But stand for the reading of God's word.
The nine statements of Jesus, prior to the triumphal entry
recorded in John 11 through John 12 78728.
I'm going to read these slowly so just let them fall over you.
Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the
life whoever believes in me, though.
He die. Yet shall he?
Live and everyone who lives and Believes In Me, shall never die.
Do you believe this? Where have you laid him?
Take away the stone. Did I not tell you that if you
believed, you would see the glory of God.
Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of
the people standing around that, they may believe that you sent
me. Lazarus.
Come out. Unbind him and let him go.
Leave her alone. So that she may keep it for the
day of my burial for the poor. You will always have with you
but you do not always have me. This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks. Be to God, please be seated.
Yesterday afternoon, at 2:00. Some of you had traveled to
Nashville to be with the Covenant family there or with
the dunlap's. Those two Memorial Services
happening. The first at 12 for Cindy Peak,
and then the service for Holly it too.
Hundreds of you gathered here in this sanctuary.
And we participated in worshipped with them, is that
service was livestream to this place alone.
When the service was over people lingered.
I had a quick conversation with boots and Susan Nolan who were
sitting behind me. And then the next two
conversations were with parents in our own congregation who lost
children Who went through the unthinkable reality of having to
bury a child. It's because they know.
They know better than I do. Better than most of us do what
it's like to lose a child. And in time if the Scruggs need
them, but they want me to tell them is that they're here,
because there were other people in this church who have lost
children, who were there for them when it happened.
I was a part of both of those stories. and I remember
immediately the chaos, The confusion, the overwhelming
grief, the crowds. I remembered it all.
And we're seeing that again, aren't we?
When there is a death. Especially in untimely death one
in which we have heard. So many times this week, there
are no words, there are no words, but when there are no
words, there is the word and we don't take that word lightly his
word. It's everything we have.
We either Believe It, Or we don't.
And if we do, we find ourselves in a place of unbelievable
security where we can say this really, really hurts.
It's and I'm going to be okay, we're going to be okay.
Friends, what we need? Constantly.
But in moments, especially like this is we need certainty.
Jesus Christ before he set on that Beast of Burden.
Was with his disciples as his very good friend died.
And he knew what was happening. When Jesus delayed and goings,
John 11, you might open your Bible to John 11 or grab the
blue Pew. Bible in front of you will be
helpful. When you see what takes place
there. Jesus is doing everything on
purpose in order to bring glory to his father.
And what they desperately needed is.
The same thing we desperately need.
A week ago, Friday. Many of you were in this
Sanctuary for memorial service. For Sam Flores senior. on Monday
morning, a week ago, tomorrow, I received a text very early in
the morning from Nancy Burger, who said, David is gone to be
with the Lord David Berger, our beloved Brother husband.
Father grandfather, great-grandfather the list goes
on. I wasn't shocked.
He's in the presence of the Lord, he wanted to be there so
bad. He lived a long, beautiful life
tomorrow and three will have his service in the sanctuary.
But later that morning. when we received word of what was
happening in Nashville, You, you immediately recognized how
broken this world is how evil the world has. and the next
several days would, Unveil so much of the glory of God and so
much more still to come. When Jesus delayed in going, all
of this was intentional. The words that he spoke these
nine statements, they give us something and I hope that you'll
take them and you'll think of them often this week along with
all the other things we receive. But here's what they give us.
They give us a certainty. I want to talk about certainty.
They also reveal to us, freedom. They also revealed to us
something about a fragrance and something about faith.
So what I'm going to do is simply walk through this for a
few minutes talking about certainty, Freedom fragrance,
and faith. We right now.
And whenever we encounter tragedy, whenever we encounter
trauma, whenever we encounter the reality of the sin, in this
world inside us outside of us in us against us, we need
certainty. And certainty is so attractive.
It's it's so powerful you can see it yesterday when Chad,
Priam preachy. Did you know the remembrance of
his daughter? There was such security.
And certainty and confidence. We need that.
And that's what Jesus brings is he with his disciples comes
towards the Two Sisters, Mary, and Martha, and the crowds that
had come to comfort them. But what is the certainty?
It's two things. The first is certainty about
what is going to happen. So Look, what Jesus says the
very first statement he says your brother will rise again.
Jesus says your brother will rise again.
He is certain. He knows what is going to
happen. He goes on to say that whoever
believes in me, though. He die.
He shall live and everyone who lives and Believes In Me, shall
never die. Jesus is telling us what is
going to happen. We can be certain that when he
speaks these words, these are the things that will come true.
All who are in Christ, will rise again.
But the certainty isn't just in what he says.
Because anybody can say anything, and people do say
things all the time that they have no ability to prove will be
true. They have no ability to
guarantee that, but Jesus did. And he does and there's
certainty, when we cling to his word, your brother will rise.
Again, But it's because of who he is.
But he can make those statements and because of who he is, that
we can be certain look with me again.
The first statement, your brother will rise.
Again, if you're in Christ Jesus, you will rise again.
If he doesn't return, first you will die, your children will
die, your grandchildren will die.
But all who are in Christ, we will rise again, death doesn't
win, evil doesn't win. We are his forever.
But it's because of who he is, that we have the certainty.
What does he say? Next verse 25, I Am The Great.
I Am statements in the Gospel of John.
I am the resurrection and the life.
He wasn't just resurrected. He is the resurrection and the
life, our certainty is in what he says will happen, and it's in
who he is. Take a minute now and think
about all, you know who are in Christ that is their reality.
Billy Barnes who serves on staff with Chad at covenant.
It's been there a long, long time.
Yesterday. He says, he said when you know,
the who The what and the why become less overwhelming?
He could have said the what and the why don't matter?
I'm glad he didn't. Because I like, you want to ask
why? I want to ask what happened?
Why did you let this happen? Well, so did Mary and so did
Martha. If you look at John 11, you see
that the crowds have asked that look with me at verse 36.
So the Jews said, see how he loved him.
They're talking about Jesus shortest, verse in the Bible was
just before that Jesus wept, even though he knew what was
going to happen. He knew he was going to call
Lazarus out. He wept.
He had compassion. Passion.
His soul was troubled and so those crowds who had come said
these words could not. He who opened the eyes of the
blind, man also have, kept this man from dying.
Of course, he could have, if he'd just come a little earlier,
if he had just made it on time, before his eyes were closed.
And he breathed his last Jesus, could have kept him from dying,
the crowds were asking the questions Martha and Mary as
well. Verse 21 Martha said to Jesus
Lord if you had been here listen to her certainty, my brother
would not have died. but whatever, even now I know that
whatever you ask from God, God will give you Mary, a few verses
down in verse 32, when she's been told Jesus is here.
It says now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him she
fell at his feet saying to him. Lord, if you had been here, my
brother would not have died when Jesus saw her weeping.
And the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply
moved in spirit and greatly troubled.
That's our savior. He's deeply moved, he's grieved
and he has the whole picture. Her in mind.
We have certainty. In days like this because of
what he said will happen and because of who he is and you see
this take place in what comes next?
It's the commands of Christ. Is that read the nine
statements? Did you hear them?
He makes commands for a place of authority, whatever he declares
and demands happens. We'll and listen to what he
says. Verse 39, take away the stone.
It's a command. Verse 43.
Lazarus. Come out.
I want you to picture. That scene because it really
happened. It would be as if you were at a
graveside service or you were at a memorial service like on
Friday when mr. Flores has body in casket was
here. And suddenly someone with
authority somebody with certainty said mr.
Flores wake up come out, get up in the casket opens and he does
this is what happened. Lazarus wasn't just mostly dead.
He was dead, no heartbeat, no blood pressure.
He was dead. Jesus, delayed four days.
They're concerned about the stench.
And Jesus says, take away the stone.
And then Lazarus in a loud voices, says, come out.
He heard his voice. He was dead, but he heard His
Voice come out. Can you imagine your eyes fixed
on that tomb? How long did it take before this
dead man? Now live walks out?
I don't know. but the crowds, Had never and would never see
anything quite like that. Christ would rise, but they
wouldn't see him walk out. He would walk around for a while
before he ascended. Jesus Christ had the authority
to make these commands. Take away the stone.
They did Lazarus come out. When that happened, this
certainty led to a freedom. Of Freedom, so profound that a
dead man, who still Bound in the death?
Clothes comes out and Jesus gives another command unbind
him. And the third command, then let
him go. Who were the ones who went up to
Lazarus and just began to take off?
What was wrapped around him? Can you imagine it really
happened and then Lazarus walked in fact, what comes next is
another type of freedom There is a freedom that takes place in.
John's gospel is, Jesus tells a story Or John tells a story of
what happened to Jesus that Jesus would later say whenever
this is talked about whenever this passion week is described,
we will make sure that you hear about this woman.
It's the anointing of Jesus feet where this last statement comes
before, Jesus gets on the beasts of burden in John's gospel.
Look with me again at chapter 12, It says, six days before the
Passover Jesus therefore came to Bethany where Lazarus was whom,
Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him
there. Well, this is a celebration but
it's also a great risk. People aren't supposed to be
having parties in which Jesus has been invited to nor Lazarus,
the religious leaders, wanted Jesus dead and they wanted
Lazarus debt. Fame was spreading.
We're having a party, they're celebrating.
So, they gave a dinner for him there.
Martha served. Of course she did.
And Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.
That's with Jesus at the table, imagine the scene.
Mary. This is the Mary of Mary, and
Martha. This is the Mary, that's the
sister of Lazarus. Where is she?
She is where she always is the three times Mary's mentioned of
the Gospel. All three times, she is at the
feet of Jesus, may that be where we are this week.
When you're at the feet of someone, in this time it was a
picture of discipleship. It was a picture of listening.
It was a picture of learning and more than even the 12 she
understood something more of what was about to happen.
And Mary moves towards Jesus. And she's about to do something
so unthinkable. So extravagant so ridiculous.
She takes a pound of expensive ointment perfume.
And anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped it.
Wiped his feet with her hair, the house was filled with the
fragrance of the perfume. How expensive was the perfume?
It was worth one year's salary and those times.
Many years ago, I don't want to embarrass her but a member of
our church. I was in a meeting and she was
wearing a delightful perfume but I notice it.
My anniversary was coming up and I said that's really pretty.
My wife doesn't really buy perfume like that.
I would. What are you wearing?
I'd love to know. She gave you the name of it and
I looked it up and I was like, oh, she's over there.
That's like that's so you're of my salary.
It wasn't really that much. But it was a lot.
I never bought that for Christina.
I found some old Avon I think in my moms.
This was worth. A year.
Of wages. and, As Mary had sat at the feet of Jesus and she
knew he would be at this dinner. She could think of no better use
than to take this this box. This pint of nard worth so much
and break it. And pour it out on the feet of
Jesus. The first recorded words of
Judas, Iscariot are now spoken. As the fragrance fills the air,
imagine that beautiful scent verse for Judas.
Iscariot one of the disciples who was about to betray him
said, why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii.
I given to the poor. He said this not because he
cared about the poor. But because he was a thief and
having charge of the money bag, he used to help you used it to
help himself to what was put in it.
It's amazing, isn't it? A woman who's holding and pite,
the years with the south of salary in a box that's
fragrance. She is willing not just to pour
out a little and save some more for later.
She is going to break it all, it's all going to be gone, it
will be on him and in her hair and that's it.
And Judas sees it. He condemns her.
This is wasteful but it's not because he cared about the poor.
It's because he cared about not busting open the treasury that
he held except for his own hand, such a contrast.
Judas condemns her. And in his final statement
before he goes on the donkey writing in to Jerusalem.
Jesus says this, leave her alone so that she may keep it for the
day of my burial for the poor. You always have with you but you
do not always have me. Jesus was not being callous to
the poor, he was simply making his statement because of what
Judas said. I'm not going to be here that
much longer. What she has done.
Should not be condemned, Judas, or any of the other people that
thought like he did. But didn't speak.
I am commending it. What she has done is not a
wasteful thing. It is a wonderful thing.
It's so wonderful. That whenever this story is told
about my life, this story of her extravagant worship is going to
be told so two thousand plus years later on the second day of
April. 20:23, you're hearing what Jesus said would take place
because He commands it. This week.
We will celebrate his passion. With certainty this week, we
will celebrate his passion with the freedom of knowing that all
who trust in him have been freed from sin and death.
This passion week, we will worship him in the freedom, like
our sister Mary. Sitting at his feet.
But there's one final thing I want to look at.
Just after Jesus said, who he was, and what would happen?
Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the
life. He says these words verse 26.
Do you believe this? That's what he says to Martha.
Do you believe this? Pat, Hoban and Ashley Boone.
Have released a very short devotional each day.
And if you're interested in receiving, it just reach out to
them. It's based on Psalm 51, and it
was sent to me this morning. Have mercy on me, o God,
according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant
Mercy blot out my transgressions Wash Me thoroughly from my
iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51 part. First two verses and this is
their short devotion. They promise it will be between
100 and 150 words each day. So I can read it.
I want you to listen. As we enter into Holy Week, we
have to ask ourselves. Just what do I believe about
this? Time of the year.
Do I actually believe that? I need God to have mercy on me
according to his steadfast love. Do I really believe?
I need him to wash me thoroughly from my iniquity to cleanse me
from my sin or do I think that is all up to me?
These are all important questions.
And I love the dependency on God here.
Oh Lord, please show me what I really believe.
Do you really believe? that you and I were born in sin.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Do you really believe that we deserve death for eternity
separated from God and Hell? Do you really believe that
because of his great love for us, God, the Father sent his
son, Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Do you really believe that he alone is the way to eternal life
as he says? I am the way the truth and the
life. There's no way to the father
except through me. Do you really believe what he
said is going to happen for followers of his Christians?
We will rise again. Do you really believe that he is
the resurrection and the life? I believe that many, many, many
of you do. But it's an important question
for all of us. One of the signs.
Of true belief. Is the fragrance.
Of our worship. It is not something that we do
in order for God to accept us, we never could there's no amount
of nard, no amount of perfume. No, no value that man could put
something on that. Could make us earn God's favor.
Mary knew about the grace of God.
She knew what it was like to sit at the feet of this man, who was
so full of love and truth who had never sinned The only
rational thought she had about showing her love to him.
Was to do something. So extravagant Would you
describe your worship as extravagant?
Would you describe the way you got ready for worship today as
preparation for extravagance? Would you define the way in
which you're thinking about holy week this week is I'm going to
sit like Mary did at the feet of Jesus and God would you show me
what you want me to bring For Your Glory?
Not so I can earn salvation but because I'm saved I want to do
that which is extravagance. Maybe it's just lifting your
voice in a different way. Maybe it's being less afraid of
what people think about what you're doing and worship.
Mary. Went into a room.
And she broke open this treasured possession, and she
took down her hair and she washed his feet being condemned
by one of his followers. Jesus would soon get on that
donkey. He would ride towards Jerusalem.
To the Garden of Gethsemane. Walking to the place of the
skull where he would be broken, open where he would be poured
out. We're all of him would be given
the greatest of all value ever. That we who trust in him.
Could live forever. Wren.
Ask. Our Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. To show you what you really
believe. And when he does ask him how he
wants you to worship Him. As she did sitting at his feet.
Giving all she had. The late Jack Miller who was a
professor at Westminster Seminary used to say when's the
last time you did something just because you loved Jesus.
Not. So you can earn His favor.
Not so you could earn salvation just because you have learned
something of the love he has for you.
Chad was asked on Monday afternoon, he shared this
yesterday. But one of his elders.
The statement that went something like this, do you
believe our hope you believe the things that you have been
teaching us for the Last 5 Years?
And Chad with unfaltering certainty said, yes and more.
I believe him. because in him, Is the one.
Who is the way the truth and the life in him as the one who is in
all who profess Jesus, who said I am the resurrection.
And the life. Father in heaven.
You have brought us to this place in your history of
redemption. A place that this side of
Heaven, in our Earthly lives. We will never forget And is it
Opportunity by your grace and For Your Glory to be real?
To be honest to grieve, but to also confess again.
What we believe about you? to see the certainty of what is
going to happen and the certainty of who who will make
it happen. Father, please buy your powerful
presence in the Holy Spirit. Make us see more fully.
Who we are in Christ Jesus now and forever in Jesus.
Holy name we pray. Amen.
Stan. Who we are in Christ Jesus now
and forever in Jesus. Holy name we pray.
Amen. Stan.