I love the lively noise of God's people.
Connecting with one another. But we are here to hear from
God's Word. This.
Morning on this day. As you get into.
The text I. Pray that you see that this
message. Is really about God's.
Power on display. And our response to that power?
And actually. Our worship service is very
participatory. As we stand, it is meant to
give. Honor and respect to that which
is powerful, God's Word. But as you do that, and I also
want you to. Think about how it is that
you're supposed to respond to that.
And even as how our bodies move up and down and worship, it's
actually meant. To mirror.
What God's Word tells. Us how we're supposed to
respond. So with that heart.
We go to the word and we read His word.
Our scripture. Reading today comes from.
The Gospel of John chapter. 11. Verses 40. 1 to 54.
So they took. Away the stone and Jesus.
Lifted up his eyes and said. Father.
I thank you that you have. Heard me, I.
Knew that you always hear me. But I said.
This on accounts. Of the people standing.
Around. That they may believe.
That you sent me. When he had said these things,
he cried. Out with a loud.
Voice Lazarus come out. The man who had died came out.
His hands and. Feet bound with winning strips
and his face. Wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them. Unbind him.
And let him go many of the Jews. Therefore, who had come with?
Mary and had seen. What he?
Did believed in him? But some of them went to the
Pharisees. And told them.
What Jesus had done so the chief.
Priests and the Pharisees gathered.
The counsel and said. What are we to?
Do for this man. Performs many signs if we let
him go on like this, everyone will believe in him and the
Romans will come and take away both our.
Place and our nation. But one of them.
Caiaphas. It was high priest.
That year said to them. You know nothing at all.
Nor do you. Understand that it is.
Better for. You.
That one man should die for the people, not that the whole.
Nation should perish. He did not say.
This of his own. Accord.
But being high? Priest That year he prophesied
that Jesus would die for. The Nation.
And not for the nation only. But also to gather.
Into one the. Children of God who are
scattered abroad. So from that day on, they made
plans to put him to death. Jesus.
Therefore no longer walked. Openly.
Among the Jews, but went from there to the.
Region near the wilderness. To a town called.
Ephraim. And there he.
Stayed with his disciples. This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. You may be seated.
If you would this. Morning open up your.
Bibles to John chapter. 11. If you do not have your Bible
with. You it really would.
Encourage you to bring. That to worship but our Pew.
Bibles in front of you. The blue ones.
Those are there for. You there for you to.
Use on page 8. 98 you'll find. Our scripture reading for today,
so this is all about as I said before.
Jesus power on display. We see.
Here that his power. Is on display and that he.
Raised a dead man. To life.
You hear it in. The details even that.
Are shared about how. He was still.
Wearing the grave. Clothes they were on.
And how he had to be. Unbound, it says.
In the scripture because. Death had.
Bound him and yet. Jesus had brought him to life.
But today we're going to talk about not just the.
Power on display, but how is it that we respond to that power?
Can you remember? How you have responded?
To some. Of the most powerful.
Experiences of your own. Life I do.
Pray that would be spiritual. That would be Jesus.
You've seen his. Power, but maybe it's also kind
of a relational. Moment.
A moment. Where God?
Really. Changed the trajectory.
Of your life. I was actually reflecting on
this. Question last night with.
My children and my. Oldest daughter Eloise and.
True. Confession I was asking them
for. A great illustration for a
sermon. And she, she came.
Through Eloise came through and it.
Actually with. Kind of a heavy.
Hearts and tears. In her eyes, she's 11 years old.
She. She.
Reminded me. Of what it was.
Like for her? When mom and dad.
Told. Her that we were moving when we
were moving from. New York City.
To Dallas, TX. It was about 3.
Years ago this summer, she was finishing. 3rd grade when we
told her. This in New York City.
And she'd only known life there. That's who that's where she knew
what life was like. She'd had the same best. 3
little girlfriends since. Kindergarten through third
grade. They did all the.
Classes together they did. All the gymnastics.
Together they did COVID together.
And so when we shared that news that.
Really shook her up. She had sensed that.
Everything was about ready. To change.
That she knew Daddy. Was happy.
Because he'd been. Called to a job that he'd.
Been wanting for. The past.
Two years, but she. Didn't.
Know what it meant for her. Except that everything was.
Going to change? Can you remember a?
Time and how? That how you've responded.
To some of the most powerful experiences of your own.
Life. So this is the theme.
Response that I want us to consider this morning.
How do we? Respond and of course.
As we talk about the word of God, we're.
Talking about response in the form of.
Belief. As we shared last.
Week we reiterated this is the theme.
Of John's Gospel. Remember again what the purpose
John tells us. In writing a gospel.
I write this to you that you. May.
Believe you. May know that you may believe,
and you hear it in the. Words.
Of the text today. And how?
Jesus's power compels us to respond.
God. The triumph God He intends that
we would. Respond to him.
Jesus's prayer. And verse. 42 shows us this
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.
The triune God is giving. Us a glimpse into.
His relationship through Jesus. And even how?
Belief and response are at work and so.
If there's ever a lie that. We have this.
Power within ourselves to believe and response.
We see at work that it's always the Triune.
Of God, it's his design. That we would do so.
It's God's sovereignty. On display and the.
Beauty of this narrative. Is we're actually brought into
this truth of. Belief and response by seeing
the different. Characters in the narrative.
We see it and how each of them. Are.
Engaging with this both. Tragedy and power at.
Hand. We see it in.
Martha's response? To Jesus.
Now let's. Go back A.
Little bit to verses. 25 and 20. 7 This is.
Before her brother. Was healed.
Jesus said to her. I am the resurrection.
And the life whoever. Believes in me though he die
yet. Shall we live?
And everyone who lives and believes in.
Me shall. Never die, do you?
Believe this, she said to him. Yes, Lord.
I believe that. You are the.
Christ, the Son of. God.
Who is coming into the world? And yet, when Martha.
Is at the tomb. From our text from.
Today, she still doesn't. Understand what Jesus.
Was to do when he is. Talking about going.
In to see Lazarus. She's saying no, the death smell
is going to be. Too much for?
Her, she still believes. That Lazarus is dead.
So Martha believes. Earlier but.
There's a sort of a limit to her belief, a limit to her response.
I might. Say it's shallow.
And her belief in the. Extent of Jesus power.
And his compassion, Mary. Martha's sister.
It's another. Interesting character in all.
This because essentially. Mary and Martha's.
Responses. To.
Jesus that Lazarus has. Died and that he.
Was not there. They're actually very similar in
the words that. They use.
It's both. Some some form of Jesus, Why
weren't you? Here, Jesus, we've.
Been waiting for you. But.
Jesus's response to both of them is a little bit different.
With Martha he sort. Of goes to the head, the head of
who he is. Do you?
Believe that I am. The resurrection and alive.
But. To Mary he.
Goes to tears. He has.
Compassion on her. It just.
Stopped me in my. Tracks a little bit.
Why would Jesus respond to each so?
Differently and the answer. Is I, I believe.
Because Jesus as the Lord knows what is going on in these
women's hearts. Remember even the narrative?
In Chapter 11 it starts off. Talking about how?
These were the 2. Sisters that were serving.
Jesus. And the hospitality that they
showed. To him, and even that story of
how. Jesus treated was treated.
Differently by. By both of them.
So he is kind. Of introducing us and reminding.
Us of their story as he's also. Showing us his response.
To their belief. Jesus knows what is going on in
their hearts. And so he just responds.
To each of them. Differently, they're both still.
Held to account, and yet Jesus is compassionate, the Jews
responded. Too and even.
That we see. Later on and.
We'll get to the. Verses on the the.
Plot to kill Jesus from verse 45.
On 45 on. But there's Jews that.
Came with Mary to the tomb. They followed her there.
So some of the Jews, they expected something.
To happen, they heard. Jesus's.
Announcements early on. And so they.
Went with anticipation to see what.
Would happen and even. Verse 45 tells.
Many of the Jews. Therefore, who had come?
With Mary and had. Seen what he did?
Believed in him. That some of the.
Jews had been. Responding even though it.
Was not all of them. And then I guess you have the.
The the Jews who. Did not respond.
And believe verse 45. Many of the Jews.
Therefore. Who had come with?
Mary had seemly that. Believed.
In Him so some believe, but some of them went to the Pharisees.
And told them. What Jesus had done.
And so the chief. Priests and the Pharisees.
They gathered the council so then the Council of the High
Priest. Sometimes.
Referred to as the. Sanhedrin in Scripture.
And they asked. What?
Are we? To do.
Even though we'll go into the how God used this.
Plan for His glory. They understand that there.
Is a response. Required from the power.
That was on. Display and Jesus laying.
Lazarus from the Raising Lazarus from the Dead.
And so from each of these characters we see that there is
a need. To respond.
It is very clear across. The board even though.
Some are not. Faithful responses.
Some are. Unfaithful responses.
Some reveal hard hearts. Some reveal the complexity.
Of maybe understanding who? Jesus is.
Intellectually, and not yet. On the hearts level, some reveal
responses. That they do believe.
Just in the heart. Level, but they're just like
Mary. They don't understand how this
could be so. How did God's power?
And the and the pain that we've. Experienced here in life how do
these. Coincide but the.
Point is simple, they. Understand that in.
Light of the Revelation. Of God's power.
A response is needed. I think today in the digital.
Age that we live in. We can sometimes minimize.
What is required of? Us in a response.
By perhaps going to a website, going to a place.
A Google search to. Find all the answers.
That we need in. Life I was actually.
Reminded yesterday. At our presbytery gathering of
of all the. Pastors in the.
PCA. That's our denomination.
That we exist in. And I was reminded of a study.
A book that talked about. How many people?
Go to Google with their deepest, darkest secrets.
That's the place that they. Feel safe to respond.
That they would never. Share with a person.
Things that they would. Be afraid, perhaps.
To bring up in a. Prayer to God that they go to a.
Website to share. Those things to ask the question
that they don't know what's going to happen.
So sometimes in our, in our, in our.
Day and age our digital age instead of going to the God of
the. Universe for a response.
We go to something much lesser. There might be.
Some of us here. Today when I said.
This is the word. Of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. That maybe wasn't.
You maybe you have a. You don't believe?
That the Bible is the word of God.
It is. True.
And so you. Would not.
Deem that a response would be necessary.
It's just a power. On display but it.
Doesn't actually rise. To the level.
Of special revelation. But let me tell.
You something that's actually written in God's Word.
If this is one of you today that described.
You I think all. Of us have had moments even.
Whether you believe in God or not or.
You're just in front. Of something that is.
Utterly beautiful. Utterly.
Grand in God's. Creation that elicits a.
Response. I've actually never been to the
Grand Canyon. But those who talk.
About what is it like to stand in?
Front of it and it's grandeur, the creation that God has.
Made there's a response that comes from out of them you're
you're seeing God's power. On display in creation and
there's. Something in you that wants to
respond to that. I have been in.
Front of the Swiss Alps and it's been a similar experience.
Feels like you're inside. A picture, A painting.
And yet. God created all of this and I'm
getting to see it. In 3D.
Romans 1 shares with. Us about that for those that
maybe. Don't even believe.
In God's word to be true that you have.
Hopefully you've had those. Experiences in your life where?
You sense creation. That it's so big.
That something inside of you wants to elicit those in
response. That's a response.
To those. Who are in Christ?
Who have responded? To Jesus, who have responded to
God's power by saying. Yes, I believe.
Just like Martha said. I think we're tempted to not.
Always give a whole. Hearted response sometimes.
We are tempted to give a. Response and maybe it.
Goes back to a time in life. We said I believe, but right.
Now, as you are confronted with God's.
Power. What is the depth?
Of that response. What is the depth of your
belief? Because.
Of Christ's power and the. Sufficiency of what?
He's done you. Are always in Christ.
If you have said yes to Christ, you are.
Always in. Christ, he has transformed you
from. The Kingdom of.
Light, that of darkness. And brought you into the Kingdom
of Light. Because of the sufficiency of
what He's done, He is God, and we see that on display here.
And what he's done with Lazarus life.
You are always in Christ. But we are tempted to not.
Give a whole hearted. Response to what he has done
for. Us so Jesus power compels us to
give. A response, but he.
Compels us to get a. Whole.
Hearted response. A whole hearted response means a
heart that is fully devoted to God.
Being aware that our. Hearts are constantly trying to
make idols. Of things.
We want to control. We want.
To have power. We want to have.
Comfort. We want to be accepted by those
around us. Apart from Christ.
But we want to hold on to a. Holistic view of belief.
That even as our. Hearts.
Are constantly. Trying to make idols constantly
trying to put in the God shaped. Hole in our hearts.
Something that. Won't quite fit there.
Because it feels easier. In the moment than.
Giving over. Control to God and to his power.
That we need to constantly be in a.
State of repentance. We have a a view of.
Belief and. Response.
And our response is continual. We continue to come back to God
and. Repent to be transformed.
By the. Gospel to ask.
God's power to. Transform us yet again.
And we're sort of seeing a picture of this in our in our
narrative. As we look at.
How the high priests? And the and the.
Jews responded to Jesus. As.
We get to section. Verses 45 through 54 so that the
high priests who are first brought.
This news of what Jesus did by the Jews who are witnessing it,
they. Respond in verse. 48.
If we let him go on like. This everyone will.
Believe in him. And the Romans will.
Come and take. Both Oh take.
Away both our. Place and our nation on display
here is the. Idol of political power.
The high. Priest and was there were more
worried about. Their political power.
Then over. Jesus's power.
That they've been seen on display.
I'll read again from. Romans 1 verses. 22 through 20.
5 Just listen, I don't. Think you need to turn there
but. Just listen.
Claiming to be. Wise, they became fools.
And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images
resembling mortal men and birds and animals.
And creeping things. Therefore, God gave.
Them up in the. Lust.
Of their hearts to impurity. To the dishonouring of their.
Bodies among themselves. Because they exchanged.
The truth about God for a lie. And worshiped and served.
The creature rather. Than the.
Creator who is blessed. Forever.
Amen. And so we see.
Here in the high. Priestess Council of High.
Priests that they are. Preoccupied.
More with their political power than of the power.
Of Jesus. In front of him.
Hear this quote. From Tim Keller from his book.
Counterfeit gods. An idol.
Is anything more important to you?
Than God, anything that. Absorbs your hearts.
And imagination more than God. Anything.
You seek to give, you seek to give.
You what? Only God can give anything.
That is so central. And.
Essential to your life. That should you.
Lose it, your life would feel hardly worth.
Living This is an interesting narrative.
Because we see in. This idolatry God.
Is using this. To bring about.
The death and resurrection of our Savior.
And yet let. Us not be so callous hearted.
That we don't see. That we're tempted to do.
The same thing to. Jesus, every single day.
We're. Tempted to be more afraid.
Of something in this. World than the power.
That is on display. Here by our risen Savior.
We are tempted to. Ask for something to give us
something. That only God.
Can give us. Then we get to.
Caiaphas in verse 40. 9 and kind of is an interesting character
in all. This because he's both.
A prophet and. Also a participant.
And Jesus crucifixion. And as you if.
You've read God's word. You know that God.
Often uses evil. In this.
World to bring about. His goodness.
If you've ever read the story of Joseph's brothers and how.
They sold him into. Slavery.
God used that. Evil to bring about the
salvation of Israel. During a time of famine.
Babylonians an ungodly. People were used by God to come
and. To judge Israel.
For their. Unfaithfulness with the heart.
Of God is to. Always get his people.
To repent. And so the text.
Calls Caiaphas a prophet. Talks about a prophecy.
In verse 51. But what's?
Interesting here in. John the Gospel writer does an
amazing job. At the language that.
He's using. Is that even?
Though. These words on surface.
Level. Can mean something to.
Us, we know that Caiaphas does not.
Understand all that's. Going on here.
Let me read. Verses 49 through 50. 3 for you
but. One of them Caiaphas.
Who was the high priest that year?
Said. To them, you know nothing at
all. Nor do you understand.
That it's. Better for you.
That one man should die for the people, not that the whole.
Nation should perish. He did not say this at.
His own accord, but being high priest that you're.
He prophesied. That Jesus would die.
For the nation. And not for the nation only,
but. Also to gather into.
One the. Children of God.
Who are scattered abroad? So from that day on, they made.
Plans to put him to death. Now that those.
That phrase there would. Die for the nations.
It really wasn't. From a salvific standpoint, it
wasn't. Caiaphas wasn't.
Saying that because he thought that.
Jesus was going to. Save the nations.
But he's really doing it from a. Political standpoint so.
He's think that comment was mainly.
From a. Political point of view.
And yet the. Political power that Caiaphas.
Was looking. For.
Is the same. Thing that Jesus provides.
From us in a spiritual sense. From our salvation for.
The nations so caiaphas. Is both a prophet but also a.
Participant and putting Jesus to death.
John, the Gospel. Writers Crafting.
A kind of a beautiful double meaning in all.
This because what caiaphas? Meant for another reason.
The words. Have great significance.
For us. Who long to see?
Jesus as the Savior. Of the nations.
So Jesus power compels. Us to respond.
Jesus power compels. Us to wholeheartedly respond,
but Jesus compower compels us to wholeheartedly respond in.
Worship. In verse 38 to just before the
verses I read. Over you today, it says.
Then Jesus, deeply moved again came.
To the tomb, so. Jesus is approaching Lazarus.
'S tomb. And that.
Phrase. They're deeply.
Moved. Again, I would actually.
Venture to say. It and.
People who are much smarter than.
Me in Greek. Is actually a bad.
Translation. Of that phrase.
It's the Greek. Word Hebron Myomy.
It's. Kind of a compound.
Word between two different verbs there and it more.
Accurate. Means it's actually used.
In the common Greek, as when a horse snorts with anger.
I was thinking about this and thinking about.
The Kentucky Derby yesterday and those powerful horses that we.
Kind of wait for. Seems like way too.
Long for. This race to go.
Like all day. It's at 7:00, but there's all
that's. Built up the whole day long but
it's to see this. Moment of when horses.
Exit the gate with. Power.
And these? Creatures that have this.
Power to run this race so fast. They they can actually get angry
and they. Snort with anger.
That's kind of what that word. Is meant to be.
It's the same word that. The gospel writers.
Use when Jesus sternly warns some of those.
He is healed. To not share.
What has happened and? It's also the same.
Word that the that mark. Uses the gospel.
Writer Mark. Uses when he describes the
disciples scolding. The woman who anointed Jesus
with oil. In her hair, if you remember
that story, but it's. Here.
Jesus is the one. Who is?
Deeply moved again. He does it.
Also in verse 33 that. Same word is used.
In verse 33. And it is a deep.
Troubled anger and how. Jesus Jesus's power compels us
to. Wholeheartedly respond in
worship. It's because he is.
Confronted with many. People's responses of.
Him he is married. Whose belief is shallow?
Has not gone deep. I'm sorry, Martha, whose
response is? Shallow does not go.
Deep he is. Married who is deeply.
Troubled herself he has. Compassion on her.
He is the Jews who are seeking. To put him to death for his
healing of. God's people.
And the only. Thing that Jesus.
Snarls at the only. Thing that shows Jesus anger
come forth, it's his anger towards.
Death, his anger. Towards the tomb.
And So what brings us to? Worship.
Is that Jesus? Is the true.
And better. High Priest Jesus knew.
That when he healed. Lazarus.
That it would initiate. His plan for death?
He knew it. He knew every single detail of
the gospel. Narrative so his raising.
Lazarus to life. Would initiate the.
Plan for the Jews. To have him killed.
So while Lazarus rising as a miracle.
In itself it points us. To the greater spiritual miracle
that Jesus gave. Himself up to death so that.
Lazarus might live, but Jesus willingly.
Willingly. Gives his body over.
Jesus is the true. And better prophets, not like
the prophets of the. World God would have.
Used. He used their.
Sinfulness to judge the. World out of love.
For his covenant people, he used evil.
To bring about his plan of salvation.
As I shared briefly with you. He's not like.
Them because Jesus. Did no wrong Jesus in.
Himself had the decree. Of God's.
Justice Within. Him and yet didn't.
Destroy God's people because of it, but allowed himself to be
destroyed. Jesus is the true.
And better. King, not one who is grabbing
for political. Power in.
Order to save himself. But one who would come.
To serve his people. One who is dying.
For the nations. He's showing that God's.
Covenant. His promises were always meant
to be. Glorified.
Amongst the nations, not just amongst the Jews.
But to go out? To all peoples, Jesus is the
true. And better King by.
Conquering death by granting. US life.
His anger was towards death. Itself.
And conquered our. True.
Enemy Satan. And therefore shows.
Us that his. Faithfulness and glory.
Is to every tongue. Tribe and.
Nation. It's interesting in verse 50. 4.
It's the last. Verse that we read.
And. It's kind of seems like it's
just a. Passing detail.
But he ends. This narrative.
On his own terms. Jesus, therefore.
No longer walked. Openly among the Jews, but went
from there to the region called it went from there to the region
near the wilderness to. A town called.
Ephraim. And there he.
Stayed with the disciples. Yes, we see.
That God is using the High Priest.
And Caiaphas to bring about. This plan.
Of death, the crucifixion for Jesus.
But Jesus is showing us that he is always in control.
He retreated of his. Own of his own.
Will. He knows the timing of.
What is to happen? And as we look now.
To prepare our hearts. To come to the.
Table we know what he was doing the.
Passover is at hand, it says in. Verse 55.
So he knew what he had to do with.
His disciples before this. Plan was going.
To be enacted. So I end this time by just.
Asking a simple. Question of you.
As we prepare our hearts to come.
To the table. How is it that you?
Want. To respond to Jesus's power
displayed, let us pray. Got it.
Thank. You for the beauty.
Of your word. I thank you that as we mine.
It for the details as. We see your message.
Coming. Forth.
Through. It.
That we see. Even talent to the.
Level of the words. And how you?
Responded Jesus. We see.
The intentionality. I pray for everyone here.
Today, that we would see. Jesus, your anger towards.
Death and How the. Wrath of God, the power of God
was poured out on that. On the cross.
And would you show each of us by your grace?
How we are. To respond in Jesus name I pray,
Amen. If you're able, please.
Stand for your greatness to me, the Lord be.
With you, you wake your spirit. Let's.
Give thanks unto our Lord God.