SIGNS – THE MIRACLES OF JESUS
Part 6 – When Nothing Makes Sense
(John 11)
May 12, 2024 – Mother’s Day
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor
INTRODUCTION
John 11:1-5 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (NKJV)
1. WHY DOES GOD WAIT?
A. John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
B. The Bible gives us at least three reasons for sickness:
- 1. There is a sickness unto discipline.
- 2. There is a sickness unto death.
- 3. There is a sickness unto the works and glory of God.
- - a. To build character.
- - b. To build a ministry.
“I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.” (Helen Keller)
- - c. To be healed supernaturally.
D. John 11:7 Then after (the delay) Jesus said to the disciples, “Now let’s go.” (paraphrase)
E. God’s plan in our lives individually may not be making sense to us but hang on. God knows the right time.
F. John 11:15 “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to Lazarus.” (NKJV)
2. WHY DOESN’T GOD COME THROUGH EVERY TIME FOR ME? (John 11:17-27)
A. John 11:17-21 On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 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. 20 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.”
B. John 11:23-27 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. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
C. Whoever believes in me shall never die.
D. Sometimes, when it appears that God doesn’t come through it is really that we don’t understand the whole story. We can’t understand it. We don’t have the ability to see what God is doing. What God is asking from us to do in those times is trust Him.
3. DOES GOD CARE WHEN I HURT? (John 11:32-36)
A. John 11:32-36 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. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
B. Jesus hurts when those He loves hurt.
4. DOES GOD HAVE THE POWER TO MEET MY NEED? (John 11:38-45)
A. Watch this video (Lazarus)
B. The God who raised Lazarus from the dead is the same God who is present for you.