. I have feelings of gladness because people are willing to turn to the Lord for help in this time. I also am sad that it has taken something like this to bring America to its' knees. I want you to know one thing, for all those that asked, "How did God let this happen?" He knew it would happen, but we cannot blame Him. We must blame Satan for this. He is the perpetrator of this evil upon our innocent peoples.

I want today to deal with how Jesus dealt with the death of a dear friend of His. As we do this it is easy to see and know that Jesus Is More Than Just A Friend.

John 11:1- 52

1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11These 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. 12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35Jesus wept. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

 

Jesus is more than just a friend - vs. 3

America and her people have a "sickness" - vs. 3b

The Son of God can help our country today - vs. 4

Jesus did not return yet, but he will come again (soon) - vs. 6

We have rejected His power, His help, His love, and His proper healing - vs. 8

We (the church) are like Lazarus - dead - vs. 11

The Lord wants to awaken us from our "sleep" - 11-15

For too long we have been "dead" - we think the Lord cannot lift us up - vs. 17

 

I want to look at how Martha and Mary handled this episode in their lives…

Martha: - vs. 21-28

Questioned or blamed the Lord - it is easy to do this.

Yet she "believed" - we often doubt

Mary: - vs. 20; 32; 33

Sat stunned - vs. 20 - just as we have since Tuesday, September 11, 2001

Questioned the Lord - vs. 32 - we do not understand always the work of God

Wept for her "brother" - This touched the Lord -

(Are we touching Him today?) Where is our weeping for the lost around us?

Onlookers: vs. 36-37

Noticed His love for Lazarus (the world can see His love for and in us)

Questioned why He did not prevent this from happening.

Jesus was touched and moved, and asked them to do four things: vs. 36-44

He also wants us to do the same…

Remove the stone that separates us - 0r the roadblocks that hinder us -39

(Take away the stove)

Restore the faith (or belief) in our lives - vs. 40

(Believe and see)

Return to Him - vs. 43

(Come forth) - may need encouraging help from others

Release each other to serve Him better

(Loose him and let him go) - with our blessings and help

Get rid of the "grave clothes" that bind us.

Gain a new attitude - Lazarus had to be different

 

I know that today had been planned as Friends and Family Day, and this is not what I intended to preach. I felt like I need to address somewhat the tragedy that faces our nation.

Let me affirm to you, that friends are important!

Pro. 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Friends are great!

Pro. 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

 Friends are special!

Pro. 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel

10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Jesus is our friend!

Pro. 18:24 24A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

 

Lu. 11: 5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

 

If you call on Jesus He will be your friend!

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33So Paul departed from among them. 34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Rom. 3:23 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom. 5:8 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom. 10:9-11 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

 

 Jesus Is More Than Just A Friend

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 091601am