Sermon Central
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Jesus: Rez And The Life
Contributed by Brad Rigney on Apr 16, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: This message is an Easter sermon about Jesus as the REz and the Life. How not only was He risen from the dead but He raised Lazarus from the dead to show us who He is and what He wants to do in our lives, even now!
Who is this Jesus?
Intro.:
A. As we celebrate Easter there is a lot of things that come to mind: Eggs, Spring time, kids, candy, and of course we also think about Jesus.!
B. Today’s passage is one that we learn a lot about Jesus. It is an account where Jesus is learns about the death of His friend, Lazarus.
C. Vs. 17-20; Jesus arrives and finds that Lazarus died 4 days ago and was in the tomb.
Martha hears that Jesus is coming so she goes out to meet Him.
Vs. 21-24; Martha says to Jesus that if he had been here, her brother Lazarus wouldn’t have died – but still God will do whatever you ask.
Jesus says: Your brother will rise again.
Martha – I know he will on the last day.
Vs. 25 Jesus; I am the Rez and the Life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever lives believes in me will never die. Do you Believe this?
Vs. 26 – Martha – Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.
Vs. 28-31; Martha goes to tell Mary that Jesus is here. Mary gets up and leaves to go to Jesus – The Jews with Mary saw her leave and followed her to Jesus.
Vs. 32-35; Mary and Jesus; Mary sees Jesus, falls down at his feet. She says, if you had been here, Laz. Would not have died.
Jesus sees her weeping and the Jews with her – He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. Jesus Wept.
Vs. 36-37; The Jews question amongst themselves about Jesus.
Vs. 38-44 Jesus raises Lazarus.
- Vs. 38 Jesus deeply moved
- Vs. 39 Jesus “Take away the Stone”
- Vs. 40 Jesus, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the Glory of God?”
- Vs. 41-42; Jesus prayer to God the Father.
- Vs. 43 Jesus calls out; “Laz. Comes out!
- Vs. 44 Lazarus comes out
- Vs. 44b Jesus, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
D. So what do we learn from this passage?
Body:
A. We learn about Jesus?
- Jesus is the Rez. and the Life. He is the one who renews, restores, resurrects life from death. He is the very essence of Life.
- Jesus cares about those who hurt and grieve, vs. 33, 35, 38.
That is truly what Easter is about: Jesus being Raised and being the Rez. and the Life!
It is one thing to make such bold statements like Jesus did over and over again: That He is God in Flesh, that He is Light of the World, that He is the Way, the Truth – that He is the Rez and the Life!
But Jesus was Raised from the dead himself in order to Prove who He was! There were witnesses – 100’s; the lives of the Apostles and others were completely changed by the Risen Lord; no body was ever produced. Though historical don’t record that they were able disprove such claims.
We learn about Jesus at Easter: Not only was He Raised from the Dead, but even before He was, He claimed to be the Rez. and the Life.
ILL> with a Testimony by Mel about how the truth that Jesus is alive and is the Rez and the Life, what that means to him since his wife died.
ILL> by Karen about how the truth of Jesus being alive today, and His being the Rez and the Life, brought new life to her from a life of addiction and restored, renewed her life.
ILL> by Melody about how the truth of Jesus being alive today – He was with her and is with her (and family) in the loss of her father just recently.
B. We learn about the Response that Jesus would want from Us.
- Jesus asked: Do you believe this? About who is Jesus!
- Martha, “Yes Lord (Master of our lives), I believe (trust, and faith in) you are the Christ (Messiah, Holy One), the Son of God, who was to come into the world.
C. We learn about the Results that Jesus wants to bring to our Lives, families and communities.
Vs. 44 – After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus still had on the grave clothes.
Jesus calls out to remove the Grave Clothes and let him go (FREE).
We so often come to the Lord for help, strength, forgiveness, wisdom, guidance, help and Jesus wants to renew, restore, and Rez. us as we come to Him. But then, we often turn around and walk off living just like before we came to Jesus.
Jesus Rez. Lazarus, but that wasn’t enough – he called Lazarus to live Freely and walk a New Life in Him – Take off those Grave clothes
