"Lazarus and the Unusual Love of Jesus"

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Sermon Notes
SERMON SERIES:  Gospel of John
​Sermon Scripture:  John 11:1-16

Jesus Comes to His Friends After Delay (11:1-6)

• When Lazarus grows sick, Mary and Martha send for Jesus because they know he loves Lazarus.
• Because Jesus loves them, he chooses to ____________.
• By choosing to delay, Jesus is allowing Lazarus to __________.
  • The illness did not lead _______ death...
  • But it did lead _____________ death.

Jesus Comes to His Friends After Delay (11:1-6) continued

• Jesus explains that the ultimate point of his death is to reveal the ____________ of God.
  • True love is when God gives us what we need the ___________.
    • What we need most is not healing, but a full and endless experience of the glory of God.
    • By letting Lazarus die, Jesus shows more of his glory to us than if he had let him live.
  • The love of God is the gift of _______________.
    • Do not measure God’s love for you by how much health, wealth, and comfort he brings you.
    • Measure God’s love for you by how much of himself he shows you. (John 17:3)
  • “Love is doing whatever you need to do to help people see and savor the glory of God in Christ forever and ever.” – John Piper

Jesus Carries Out His Father’s Plan to Die (11:7-10)

• The disciples are not excited about Jesus’ plans to go back to Judea where they had tried to stone him.
• Jesus replies that he is ___________ as long as he is doing the Father’s will.
  • The daylight period of his ministry may be closing, but it is wrong to quit before the 12 hours are up.
  • The time will come soon enough when he will not be able to work.
• Irony: Jesus goes to rescue his friend from death which eventually leads to his own execution.
  • Jesus was ________________ until his time to die on the cross.
  • No one will cut his ministry ____________.

Jesus Causes Our Faith to Deepen (11:11-15)

• The disciples ___________ death.
• For Jesus’ _____________, death is no worse than sleep.
  • Like sleep, death is __________________.
  • Those who are Jesus’ friends will one day be awakened by him.
• Jesus takes great joy in strengthening the faith of his disciples.

Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him Unto Death (11:16)

• Thomas’ name means ___________.
  • Thomas is always known as a ______________ man. (John 20:24-28)
  • But here we see him as a _______________ man.
• Thomas may not be full of faith, but he is logical and loyal.
  • The only way to have eternal life with Jesus is to be ready to __________ with him. (John 12:25)
  • To die with Jesus is to ___________ with Jesus.