“Jesus… where were you?”

WHO IS JESUS?

-The God of Truth
-The God of Compassion
-The God of Emotion
– The God of Power

John 11:17-19 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

John 11:20-22 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 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.”

Slide- Your disappointment with what Jesus does does not have to redefine who Jesus is.

John 11:20-22 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 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.”

EVEN NOW

John 11:23-26 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. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

We tend to define Jesus’ presence by what He does. But Jesus defines His presence by who He is.

John 11:27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

2. Jesus Meets Mary With Compassion (John 11:28–33)

John 11:28-29 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and isasking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.

John 11:30-31 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

John 11:32-33 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Some people need truth.

Some people need tenderness.

You can be mad at Jesus and still see a miracle from Jesus.

Frustration with Jesus and faith in Jesus can stand at the grave at the same time

John 11:32-33 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

embrimaomai

3. Jesus Meets Death With Emotion (John 11:34–42)

John 11:34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

Before Jesus shows His authority over death, He shows Hisempathy for those wounded by it.

“I want to go there WITH you”

John 11:36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

John 11:38-39 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 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 believe, you will see the glory of God?”

John 11:41-42 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.”

4. Jesus Meets the Tomb With Power (John 11:43–44)

John 11:43 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.”

Jesus reveals His heart before He reveals His power.

The God of Truth who steadies our faith.

The God of Compassion who meets us in sorrow.

The God of Emotion who feels our pain.

The God of Power who conquers our grave.