Life and Resurrection: Trusting God's Timing

 

This is the manuscript of the third sermon in the Christ Church Los Angeles"Lenten Journey" series.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV)

Our theme is the ultimate test of the believer: Trusting in God’s timing and power, even in the face of "dead" situations. 

As we look at the raising of Lazarus, we aren't just looking at a miracle from over two thousand years ago; we are looking at the blueprint for how God works in the dark, silent, and "stinking" chapters of our own lives. When Jesus cries out with a loud voice, “Lazarus come out” He isn't just speaking to a corpse; He is speaking to every dead situation. His voice carries the authority that brought light out of darkness at the dawn of creation.

But notice something.  Lazarus comes out, but he is still bound.   He is alive, but he is not yet free. He is a living man wearing the clothes of a dead man. Then Jesus gives a command “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

God provides the Life, but we—the community of faith—participate in the Unbinding. We are called to help one another strip off the grave clothes of shame, the bandages of old habits, and the shrouds of past labels.  Trusting God's power means believing that He has given us the authority to walk out of our tombs and help others do the same.

Scripture

John 11:1-7, 17-27, 41-44 NIV Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) [3] So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” [4] When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” [5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, [7] and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

[17] On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [18] Now 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. [22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” [23] 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. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” [27] “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

[41] So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Text:

John 11:25-26 NIV [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This is the fourth sermon in this Lenten Journey series, which will take us up to Easter Sunday. We’ve highlighted some of the  amazing encounters found in the Gospel of John. We’ve talked about  trading in the shortcuts we usually lean on, for a solid foundation built on what God truly wants for us. 

In our first sermon we met a man named Nicodemus. He had the perfect religious resume. But he came to Jesus in the dark of night because his foundation was cracking. He didn't need a renovation; he needed a rebirth. 

In the second sermon we talked about the encounter that Jesus had with a Samaritan woman at a well and we asked what "water jar" are you carrying? What are you holding onto, thinking it is the only thing that can sustain you? We concluded that we need to ask Jesus for the Living Water and trust the fountain that never runs dry. We should align our hearts with His will, and watch how our thirst for the world begins to change into a hunger for His kingdom.

Last week, we met a man that had been blind from birth and Jesus used the miracle of his healing to teach a spiritual lesson to  show that  the blind will see and those who see will become blind.   

 We learned that Jesus is putting His hand on the "blind spots" of your heart. Maybe it’s a blind spot of pride, a blind spot of resentment, or a blind spot of fear that has kept you from seeing God’s hand in your life.

Today our path takes a dramatic turn. We are no longer just looking at our own hearts; we are standing at the mouth of a grave. Today’s theme is the ultimate test of the believer: Trusting in God’s timing and power, even in the face of "dead" situations. 

As we look at the raising of Lazarus, we aren't just looking at a miracle from over two thousand years ago; we are looking at the blueprint for how God works in the dark, silent, and "stinking" chapters of our own lives.

II. The Mystery of the Loving Delay

There is something in the scripture that James read this morning that challenges our human understanding of compassion; verses 5& 6 of John 11 say

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,” 

We often equate love with immediacy. We think that if God loves us, He will answer our "911" prayer before the situation becomes fatal. But here Jesus reveals a deeper dimension of divine love—a love that is willing to let us experience the pain of a "death" so that we can experience the power of a "resurrection."

Jesus was not late; He was waiting for the situation to become humanly impossible so that the glory would be undeniably divine. If you are in a delay right now—if you sent the message to Jesus and the situation only got worse—know that His silence is not a sign of His absence, but a sign of His sovereign preparation.

III. The "Four-Day" Reality: When Hope Has a Stench

By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. In the culture of that time, the fourth day was significant. It was the point of absolute finality. The mourning had settled in; the decomposition had begun. Martha’s comment in verse 39 that “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”, — is the voice of realism, the four-day reality, hope by this time has a stench.

We all have "four-day" situations:

• A dream that has been buried so long it feels foolish to even mention it.

• A relationship that has moved past "troubled" and into "decayed."

• A spiritual life that feels like a cold, dark cave.

When we face these moments, our instinct is to keep the stone rolled shut to hide the smell of our failure or our grief. But trusting in God’s power means being willing to roll the stone away and let Jesus, the Light of the World see the "stench" of our reality.

IV. The Present Tense of the "I AM"

Martha’s struggle is a classic example of "bookend faith"—she has total confidence in the past and the future, but a gap where the present should be.

John 11:21 NIV “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

John 11:24 NIV Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

She says, "If you had been here..." (past) and "I know he will rise on the last day" (future). She has faith in what God did and what God will do, but she is struggling to trust what God is doing right now.

Then Jesus pivots the dialogue from a dry doctrinal concept to a vibrant reality. He shows that eternal life isn’t just a destination at the end of a timeline; it is an identity found in Him in the here and now.

John 11:25-26 NIV [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Trusting God in a dead situation means realizing that the power of the Resurrection is not waiting for us at the end of the road; the Power of the Resurrection is walking the road with us. He is the Life right now, today, in the middle of the cemetery.

V. "Lazarus, Come Out!": The Call to Freedom

When Jesus cries out with a loud voice, “Lazarus come out” He isn't just speaking to a corpse; 

He is speaking to every dead situation represented in  this room and  the rooms of everybody watching today or whenever. His voice carries the same authority that brought light out of darkness at the dawn of creation.

Genesis 1:3 NIV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 

But notice something here .  Lazarus comes out, but he is still bound. 

John 11:44 NIV The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

He is alive, but he is not yet free. He is a living man wearing the clothes of a dead man. Then Jesus gives a command “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

God provides the Life, but we—the community of faith—participate in the Unbinding. We are called to help one another strip off the grave clothes of shame, the bandages of old habits, and the shrouds of past labels.   (example from His Only Begotten Son, where cast members help Lazerus get out of the grave clothes) 

Galatians 6:1-3 MSG [1-3] Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

Trusting God's power means believing that He has given us the authority to walk out of our tombs and help others do the same.

Conclusion: Trusting the God of the Turnaround

As we prepare our hearts for Holy Week, which starts with next Sunday, Palm Sunday, let this be our anchor: Our God is a specialist in the impossible.

If you are standing before a tomb today, do not be afraid of the silence or the "stench." Trust the timing of the One who stayed two days longer. Trust the power of the One who is, at this very moment, the Resurrection and the Life. The stone is being moved. Your name is being called. It is time to come out.

Prayer 

Lord of Life

We stand before You today at the mouth of our own "tomb" situations. We confess that like Martha, we have often doubted Your timing. We have looked at the "four-day" silence in our lives and assumed You were too late. We have smelled the "stench" of our broken dreams and failed efforts, and we have been tempted to keep the stone rolled shut in shame.

Forgive us for limiting Your power to what we can understand. Today, we choose to trust. We trust that Your delays are not denials, but preparations for a greater glory. We roll back the stones of our doubt, our pride, and our cynicism. We ask You to speak into our darkness.

Call us by name, Lord. Call us out of the places where we have settled for death. And as we emerge, give us the courage to help unbind one another from the grave clothes of the past. May we walk not as those who are defeated, but as those who have witnessed the Resurrection and the Life.

In the name of the One who calls the dead to live, Jesus Christ,

Amen.

From Blindness to Sight

 

This is the manuscript of the third sermon in the "Lenten Journey" series.

Have you ever felt like you were "doing" all the right things, but still felt empty? Have you ever looked at your life—your job, your family, your service, what you were giving up for Lent —and wondered if you were just going through the motions?

During this series we’ll learn that God isn’t looking for a 'temporary renovation' of our behavior. He’s inviting us into a deeper realignment of our hearts. It’s a process of looking inward and opening ourselves completely to where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us.

In our first sermon we met a man named Nicodemus. He had the perfect religious resume. But he came to Jesus in the dark of night because his foundation was cracking. He didn't need a renovation; he needed a rebirth. 

In the second sermon we ask what "water jar" are you carrying? What are you holding onto, thinking it is the only thing that can sustain you? Ask Jesus for the Living Water and trust the fountain that never runs dry. Align your heart with His will, and watch how your thirst for the world begins to change into a hunger for His kingdom.

In this sermon we learn that Jesus is putting His hand on the "blind spots" of your heart. Maybe it’s a blind spot of pride, a blind spot of resentment, or a blind spot of fear that has kept you from seeing God’s hand in your life.

Scripture 

John 9:1-22 NIV [1] As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3]  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” [6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. [8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” [9] Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” [10] “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. [11] He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” [12] “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. [13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” [16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. [17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” [18] They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. [19] “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” [20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 

Text

John 9:6-7 NIV [6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent” or Sending). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

Have you ever tried to drive through a thick fog? You know the road is there, but you can only see a few feet in front of you. Every shadow looks like an obstacle, and every light is blurred. Often, our spiritual lives feel exactly like that. We are surrounded by God’s presence, yet we walk as if we are in the dark, blinded by our own worries, our past mistakes, or the rigid expectations we place on how God "should" act.

Today, in the 9th chapter of John we meet a man who lived in physical darkness from birth. But when we read the entire chapter, we discover that the truly blind people in the story weren't the man himself, but those who stood around him with perfect physical vision. 

The chapter is pretty long so asked James to read only the first 22 verses in our scripture reading this morning.  I suggest that you read the entire chapter when you  get home or as soon as you can.  I am going to summarize and hit the high and most important points today.

The chapter begins with Jesus and his disciples encountering a man who has been blind since birth. The disciples ask a theological question: "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 

In the culture of that time, many believed that physical disabilities or tragedies were a direct result of specific sins. When the disciples saw the man born blind, they asked Jesus: who sinned, this man or his parents.

Their question assumed only two options: Either the man sinned (perhaps in the womb somehow) or his parents sinned. They were looking for someone to blame for the man's condition.

Jesus corrects their premise, stating that neither the man nor his parents sinned to cause his blindness; rather, it happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.    Instead of looking backward to find a cause for the pain, Jesus looks forward to find a purpose for it.   It suggests that God can take a situation of brokenness and use it as a platform to show His power, grace, and restoration."

Jesus then spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, applies it to the man’s eyes, and tells him to wash in the Pool of Siloam (sih-LOH-um). The man obeys and now he can see. 

The miracle triggers a series of confrontations because Jesus performed the miracle on the Sabbath. 

The Skeptics argue that Jesus cannot be from God because he "breaks" the Sabbath. Others ask, "How can a sinner perform this kind of a miracle? 

The Pharisees interrogate the man twice and even call his parents. His parents, fearing they will be expelled from the synagogue, deflect the questions back to their son.

John 9:20-23 NIV [20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 

As the questioning grows the Pharisees try to trap the man who can now see, by labeling Jesus a sinner.. He brushes aside their theology with a powerfully simple yet very powerful observation.

John 9:25 NIV  “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Eventually, he flips the script on his interrogators by asking them if  their constant demand for more details is actually a secret desire to join Jesus’ ranks."

John 9:27 NIV He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

Infuriated by his defense of Jesus, the religious leaders excommunicate him from the synagogue.  They kick him out.

Jesus finds the man after his expulsion and reveals Himself and the man immediately believes and worships him.

John 9:35-38 NIV [35] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” [37] Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” [38] Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

The chapter ends with Jesus delivering a sharp paradox which is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself or defy logic on the surface, but on closer inspection, contains an amazing or hidden truth.

John 9:39-41 NIV [39] Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” [40] Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” [41] Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

On the surface, this sounds contradictory. How can a Savior come for "judgment" if his mission is "salvation"? And why would he want people to become "blind"?

Well let's break it down

The "Blind" Who See: Are the people who recognize their own spiritual poverty, ignorance, and need for God. Like the man born blind, they admit they don't have all the answers. Because they are open, they are able to receive the "light" of truth.

The "Seeing" Who Become Blind: Are the people—like the Pharisees—who are convinced they already possess all the truth, the right laws, and the perfect perspective. Their pride acts as a veil; because they claim to see perfectly, they never seek the light, effectively leaving them in total darkness.

When the Pharisees ask, "What? Are we blind too?"Jesus delivers the final blow to their logic.  It’s in verse 41

“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

He explains that "blindness" is not the sin. Honest ignorance is not a sin. Their sin is arrogance. If they admitted they were "blind", if they admitted that they were spiritually needy, then they would be open to grace.

But because they insist on their own enlightenment ("they claim we can see"), they remain stuck in their guilt. They have closed the door to the only one who can actually give them sight.

As we continue our Lenten journey to the cross, we must ask ourselves: What is blurring our vision? Are we ready to move From Blindness to Sight and see the "strong foundation" God is building right in front of us?

Here’s the point of all this background and really the lesson in this entire chapter of John and this sermon.

This story begins with a question of blame. The disciples see the blind man and ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" \. They wanted a "quick fix" for their theological confusion—a simple cause-and-effect explanation for suffering.

Jesus completely realigns their perspective. He tells them it’s not about blame, but about opportunity: "This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" . In our own lives, we spend so much energy asking "Why is this happening to me?" that we miss asking "What is God doing through this?" Lent is a time for regular self-reflection to stop looking for someone to blame and start looking for where God’s light is breaking through our struggles.

II. The Messy Process of Healing

Jesus’ method of healing is strange and messy. He mixes spit with dirt to make mud. He could have just spoken a word, but He chose a process that required the man to take a step of faith—to walk, still blind and covered in mud, to the Pool of Siloam to wash.

Our spiritual "sight" rarely returns in an instant. It is a continuous process. Sometimes, God uses the "mud" of our lives—the common, dirty, difficult parts—to begin the healing. Aligning with God’s will means being willing to walk in obedience even when we don't yet have the full picture. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, "For we live by faith, not by sight."

III. The Blindness of the "Seeing"

As the story progresses, the religious leaders become the focus. They have the scriptures, the law, and their physical sight, yet they are blind to the miracle standing before them. They are so attached to their "tradition" (the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath) that they refuse to see the "Truth."

They represent the danger of a rigid foundation that isn't open to God’s guidance. If our faith is just a set of rules, we will eventually become blind to the living, breathing work of the Spirit. The healed man, however, has a simple, unshakeable testimony: "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" .

IV. Seeing the Son of Man

After the man is cast out by the leaders, Jesus finds him again. He asks, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" (John 9:35). The man’s physical sight was just the beginning; his spiritual sight is completed when he recognizes Jesus for who He truly is and worships Him.

Our Lenten journey is leading us to this same point. We strip away the distractions so that we can see Jesus clearly. When our vision is cleared, our priorities naturally shift. We no longer see people as problems to be solved or obstacles to be avoided, but as opportunities for God’s work to be displayed.

Closing: Washing in Siloam

The man had to wash away the mud to see the world. Today, Jesus is putting His hand on the "blind spots" of your heart. Maybe it’s a blind spot of pride, a blind spot of resentment, or a blind spot of fear that has kept you from seeing God’s hand in your life.

As you leave today, consider what "mud" you need to wash away. Don't just look at your circumstances; look for the "works of God" in them. Trust that He is building a foundation in you that will not be shaken, even when the world feels dark. Walk in the light of the One who is the Light of the World.

Closing Prayer

Gracious and All-Seeing God,

We come before You today acknowledging the "fog" that often clouds our vision. We confess that, like the disciples, we often spend our time asking "why" and looking for someone to blame, rather than asking "what" You are doing in our midst.

Lord, we thank You that You do not leave us in our darkness. Thank You for the "mud" and the messy processes of our lives that You use to bring about healing. We ask that You would give us the courage of the man born blind—the faith to walk toward the water even when we cannot yet see the path.

Wash away our blind spots, O Lord:

• Wash away the scales of pride that keep us from seeing our need for You.

• Wash away the film of resentment that blurs our ability to see Your image in our neighbors.

• Wash away the shadows of fear that make every challenge look like an obstacle instead of an opportunity for Your glory.

May we not be like those who claim to see but remain in the dark. Instead, let our testimony be simple and unshakeable: "I was blind, but now I see." Help us to recognize Jesus in the ordinary moments and to align our priorities with Your divine will.

Build in us a strong foundation of faith that no interrogation or excommunication from the world can shake. May we walk as children of the Light, carrying Your hope into every dark corner we encounter.

In the name of Jesus, the Light of the World.

Reflection Questions

1. The "Why" vs. the "What": Think of a difficult situation you are currently facing. Instead of asking "Why is this happening?", try asking "How might the works of God be displayed in this?" How does that change your perspective?

2. The Blind Spots: What is one "tradition" or "habit" in your life that might actually be keeping you from seeing a new thing God is trying to do?

3. The Testimony: If someone asked you where you have seen God working in your life this week, what would your "I once was blind, but now I see" story be?

Relevant Scriptures for Further Meditation

• Psalm 119:18: "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."

• Ephesians 1:18: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..."

• 1 Samuel 16:7: The reminder that God does not see as man sees; God looks at the heart.

• John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."