The Grave-Robber

Radium your focus is making Christ is fighting come check us out at 3045 Oxford Rd. visit us online.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop for our series on the miracles of Christ this morning become to another miracle.

The Gospel of John messages called the grave robber. There's one gravestone that comes to mind if they had gravestone backbend of Lazarus. They had to change the date twice. He died was in the grave four days.

Jesus brought him back to life but he died again in this morning to learn what that means that Jesus is the great grave robber.

How does that apply to our lives. What does this miracle mean for us.

We do learn that so if you have your Bibles with you turn to the gospel of John chapter 11 now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick when Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God the son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was overtime segment to jump ahead to verse 41 then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank you that you have heard me, and I know that you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by. I said this, that they may believe that you sent me. Verse 43 now when he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, and he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth.

Jesus said to them, loosen and let them go than many of the Jews who had come to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did believed in him using death is inescapable. Death is inevitable. I know Sunday morning. You're like were going to go to charge you an awesome day positive, encouraging and I begin the service talking about death, but it's a reality. It is true. One day there's going be a funeral service and you'll be laid out in a casket.

The question is where will you go when you die that is on people say things like why don't believe in an afterlife. I believe this all there is to it. It doesn't really matter what you believe I can stand on top of the Empire State building in Seattle believe in gravity and step off. I am going to the ground, so also the death you can deny it, but it is coming where will you go you see Jesus Christ not only paid the pardon of our sins, but he also has given us eternal life, so that one day we may die physically, but we will be alive spiritually until the resurrection. We will be physically and spiritually alive with glorified bodies. There is life beyond where will you go in this morning as we walked to this message. Hope you will hear the voice of the Savior calling the miracle were looking at this morning comes from the Gospel of John.

And you know by now when John talked about miracles. He called them signs he called them signs. There's a difference because signs were more than just extraordinary things that Jesus did to help people in need. Signs were proofs proofs of who Jesus was that he was the one that the Old Testament promised and he came in he did one by one.

Everything that Jesus the Messiah was supposed to do. This miracle is also a sign.

The mistake people make is they come to the miracle of Lancers in the start talking about all look at what Jesus did and how he raise the dead man to life after four days, he raised them to live how Jesus has power over death.

Nothing new about that.

He's done that before he raised Jarvis his daughter to life.

He raise the widow's son at man to life. What is the big deal about this one always. Four days now, four days is different for four minutes four days four years was a difference that is dead right you see the difference is this.

This miracle was assigned there is something deeper. There's a message behind it that we need to understand. In fact, at the end of the miracle.

Listen to what John the apostle writes in chapter 11 verse 47 it's on the screen.

The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a Council and said, what shall we do for this man works. Many signs raising of Lazarus from the grave. After four days was a sign. The question is what is it what was the sign behind this miracle to get the answer go back for versus the John 11 verse 43 now when he meeting Jesus had said these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. The Greek words behind come forth are due role Axel the word hero means come the word XO is really out what Jesus did at the grave of Lazarus is Lazarus about. In fact, grammarians tell us that when you bring the worst euro, and XO together. You don't even have to say, all you have to say is out with it! Jesus went to the grave of Lazarus and simply said Lazarus out cleaning have to identify himself.

This is Jesus here and a man who had already been on the other side for four days means he's gone he's way gone said hello what the shepherd is calling me and he came out to give you an illustration.

Imagine if I were to stand in my driveway and shout at the top of my lungs come out waving Nicole and the kids would do the know my voice to know what I sound like she was a go see what daddy needs disease out there hollering and no, something that we need. What's wrong with him the okay to know my voice and startled him, the recognized it in the came know what if I were to come in standing your driveway your driveway. You know my voice you know what I sound like a virus downsizing cut out. What would you say was that Pastor Shaw was having on what in the world is you run out says are you okay you run out of gas. What happened you know my voice is startled you, but you did come out. You knew I was imagine if I were to stand in the driveway of someone who doesn't know me and shout at the top my lungs come out where they would happen depends on where you live will begin by dialing 911. Some crazy guy outside her house telling us to come out and then you open the door just barely in locales excuse me what you need, sir, and again depends on where you live, so my come up with a shotgun as I give you three seconds to get off my property right.

You know what was a difference in the first two in the last one the first to know me and know my voice one may have spent startled, but the came out the respondent. The last one doesn't know me.

The last one cannot respond only with anger and shock to keep this in mind, because if you don't get this point. Lazarus is miracle will not make sense.

It's a sign to understand the sign we have to back up to John chapter 10.

This miracle is in John 11 to understand the sign. You have to begin in John chapter 10 get the context in which Jesus did this miracle listen John chapter 10 verse two he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Jesus is saying these words, he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep to him. The doorkeeper opens, and the sheep do what hear his voice and what is he doing he calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out. You know why Jesus is saying these words to the people because many of them are refusing to respond to him.

He is doing miracles. He is doing signs he's teaching his healing is touching lives and are saying you got a demon and you you crazy Jesus and let me explain to you something my sheep hear my voice this is what he says in verse four help me again and when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Verse five.

Get about they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. You get what is being said here is the voice of the shepherd calling his sheep and the sheep following him and he is leading them out there not responding to strangers only to the shepherd. When I threw listen to verse seven then Jesus said to them, most assuredly, I say to you. Not only am I the shepherd. I'm also the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep was a say did not hear them. Verse 14 I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and I'm known by my sheep by my own for 16 and other sheep I have which are not of this fold them.

Also I must bring, and they will hear my voice, you see, gotta get this down before you go and talk about Lazarus and Mary and Martha and what happened in graven stone in the were not when I'm ready for that. We have to get the concept down the Jesus is telling them you cannot hear me because you're not my sheep because my sheep follow me and I lead them out and then listen to strangers, you are a stranger you been led by thieves and robbers who have destroyed you, but I am the good shepherd. I take care of my sheep listen. Verse 27 is not done he says again my sheep was a saint hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish solicitous on the screen, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. He says I am such a shepherd that when they are my sheep. Nothing can take him away from me. Not even death. I'll bring them back is in verse 37 before we read that verse on the screen and with the people did when Jesus said this to them. The unbelievers those who were not part of the sheep, the picked up stones to stone him this it this man is crazy is talk about sheep and following in an thieves and robbers and who are we are thieves and robbers are. We are good enough to be your sheep.

So this is what Jesus says to them in verse 37 is that if I do not do the works of my father do not believe me. But then verse 38 but if I do know you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and believe that the father is in me and I in him, this what it means you may not believe in Jesus Christ being the only way, truth in life fine. Here's the question do you believe what he did. Israel 2000 years ago Jesus came and died on the cross he gave his life as the Scripture promised, did what Jesus did resemble what God does.

Because you see what God always does and always has been doing is is giving life to those who are dead.

Jesus gave life to those who were dead. See if you have a problem with that, but all I confess not received it.

I got baptized. I joined the church why don't we don't baptize. We do other thick doesn't really matter. None of that. The question is do the works of Jesus resembled the works of God than the next question is this, then you believe those works in the process, you will know and believe that the father is in Jesus, and Jesus is in the father. You're safe now.

I keep that in mind as we go to the miracle of Lazarus. What happened now let's go to John chapter 11 the next couple of minutes Jesus hears that Lazarus is sick but he doesn't go immediately. He delays for two days. Why does he do that.

John chapter 11 verse four says Jesus said the sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God the son of God may be glorified through it and here's something very important. What Jesus is saying is this Lazarus is my sheep. He is not going anywhere.

Guess what I'm going to do. I am going to use this sheep of mine as an object lesson to show you the glory of God. He is fine. Some of you are so frustrated and stressed out over your situation could be that God is using you sheep as an object lesson you going to pain you going to financial problems you going to relationship struggles. Could it be that God is using his sheep.

You as an object lesson to show his glory, but many of us do is like I don't like that I want to be out of this thing I want to get out how to do something different, something different, nothing new.

God says next to use you today starting to four days now Lazarus is dead has been dead for four days.

Oh no, guess what.

Nothing has changed, because now God is through Jesus is going to do a bigger miracle.

Jesus is going to show more glory. Nothing is lost.

No problem and he comes after four days Lazarus is been in the grave, and their two sisters were the names honey I'll go to Sunday school.

Some of you Mary and Martha was the first one comes out. Martha Martha was the one would always miss from the kitchen but she's the first one out when she sees Jesus and how does she response sheet she has lost all hope.

But Jesus challenges her.

He asks her this question. He said in John 1125 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And he who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this and listen to how Martha responds.

Martha is the good sheep to be always think Mary is a good sheep as he sat by the feet of Jesus. But in this situation. Martha is the good sheep. Guess how she response is that yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, who is to come into this world. Here was a sheep who heard the voice of the shepherd and responded in obedience.

You are I know what you are an amazing Jesus asked her. I am the resurrection life.

Do you believe that and she said you are Christ, the son of God, who is to come to this world. I know my shepherd sheep number one passed the test, who is sheep number two other sister who is she Mary how does Mary respond she doesn't rush to meet Jesus. She is still at home. Martha has to come and tell her head a master is here. Then she comes.

But how does she respond to the shepherd. She comes and says longer. Have you had been here, my brother would not have a high. She is a sheep but how is that she responding right now.

Not like you're supposed she's filled with doubt and she is rejecting to recognize the Savior you sheep sometimes do that some of you are say but you're living in doubt and you refused to trust God for your problems and for your situation and you do things your own way and you big big big mess.

Shepherd says I'm leading you here. I would do I want to do. Now I want you to hear how Jesus responded to Mary this is powerful.

Please don't miss this.

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping. The Bible says he groaned in the spirit and was troubled awful translation from Yahoo been in digging deep horrible translation would like to know exactly what that means. He groaned deeply and was troubled.

It literally means he got angry in his spirit and start up in himself because sheep number two not only failed to recognize that standing before her, is the shepherd who has power over any problem and instead of submitting to the shepherd and say Jesus you are God, whatever you want to do you can do. She was crying, weeping, and Jesus did not say well little girl, don't we.

He got angry.

He got angry and he was start up literally what it says in Greek is he began to shake heavier every urban slang that you start shaking your instructor trembling. None of your bunch of liars. You get angry and start shaking. You cannot mount your words you start saying things you didn't mean to say in your so angry right now. Have you ever been like that with your kids.

You tell him to do this and don't do that and don't go there and come home and this and that and end of doing something just the opposite.

When you come home to study some if I have done that when I was your age you starve the holding end of saying something that make up a story. The Newman exit all your dislikes so mad Jesus is mad in a while. He is man because his sheep. His sheep is not responding to him. She's weeping. I listen to this.

When he got to the tomb it says Jesus wept. Now what people have done is this at all. Jesus now he was so moved by emotions that he was like my buddy Lazarus died and I'm and he began to weep.

SU question you think Jesus was schizophrenic like on one moment he is like man I can.

I can bring you out of the grave. Do you really think Jesus was like so conflicted. You will not.

It wasn't like fully God and fully man. Of course, but he was not going to know which way I can pick right now. The Greek word for Mary weeping in the Jews weeping is Claudio. The Greek word for Jesus weeping is dock rule there weeping was out of sorrow, his weeping is out of anger. Have you ever been so angry that she began to cry and use. I'm so sorry I'm not in the steer start flowing and people think you said you said you just mad you limit your you just Jesus is not weeping the way Mary and the Jews who didn't believe in him are weeping. He is weeping with anger and again it says in verse 38 Jesus again groaned in himself against horrible translation because it really says Jesus got angry in his spirit to the shepherd is calling in his sheep are not responding, for that's how God is with us when he calls her name when he calls us to submit and obey with theirs in our marriage with theirs in our personal life and how we raise our children how we serve in the body of Christ. When we, like Balaam to do my well mama, I'm upset. Listen, you can do whatever you want to know more about how I feel and household question. How does the shepherd feel about you right now is pretty angry with you. Oh Jesus, not everything you need to read your Bible again is pretty angry when the sheep refused to recognize the shepherd and they begin to act like those who are deaf to him. He's angry and then he comes to the grave and he says move the stone now you know this passage very well. What did Martha say Martha was a good sheep right.

She was the one is that you are Christ, the son of the look. Wouldn't Martha do at this point, Jesus. He's been dead for days as of Jesus can tell time and I make time in four days and then she says it even stinks means it's too late. You can do anything in this situation.

I know you're the great Shepherd and all, but I don't think you can fix this one. I know a lot of sheep who act this way all day trust Jesus of heaven and and and trust Jesus with the blessing, but when it comes to daily life situation own thing and fix this one. How did Jesus respond or listen to verse 40 did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God. When you talk to your kids like that did not tell you to stay here. Did I not tell you to.

He is not being nice and cuddly. He is being angry.

Did I not tell you that I will do this and then Jesus prayed a can I say this a bizarre prayer, which I will go in and recommend please don't ever pray like Jesus in this situation, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank you that you have heard me, and I know that you always hear me, but because the people who are standing by. I said this many years ago I went over to this house. The mother had called me and said, would you please come and talk to our boy. He doesn't behave is doing crazy things right. Hang on the wrong crowd would you come and talk to him. So I went over there now. Talk to him and and was sad he was rebelling.

Whatever he was doing and then isolate spray and the mother said okay I'll pray first breach of the new pray. Okay and she began the prayer. It was a spiritual weeping time for the boy. She began by Lord, we thank you today Bob.

Pray for this young man.

I pray that you would open his eyes because he is being so rebellious and he breaks his mother's heart every day to see that his mother is crying in his weeping over him. I can't open my eyes look at the boy was a know that you and go bring it on what she was doing what she was praying to get onto her son is talking to God.

But in the situation Jesus is doing the very same thing but he is God what to do them about us as he cried with a loud voice, and here's the irony of ironies, the living cannot hear his voice, but one who was already in the grade BR 44 days, says her oh as my Savior shepherds calling him to come in he walks right out of the grave use in applications you power over life and death belongs to Jesus. That's hopefully clear you so I want to go to heaven because I believe in God. God says, I have given everything over to my son to go to Jesus. You have to come to Jesus to get to God. Number two, his sheep. Jesus is sheep hear his voice, and they follow him this morning. There are two groups of people there some who can hear me preaching and then there are some who can hear Jesus talking to them and you know who you are.

I can even tell if you are here this morning and all your hearing is pastor Shaw might be lost. Nothing bad, yet, but you gotta get saved number three. If you are a sheep and you cannot hear the voice of the shepherd.

Guess who is wandered away you have sheep do wonder some of you are wondering right now some of your bitter some of your angry some of your being stubborn. So if you're gonna do things your way, the way they've always done right, you always done this way to do it again. You think you're hurting people around you know you really you are disappointing. The ship Savior. Mary was so influenced by the Jewish people around her that she could not see that her Savior, her shepherd the Lord of the universe was standing before her, and she went along with the crowd right now you going along with the crown hear something very important when it comes to doubting what God is doing. He takes it very seriously. If you are a lost sinner's grace is available, but if you are a saved sinner, and you begin to doubt God gets angry, and you can tell me of past failures is a good man. You're such a good speaker, do such a good job of the church, but is one thing about abuse can trust him up pretty upset. Same thing with God when you say you can trust him. He takes it seriously. Here's another one. Once you belong to him. He will never let you go Lazarus was dead and gone, and he brought them back to what he was proving no one can snatch any of my sheep out of my hand. The grave can't four days or 400 years doesn't matter if I want him. I'll bring them back right now. He will bring Lazarus back one day out of the grave in a glorified body but this was just a demonstration that my sheep.

Sheep they got there.

Not I can bring up a time just like this is the last. If you've never heard his voice. You don't belong in today and you give your life. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. Jesus is the great grave robber.

He's the only one who has power over death.

We, as his sheep need to recognize his voice when he calls for more information visit us online@dvb.org. This sermons notes.

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