John Chapter 11:17-37

Nobody in this biblical story has any idea what is about to happen or clueless. They thought they were going to look to to mourn some more with Jesus that Jesus was there. Mourn for them. They had no idea what Jesus was generated and you know many of us in here no idea what Jesus is good rated welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, do you think God doesn't care for you. Sometimes in life we can get confused with the truth is we have no idea what Jesus was about to do in our lives today. Pastor David McGee helps us understand this as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 11.

Now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching. Do you believe pick it up in verse 17 says so when Jesus came he found that he had already been in the 24 days now. Just as a way to remembering talking about Lazarus here. Lazarus is God. When Jesus got the word that Lazarus was sick actually stayed there for another couple days before he came. Verse 18 now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about 2 miles away. It was like 1 7/8 and many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha is soon she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary was sitting in the house now. Martha said Jesus Lord if you'd been here brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you Jesus to do it your brother will rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this verse 27 she said to him. Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, who is to come into the world. Martha hits a home run want you to notice how much she changed in just couple versus me she was going a ask God for something in and blaming Jesus for sups and in just a few versus what she saying she's calling Christ now. Now you may be confusing. Think I was just calling Christ because that was his name. That was not his name. His name was Jesus or yes you are in the Hebrew English word of that is Joshua. Most of us are aware of that from summer teaching to seek Christ the name Christ comes from the Greek word Christos are anointed one. It was not an name. It was a title. It was a title reserve for the line that God was sending into the world to save his people from their sins.

It's the Greek word for the Hebrew word machine where we get our word Messiah. Those words are very summer she saying your ears. Messiah, you're the one God bless Martha. Even in the midst of her trial and her pain she's going to see this and say you know what you're the Christ.

You are the one verse 28 when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister saying the teachers, and is calling for you as soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to them, not Jesus is not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met him interesting couple think unanimously and with no mention of Martha change so abruptly that she what what changed Martha she was in the presence of Jesus, that changes things that being in the presence of Jesus changes things to.

That's one of things that happens here, I guess you're aware of it but you know you come in here and sometimes I see people coming here heavy and burdened, and and they come in here and they start worshiping in the presence of the Lord is in the worship and the word is proclaimed in us like man they look like new people.

After the service.

What is it been in the presence of Jesus when you're in the presence of Jesus changes you. Something is different.

Maybe your friends maybe your family have even recognized something different because you been in the presence of Jesus, you changed your different your different but perhaps they've not been in the presence of Jesus. Perhaps they haven't been changed. Perhaps the Lord wants to have you to be used, to show them how he can make a difference in somebody's life. Mary Sue, she hears a Jesus, there comes to verse 30 says not Jesus is not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met him and the Jews who were with her in the house and comforting her when they saw that Mary Rosa quickly went out followed her think she's going to the tomb to weep there. I know what she was doing that she did that they had no this is going to the tomb to weep that she's not going to the tomb the week they misunderstood completely. What was going on and that's okay because you know the world and those family members, and so they may completely misinterpret you. They may not understand, that's okay.

Jesus told us that was can happen.

So don't be confused when that happens to be angry when that happens, Jesus told us, even when one step further to look in this world. You can have trials, don't be surprised.

Don't be surprised if you're going to be misunderstood.

That's okay.

I mean their reading from a different playbook. As you will reconfirm a different script than us. Maybe you can have some compassion.

Remember when you don't understand what life was all about.

You can understand about Jesus. You and I are going to have those opportunities in the coming days.

1132 then when Mary came where Jesus wasn't someone she fell down at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have God discover the familiar old phrase, and now I'm thinking at this point, Mary and Martha have been talking they been talking in a Jesus was if Jesus would've been here this would never have happened to be careful of thinking that was Jesus, aware what was going on. All you Bacher.

We know from the conversations he had with his disciples that we talked about last week.

He knew exactly what was going on but he was on the way so that the glory of God would be revealed.

Don't assume the Jesus doesn't understand about your place if you would've been here would've happened situations that occur in your life have been filtered through the hands of God. Some of you have endured trials and tribulations and testings. Some of the rest of us might not understand. But Jesus does. Jesus does understand what you're going to notice Mary when she came to Jesus she fell down at his feet. You know, we come across Mary 3×3 times in Scripture she's doing every time at the feet of Jesus. She's at the feet of Jesus the first time she's at the feet of Jesus. She listened to his word. The first time she's at her feet at his feet like we read in Luke 10 right here she falls out of sweetness, point out her sorrows to see in the next chapter is that she fell at his feet and gave Jesus her praise and worship you know it at the feet of Jesus place to be and you know what don't wander very far from here. The cool thing is we can go there at any time at any moment you get in the middle of a trial of testing things are going well at work or or whatever the feet of Jesus followers defeated Jesus. What an amazing thing that he set it up where we could do that.

And any place and any time go there frequently friend you find yourself refreshed and reminded what all this is all about verse 33. Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping and Jews who came with her weeping, he groaned in the spirit was troubled piece where you laid him.

They said in more come and see. Verse 35 Jesus wept.

Jesus felt compassion.

Jesus felt pain.

Jesus cried. Jesus understands and notice that he wept. It's not just that he understands is that there is a deep, deep compassion for people Jesus has this and the situation he he wept. I remember as a small child being told something big boys don't cry many of us her dad and me. But Jesus wept.

If I may use the phrase, the biggest of all boys cried so men don't don't walk under that don't care that package strongest men that we see in the Bible cry and wept, and by far the strongest of them was Jesus says here that he wept. So not only do you need to come out from under that, but don't tell your kids that don't say to your sons.

Big boys don't cry, so Jesus wept. Why did Jesus weep.

I think probably compassion for Mary and Martha, think further pain. I think for the devastation of death and destruction in all these things, but also wonder. One other thing is weeping somebody that we don't usually think he might be weep and for you might be weep and fertilizers. He said he knows what he's about to do.

He knows where Lazarus is Lazarus is in heaven, and he knows that he's getting ready to call Lazarus out of heaven back into the sin stained earth. And oh, he understood that when Denny said he left heaven and come to earth and he knew what Lazarus was about to leave behind as he called him back your listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to them every day representing God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that needs no Jesus as Savior.

Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your love ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want take a minute to pray for some listeners in the state of Idaho. Specifically, the city Cascade, Clarkston, Gainesville, kitchen Martha Singh in Boise call in Moscow, we thank you for everyone listening today will we pray that you would encourage them. Remind them how much you love them. Lord, if there is some listening today have them put their trust in you.

We pray that today will be the day they would say yes to allowing you to forgive them of their sins, and that they would say yes. The following you on all their heart, all your soul and all their strength and we pray that you get them plugged into a Bible teaching Bible believing church. Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 36 then the Jews said see how it allows them see how I love to look at Martha and Mary's reaction, it does have the same rich Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not of God. They mistakenly thought God didn't care about Lazarus or Mary or Martha for the life lesson hears. Do not mistake, God, waiting to do something for him, not caring. Do not mistake, God, waiting to do something for him, not caring. We tend towards that only give a situation and God doesn't resolve it immediately. We begin to think was he aware of it. If he is aware of it doesn't care enough to get me out of this.

Don't mistake that help.

The amazing thing is nobody nobody in this biblical story has any idea what is about to happen there clueless. You can see that and in the Scripture and a few in a few verses were in a Jesus of rollaway lot rock and Martha said hey he can mistake never had any idea they thought they were going to the tomb to mourn some more with Jesus that Jesus was there to mourn for them.

They had no idea what Jesus was generated and you know many of us in here, maybe even all of us have no idea what Jesus is getting ready to do. No idea.

Some of you. The Lord is really touching your life you're being changed from the inside out. I get the joy of having a front row seat to see in that and yet I still sit back and at the he's gotten no ideal what Jesus in store for me and I don't know either, but I mean I know that he doesn't know some of you ladies see new servant, pour out your heart and though and Jesus got really some good for he's got really some good for you. Some of you may know what it is. Some of you may not. He's got a good plan for all of us.

And the reality is you can't imagine how good it is.

The trial still be tribulations, upbeat test, no doubt about it.

Jesus tells us about that stuff. And for some it may be harder than you expect, but for all, it will end up better than you can imagine his enemy doesn't want you thinking that doesn't want your dwelling on. That's all you can be good old mold trying to make is that the picture that Scripture paints for us in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 26 now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. What an amazing thing to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think that you should never go. I can ask and think all lot yet but that didn't. That's not even close to what God is going to do the new living translation has the Ephesians 326 now. Glory be to God by his mighty power at work with in us.

He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask her Hope. How did we go from that verse open we can make it to church on Sunday.

2 of do you see the disconnect catches all I'm going to be able to do more than you could imagine or think if you submit to me if you place yourself in the palm of my hand.

I will blow your mind with what I do with your life and there's so many God stories around here is God doing exactly that. The last couple years, it would blow your mind a caramel so many of the life lesson here.

God has a destiny for you, go for God has a destiny for you.

Go forth see the reality is the one person that can hold you back more than anybody else is in the person sit beside you isn't a person. Maybe they didn't come with you this morning that you that you Lord has equipped you with certain gifts and abilities. He wants to use you for his glory. He has an awesome plan for your life if you following but many of us like the little thing with the dog chasing this to help many of us wound up like that. Confused and dizzy with the busyness of it all and got going on narcotics in a much better plan. God's desires to use us to reach a world that doesn't know God desires you to reach the people that are in your circle. He desires that you perhaps invite him to this place to hear the good news he desires to use you to impact the world and you know it's even more mind blowing his he's waiting for us to do it when he needs waiting for us to do it well. Don't take my word for it. It's what the Bible says, second Peter chapter 3 verse dances the Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return to some people think he's been patient for your sake he does not want anyone to perish, so he's given more time for everyone to repent, you waiting perhaps you're cynical what that sounds like he's waiting on them any kind of do you think about what he said in John four.

Remember when he said pray for workers in the harvest. Your tireless work in Taipei for the harvest factory set.

The harvest is are there. The fields are white with the harvest ready to be harvested. Pray for workers to go into the harvest. I encourage everyone in here to pray that prayer and the meter was can happen is you do as you pray for the Lord to serve to send workers into the harvest euro was you are workers in the harvest and that you should go into the harvest field because that's what workers in the harvest to God wants to do that because according to the first.

According to this book at some point Jesus will do away with all the death and the destruction and the disease and the sin will do away with it all. But in that moment friend all those that have rejected him will have the door shut.

I'm glad he's waiting. I'm glad he's waiting because some of you that are here this morning. If he did come six months ago. The door would've been shot so glad he's waiting he's waiting for us to tell other people the good news. Maybe you suffered any of suffered with sin, sickness and disease and pain and all these things and everyone of us has 21° or another, be reminded that at some point that ends in really in terms of eternity is a brief season. Revelation 21 forces and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow nor cry.

There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away what and also versa. What an awesome verse, verse 37 and some of them said, could not this man who open the eyes of the blind also have kept this man from Diane Capt. from Diane. Listen up guys there sitting there going company of Capt. from Diane yet. He could've done that but you know what he's getting ready to do something that will just it's gonna rock your boat. He could get them from Diane Auletta been good, but he waited. He waited now in the meantime, in him, waiting. Guess what happened on the dot. He died so that he could glorify God on suggesting first, second, okay, see that's what has to happen in every person's life you have to die to yourself. You have to die to your perhaps selfish desires follow the Lord and then the Lord will be glorified. Could Lazarus ever of imagine that he was going to be told and talked about in Sunday schools and children's ministries and in sanctuaries and congregations 2000 years all over the world.

No way. No way.

Nobody even told him he had no idea what Jesus was rated to possess a life last life lesson.

Sometimes we have no idea what Jesus is about to do, but I know that God is a blessing God. The God is a keeping God, another that God has a good plan for your life and God has a destiny for your life if you will go for and you will submit to him. Why does he do it because you believe, why do you show God that you believe you ask him to forgive you of your sins and you tell them that you believe in it changes everything.

Some of you came in here this morning one way and you leave different than when you came in some of your walking with the Lord, and there such good things around the corner be encouraged. God has a plan for your life.

Everything that's in your life is being filtered through his fingers and is for your good is what the book of Romans us. So guys go for. If you're walking with the Lord go for go for following the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul. If you don't yet know him. Allow me to lead you in a prayer which you asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins.

How can you be forgiven of your sins.

What huge price must you pay price has been paid. Jesus says believe, turn from your efforts to what he's already done.

If you're not sure this morning that you've ever prayed that prayer or perhaps you pray that you really didn't understand what it was about and everything didn't change and I want to encourage you to pray that prayer this morning and you have no idea what Jesus is about to do in your life. But again, let me tell you it's beyond your imagination more than you can think more than you can ask some of us perhaps needed to be reminded of that simple fact this morning that Jesus has a good plan for your life and you can submit to it because he cares and he knows coming to Jesus is the best thing you could ever do with your coming to them for the first you're coming back to is the best thing that you can do friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God want you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous is a congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out also. Thank you so much for DA before we go.

What are some ways that bless our listeners days you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God