Participants: Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP011412
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00:06 From the campus of Andrews University
00:08 this is "New Perceptions" with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson. 00:20 There's a blessing in this house for you 00:29 There's a blessing in this house for you 00:38 Even though you can't see it 00:43 The Lord knows you need it 00:50 Believe me when I tell you 00:58 There's a blessing 01:01 in this house for you 01:20 Let's pray. 01:23 Father, we recognized 01:27 that this is not like any other morning. 01:33 This is Your Sabbath day 01:37 and we don't necessarily come with our best. 01:41 We don't necessarily come having given our all 01:46 but we pray Father, that as we gaze upon You 01:51 and as we reflect on the awesome God 01:54 that You are that we would be compelled by the Holy Spirit 01:59 to offer not just our best but all of ourselves. 02:04 And that we offer not just a bit of our time 02:08 but all of our time. 02:12 So Father, move us this morning in such a way 02:17 that gives You honor and glory. 02:21 In that we may become living sacrifices to You. 02:27 In Christ name we pray, amen. 02:32 Join us as we sing, 02:33 our opening hymn this morning Christ is alive. 02:46 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing 02:51 His cross stands empty to the sky 02:57 Let streets and homes with praises ring 03:03 His love in death 03:06 Shall never die 03:12 Christ is alive! No longer bound 03:18 To distant years in Palestine 03:24 He comes to claim the here and now 03:31 And conquer every place 03:35 And time 03:39 Christ is alive! Ascended Lord 03:45 He rules the world His father made 03:51 Till, in the end His love adored 03:57 Shall be to all on earth displayed 04:34 His body the bread His blood the wine 04:40 Broken and poured out all for love 04:46 The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn 04:53 Love so amazing 04:59 Love so amazing 05:04 Jesus Messiah 05:10 Name above all names 05:15 Blessed Redeemer, 05:21 Emmanuel 05:26 The rescue for sinners 05:32 The ransom from heaven 05:38 Jesus Messiah, 05:43 Lord of all 05:49 All our hope is in You 05:55 All our hope is in You 06:00 All the glory to you God 06:08 The light of the world 06:14 Jesus Messiah 06:20 Name above all names 06:26 Blessed Redeemer, 06:31 Emmanuel 06:37 The rescue for sinners 06:43 The ransom from heaven 06:49 Jesus Messiah 06:54 Lord of all 07:00 Jesus Messiah 07:06 Lord of all 07:26 All of You 07:29 Is more than enough for all of me 07:35 For every thirst and every need 07:42 You satisfy me with Your love 07:49 And all I have in You 07:52 Is more than enough 08:08 You are my supply 08:11 My breath of life 08:16 Still more awesome than I know 08:20 You are my reward worth living for 08:28 Still more awesome than I know 08:32 All of You is more than enough for all of me 08:40 For every thirst and every need 08:45 You satisfy me with Your love 08:51 And all I have in You 08:55 Is more than enough 09:03 You're my sacrifice of greatest price 09:10 And still more awesome than I know 09:15 You're my coming King 09:18 You are everything 09:22 Still more awesome than I know 09:26 And all of You is more than enough for all of me 09:34 For every thirst and every need 09:40 You satisfy me with Your love 09:45 And all I have in You 09:48 Is more than enough 09:57 More than all I want More than all I need 10:04 You are more than enough for me 10:09 More than all I know 10:12 More than all I can say 10:16 You are more than enough 10:20 All of You 10:22 Is more than enough for all of me 10:28 For every thirst and every need 10:34 You satisfy me with Your love 10:40 And all I have in You 10:44 Is more than enough 10:59 Couple of years ago this side 11:01 of the world in this hemisphere experienced a catastrophic event 11:07 on the Island of Española. 11:09 It's an island that shared on one side 11:11 by the Dominican Republic and on the other side Haiti. 11:15 Since that tragedy, Andrews University 11:17 in many different ways has been involved 11:20 in helping to rebuilt some of the structures that are there 11:25 and revitalized the university community. 11:28 Chantel is part of the architectures 11:32 master's program 11:33 and she's gonna tell us little bit about 11:36 what it's been like in last couple of years. 11:38 Chantel. 11:40 Good morning, church. 11:43 Imagine-- if you look around you imagine 11:45 every single person here 11:47 and many more just being homeless. 11:50 All you have is the spot that you are in. 11:54 That is pretty much 11:55 what happened to these people within a matter of minutes. 11:58 And a lot of them are lucky to still be alive 12:01 but have nowhere to go 12:03 and don't have structures to work in, no jobs. 12:06 And what we were trying to do as a school 12:13 as a community has come together 12:15 and try and find a way that we can help them 12:17 rebuild themselves and to, 12:20 you know, find a way to get back on their feet. 12:24 Right now in the sister school in Port-au-Prince 12:27 they have most of their students almost all their-- 12:30 pretty much all their students 12:31 are still living in tents since-- 12:34 since that happened a couple of years ago. 12:36 And a lot of the buildings they use to have their own business 12:41 that would-- that would kind off give them some income, 12:43 those were devastated as well and they try to work outside 12:46 but it's still not, you know, sufficient. 12:48 So we're gonna go and try our best to go out there 12:50 and see what we can do to try and bring them back 12:51 on their feet and be able to become better than 12:55 what they were before the incident so. 12:59 So tomorrow morning at about 4 am 13:02 15 to 20 architecture students 13:05 are loading a bus heading to Chicago 13:08 and gonna get on a plane and spend the next ten days 13:12 in Haiti at our sister university. 13:14 What's the thing that you are doing specifically? 13:16 Specifically we have a couple of different groups 13:19 and a few professionals coming with us as well 13:21 and we're gonna-- 13:23 in the morning we will be working 13:25 actually physically building block by block. 13:28 We're going to be building a parapet wall 13:30 on one of the churches that were destroyed 13:33 and a lot of the campus was attacked 13:36 compared to the surroundings 13:39 but they do need facilities there is no -- 13:43 boys dormitory and so we're going to be designing 13:46 and remodeling and taking notes 13:49 so that we can further build in projects down there. 13:55 It is awesome to know that we are part of a community 13:58 that not only rebuilds buildings 14:02 but are resurrecting a university life down there. 14:07 Could you imagine coming to school 14:10 and seeing nothing but tents. 14:14 It sounds like camping. 14:16 Don't think I would enjoy camping 14:18 and ten inches of snow though. 14:21 We're blessed because these students 14:23 are dedicating their skills, their education, 14:25 their time along with the faculty and staff 14:28 in partnership with the university down there 14:30 to resurrect this campus. 14:32 Our prayers are with you, amen. 14:40 Soon I will be done 14:42 With the troubles of the world 14:48 Troubles of the world 14:52 The troubles of the world 14:58 Soon I will be done 15:02 With the troubles of the world 15:06 Going home to live with God 15:18 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 15:21 Troubles of the world Troubles of the world 15:24 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 15:26 Going home to live with God 15:29 I want to meet my mother 15:32 I want to meet my mother 15:35 I want to meet my mother 15:38 I'm going to live with God 15:40 I want to meet my mother 15:43 I want to meet my mother 15:46 I want to meet my mother 15:49 I'm going to live with God 15:51 In the morning soon 15:52 I will be done with the troubles of the world 15:54 Troubles of the world Troubles of the world 15:57 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 15:59 I'm going home to live with God 16:02 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 16:05 Troubles of the world Troubles of the world 16:08 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 16:10 I'm going home to live with God 16:13 No more weeping and a wailing 16:15 No more weeping and a wailing 16:18 No more weeping and a wailing 16:21 I'm going to live with God 16:24 No more weeping no more wailing 16:27 No more crying any more tears 16:30 No more weeping 16:32 No more wailing 16:38 No more suffering 16:41 No crying 16:43 No weeping 16:45 No wailing 16:51 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 16:54 Troubles of the world Troubles of the world 16:56 Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world 16:58 Going home to live with God 17:01 I want to meet my Jesus 17:04 I want to meet my Jesus 17:06 I want to meet my Jesus 17:09 I'm going to live with God 17:12 I want to meet my Jesus 17:14 I want to meet my Jesus 17:17 I want to meet my Jesus 17:19 I'm going to live with God 17:24 I'm going to live with God 17:30 I'm going to live with God 17:39 Amen. 17:44 My friend Jim Harry sent me this 17:46 and I am gonna pray with you. 17:47 A century ago these words 17:48 written what's so-- what's a big deal 17:50 about collective praying? Here you go. 17:52 The promise of the Holy Spirit is made on condition 17:56 that the united prayers of God's people are offered 18:00 and in answer to "these united prayers" 18:03 here it comes "In answer" 18:05 I twitted this line last night to send it out 18:09 "An answer to these united prayers 18:11 there may be expected a power greater than that 18:15 which comes in answer to private prayer" 18:19 greater power and the bands 18:23 are bound together in that laser beam all bound together. 18:27 Greater power in united prayer. 18:32 So come join us Wednesday night 7 O'clock. 18:35 Let's pray. 18:36 Dear God, one day we shall rise 18:40 and of course will swell all is well, 18:44 all is well, till that day may the grace of Christ 18:49 abide with us in the hope of His return be bright within us 18:55 and let our teaching this morning 18:59 fan the embers of that hope. 19:02 In this faith we pray in Jesus name, amen. 19:13 Now a certain man was sick Lazarus of Bethany 19:17 the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 19:20 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil 19:23 and wiped His feet with her hair 19:25 whose brother Lazarus was sick. 19:30 I want to be honest with you, let me be please. 19:35 I have wondered, may be you have too. 19:37 I have wondered does Jesus have special friends. 19:44 Men, women, teenagers, young adults, children 19:49 that He is especially close to, does He? 19:55 More than the others even. 19:58 And as I've wondered -- 19:59 I have wondered to myself 20:02 could I become one of those friends of His? 20:08 Of course, I love being with Him 20:13 but does He love being with me? 20:19 And then I was reading Desire of Ages this week, 20:26 came across this line 20:27 I wish you read Desire of Ages in the New Year 20:30 it will bless you to the max, 20:33 this classic on the life of Jesus. 20:36 So I was reading Desire of Ages 20:37 on this chapter of Lazarus. 20:44 Have a little app on my iPhone, 20:46 EGW you can get it at the iTune store. 20:50 Everything is at EGW so I just touch EGW 20:58 and here it is Desire of Ages. 21:00 By the way you can't afford a whole lot of books 21:03 you get them all with one little app. 21:06 Desire of Ages page 524 listen to this, 21:10 the savior -- this is speaking about of Mary, 21:12 Martha and Lazarus. 21:13 "The Savior blessed all who sought His help. 21:16 He loves all the human family," 21:18 Now, here it goes, "but to some He is" 21:22 not He was "But to some He is bound 21:26 by peculiarly tender associations. 21:29 His heart was knit by a strong bond of affection 21:32 to the family at Bethany, 21:34 and" for them "for one of them 21:36 His most wonderful work was wrought." 21:39 Isn't that something? 21:41 His heart is bound by peculiarly 21:45 tender associations. 21:48 Apparently there are some people 21:51 that He is able to draw closer to by the tender ties, 21:56 mutual ties that draw Him to them 22:02 and them to Him. 22:03 I will tell you what I want be one of those friends of Jesus. 22:07 I want to be somebody He wants to be around. 22:15 Besides who knows the day may not be there far off 22:19 when I'm gonna need 22:20 the very same miracle Lazarus God. 22:27 I mean you will be resurrected too may be you too. 22:31 So open your Bible with me please to John Chapter 11, 22:34 John 11 the most dramatic narrative 22:35 outside of cavalry in the fourth gospel. 22:38 This is the longest narrative without teaching embedded in it. 22:44 Outside of cavalry this is longest story 22:49 in the fourth gospel. 22:51 Open your Bible to John 11 a familiar chapter 22:53 but I'm praying that as we journey back through it 22:56 something fresh will emerge and the Spirit will say 22:59 that's for you, my friend. 23:00 That one is for you. 23:02 All right, let's go John 11. 23:04 You didn't bring-- 23:06 you didn't bring your own Bible grab a pew Bible. 23:08 It does not have any snow on it, its warm you can open it up 23:11 and not worry about getting wet so grab up your Bible. 23:14 It will be page 723 in the pew Bible. 23:16 While you are doing that I want to-- 23:18 we need to do two things simultaneously 23:19 and so ushers, thank you right now, 23:21 we want to put in your hand the brand new, 23:23 this is the first of the new year study guides. 23:25 So hold your hand up-- 23:26 if you didn't get your study guide 23:27 just hold your hand up our friendly 23:29 ushers are coming your way. 23:31 Put the title slide on the screen now 23:33 for those of you who are watching 23:34 or listening at this moment. 23:36 This is a new series 23:39 they we are entitling "The Last Days" 23:40 the seven last days of Jesus. 23:42 We're going to spend the entire semester 23:44 around the seven last days of Jesus. 23:45 It would be framed of course 23:47 in the fourth gospel title of today's teaching 23:50 "How To Get Resurrected This New Year?" 23:55 "How To Get Resurrected This New Year? 23:58 You got the website, those who are listening 23:59 watching www.pmchurch.tv 24:04 you look for the new series the last days, 24:06 you will see a big banner 24:08 click on to the first teaching 24:09 "How To Get Resurrected This New Year?" 24:11 Says study guide you have the same study guide 24:13 you want these quotations. 24:16 I trust that will be a blessing to you. 24:19 All right John 11, let's go, 24:21 John 11:1 24:23 keep your hand up the ushers are coming your way. 24:24 John 11:1 "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus" 24:29 his name really was Eleazar 24:31 it's in the Greek that it sounds like Lazarus, 24:33 its Eleazar means God is my help. 24:36 "Now a certain man was sick Lazarus of Bethany, 24:38 the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 24:41 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil 24:44 and wiped His feet with her hair, 24:46 whose brother Lazarus was sick." 24:52 John's readers at the end of the century 24:54 have heard about this Mary. 24:55 So John in search-- oh, by the way, 24:57 he says I want to tell you next Sabbath the story about 24:59 of "Perfume and Tears and Grumpy Old Man." 25:01 That's our teaching next Sabbath it will be the story about the-- 25:04 about what John has just 25:05 mentioned here Mary with her long hair 25:08 but he wants the readers to know 25:09 before they get to the story this is the same Mary. 25:11 "Therefore" now verse 3 25:12 "the sisters sent to Jesus saying 25:15 'Lord behold, he whom You love is sick.'" 25:20 There are some Christians today 25:22 and I have seen their preachers on TV 25:24 who are proponents of what's called the Health 25:26 and Wealth Gospel. 25:28 So called because they teach it 25:30 if you have faith enough 25:31 and if you are close enough to God you will have-- 25:34 you will be healthy you will be wealthy. 25:36 So buy my book and figured it out. 25:40 I wish those preachers and their followers 25:42 would linger extra long over this line 25:45 you and I have just read, 25:47 this is desperate message sent by Mary and Martha. 25:49 "The one you love is sick." 25:54 It's a point of reminder to us 25:55 that you can be very close to Jesus. 25:57 Perhaps even His closest friend on earth 26:01 and you can still contract an illness, a disease, 26:04 a condition from which you will not be healed. 26:06 And from which is we are about to find out you will be die. 26:10 You can be close to Jesus 26:12 and in that condition as Lazarus was. 26:16 Living in the land of the enemy 26:17 that's a high price that we pay 26:19 for being friends of Jesus 26:21 but don't let anyone please, don't let anyone ever tell you 26:24 that it's because you don't have enough faith 26:27 and you aren't close to Jesus 26:28 that you have been healed yet, rubbish. 26:31 Just remember the story of Lazarus 26:32 the one you love is sick. 26:35 Verse 3 we read it again, 26:36 "Therefore the sister sent to Jesus, saying, 26:38 'Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick' 26:41 and when Jesus heard that, 26:43 He said, 'This sickness is not unto death 26:48 but for the glory of the God 26:49 that the son of God may be glorified through it." 26:52 Oh, my, what are you saying? 26:56 You did that with the blind man too. 26:58 You said the blind man was not born blind 27:01 because of his sin so that God might be glorified. 27:03 Now you are saying Lazarus is sick 27:04 so that God might be glorified, so that I might be glorified. 27:07 What are you saying? 27:10 Craig Keener the New Testament 27:11 scholar in his commentary on John 27:14 I put his words on the screen for you. 27:16 "Lazarus's sickness and raising also lead to 27:20 and prefigure Jesus' own death and resurrection 27:23 and so the promise of Jesus glorification 27:26 through Lazarus's death constitutes a double entendre." 27:32 Two meanings, one declaration. 27:35 "Jesus is glorified 27:38 because Lazarus's raising leads directly 27:41 to Jesus arrest and passion by which he is glorified." 27:45 In other words, Jesus is saying hey listen, 27:47 don't worry the disciples can not comprehend this at all. 27:50 But He is saying listen I'm gonna be glorified 27:52 because when Lazarus is raised it would be shown I'm whom I'm. 27:57 You will see that I'm divine. 27:59 And number two, I will be glorified 28:01 because that resurrection will precipitate 28:04 my tragic execution. 28:10 His raising will send me to the cross. 28:12 And in the fourth gospel whenever Jesus goes to the cross 28:15 that is the pinnacle glorification, 28:17 that's the summation of glorification. 28:19 So either way He's gonna be glorified. 28:24 Verse 5 chance is, wait a minute-- 28:27 I don't want you to think Jesus is cold and calculating 28:29 hey let the sisters agonize and Lazarus die. 28:32 No, no, John says, I need you to know verse 5 28:34 and so He sticks his end. 28:36 "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus. 28:43 So," verse 6 "when He heard that Lazarus was sick, 28:46 He stayed two more days in this place where He was." 28:48 Now wait a minute time out there-- 28:50 look something is wrong with this picture. 28:54 I mean you love them really, 28:55 so you chose delay hearing to their suffering sides. 29:01 Oh, no, Elizabeth Viera Talbot writes, 29:05 no, no, no there is nothing wrong with this picture 29:07 this is the way it works. 29:09 I want to put her words on the screen for you, 29:10 you have to fill them in. 29:12 Her marvelous little book Jesus one on one, 29:14 John: God Became Flesh. 29:17 Elizabeth Talbot is a powerful preacher 29:18 in our community of faith. 29:20 We were both together at Arizona 29:21 and Oregon camp meetings this summer and I will tell you what, 29:24 she is one of the most powerful preachers I have heard. 29:28 So she wrote this little book put it on the screen for you. 29:30 "How strange!" Elizabeth writes 29:32 "It doesn't make sense to say. 29:33 'He loved so He delayed.' Or does it? 29:36 Obviously it isn't the lack of affection 29:37 that delayed the son of God. 29:38 So what was it?" 29:40 I personal testimony now "I" she writes 29:42 "have come to trust God's timing 29:44 even though I usually don't understand it. 29:46 I have a motto that has helped me countless times," 29:49 Here comes the motto fill it in. 29:51 "Delays are designed 29:52 to show the magnitude 29:55 the magnitude" "of the miracle." 30:02 You think about it folks, 30:03 if we always got what we wanted, 30:05 when we wanted it the miraculous nature of God 30:07 response would hardly be evident. 30:08 I mean, hey, please give it to me quick, quick, quick. 30:12 Delays are designed to show the magnitude of the miracle." 30:16 Some of you are experiencing and a-- 30:18 a delay right now you have been asking 30:20 and asking and it almost feels like 30:22 nobody is even listening anymore. 30:24 My friend, could it be that the delay 30:27 is going to heighten the magnitude 30:30 of God's intervention one day. 30:31 So don't quit, don't quit asking, 30:33 don't quit praying. 30:37 Desire of Ages from this chapter on Lazarus 30:39 this beautiful promise 30:41 and I put it on the screen for you. 30:42 "To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, 30:46 the moment of greatest discouragement 30:49 is the time when divine help is nearest." 30:52 Write that in. 30:54 When you are the most discouraged 30:56 that's when the help is nearest from God. 30:58 Keep reading, "They will look back 31:00 with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way." 31:05 You look back and say thank you, Jesus. 31:09 You were that close 31:10 I didn't sense it then but thank You. 31:13 So take courage my friend, 31:16 and in your darkness hang on to Him 31:18 for when God does respond. 31:19 You will see the magnitude of His miracle. 31:22 So Jesus delays two more days. 31:23 Not a word about Lazarus, 31:25 not a word about Mary and Martha 31:28 and suddenly after two days He says, hey, 31:30 let' s go back to Judea and the disciple say-- 31:32 they forgot all about Lazarus, Mary and Martha. 31:34 What don't You understand that in chapter 10 31:37 they just tried to stone you. 31:38 You can't go back to Judea. 31:43 Verse 9, "Jesus answered," 31:46 look "'Are there not twelve hours in the day? 31:49 If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, 31:52 because he sees the light in this world." 31:54 "But" verse 10 "if one walks in the night, 31:57 he stumbles, because the light is not in him."' 32:01 My hour is not quite yet, its still life for me. 32:06 We must go "These" verse 11 32:08 "These things He said and after that He said to them" 32:11 oh and by the way "'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, 32:15 but I go that I may wake him up.'" 32:17 His disciples who are always taking Him literally 32:20 "His disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."' 32:23 Everybody knows a sick man needs his rest. 32:27 However verse 13, "Jesus spoke of Lazarus death 32:30 but they thought He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 32:32 Then Jesus said to them plainly" 32:34 verse 14, "'Lazarus is dead."' 32:39 Isn't that stunning? 32:41 I mean look at-- jot this down 32:42 "To the word made flesh what is death but a sleep." 32:48 A dreamless sleep from which you can be awaken one day, 32:52 that's what Jesus is teaching His disciples 32:54 that's what He is teaching 32:55 that's what He is telling you and me this morning. 32:57 When you die you fall asleep. 33:00 Now you may fall asleep gradually 33:02 as death for some approaches 33:05 or you may fall asleep suddenly even violently 33:12 but no matter how death comes you fall asleep. 33:16 But I can awaken you "Our friend Lazarus is dead, 33:21 but I am going to awaken him!" 33:24 That's the point 33:27 when I had my unexpected surgery this last march 33:31 they wheeled me into the operating room 33:32 at Lakeland hospital. 33:33 They're just a fine team docs and nurses there. 33:40 So they wheeled me into the operating room 33:42 and a cheery nurse tells me 33:43 that this is time to me to go to sleep 33:48 as if I could protest. 33:49 There was no countdown 60, 59, 58 33:52 it was just like that gone. 33:57 I was as we say dead to the world, 34:01 dead to the world. 34:05 A very next voice I heard was another cheery nurse 34:11 in recovery saying Dwight, its time to wake up. 34:15 Dwight, Dwight, Dwight, 34:16 wake up, wake up and I woke up. 34:20 I had absolutely no clue as to the passage of time, 34:22 was it two minutes was it two hours 34:24 was it two days I didn't know. 34:28 I knew nothing, I heard nothing, 34:31 I felt nothing, its gone then I woke up. 34:38 Because of the sleep metaphor the Jesus intentionally uses, 34:41 here by the way the Old Testament is rife 34:43 with this metaphor as it is the New Testament 34:45 because of this metaphor 34:46 we know that for all who die the space 34:50 between their death and return of Christ 34:52 is compressed into one single spilt second. 34:58 Just like that. 34:59 I like the way my friend, Cliff Goldstein 35:01 described in an column he wrote this last summer 35:02 in Adventist Review, June. 35:05 Put it on the screen for you 35:06 and you have it in your study guide you have to fill it in 35:08 "Whether Abel, the first recorded dead man, 35:11 or whether the last saint to perish 35:12 before probation closes," before Jesus comes 35:15 "or whether the untold number of deceased 35:17 in between as far as they are concerned" 35:20 all the death are concerned, "Jesus comes instantly." 35:24 Instantly our eyes close in death 35:27 and our next sensation whether after five millennia 35:30 or five minutes is Christ's return. 35:36 Abel's experience will be the same 35:37 as everyone else's who has died in faith." 35:41 For it be just a spilt second for Abel. 35:45 Our friend Lazarus, how did Jesus put it 35:48 "Our friend Lazarus is death, but I am going to awaken him!" 35:55 And so they come striding into that little village 35:57 about two miles away from Jerusalem and been to Bethany. 36:02 They come to the outskirts of the village 36:03 and they discovered the Lazarus had already been dead four days. 36:10 Verse 20 "Now Martha" she hears about them coming. 36:15 "Now Martha, as soon as she heard 36:16 that Jesus was coming," 36:17 and Jesus wisely stayed out of the village. 36:19 There's a death threat on Him you understand. 36:22 He is not going to precipitate and an untimely death. 36:26 He will dictate the terms and the time 36:30 but He wisely stays outside the village. 36:34 Martha when "she heard that 36:35 Jesus was coming, went and met Him, 36:36 but Mary was still sitting in the house. 36:42 Now Martha said to Jesus," 36:44 verse 21, oh, how often we have heard, 36:48 perhaps even spoken these words ourselves. 36:50 "'Lord, if You had been here, 36:53 my brother would not have died." 36:58 Oh, God what were You thinking, 37:01 we were asking and praying and pleading. 37:04 We had many people asking and pray 37:07 and pleading why didn't You come when we needed You? 37:17 Martha goes on verse 22 37:19 "'But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, 37:22 God will give You.' 37:25 Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.'" 37:28 No hint that it will be today. Your brother will rise again. 37:32 "Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again 37:34 in the resurrection at the last day.'" 37:36 Verse 25, but "Jesus said to her, 37:38 'I am'" I am the bread, 37:45 I am the water, 37:48 I am the light, I am the wine, 37:53 "'I am the resurrection and the life. 37:59 He who believes in Me, 38:00 though he may die, he shall live.' 38:02 And whoever believes and whoever lives 38:04 and believes in Me shall never die.'" 38:07 Can't mean he will never die Lazarus just died. 38:11 "'Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. 38:13 Do you believe this? 38:14 And she said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, 38:17 I believe that You are the Christ, 38:19 the Son of God, who is to come into the world.'" 38:25 Martha then sends quietly word to Mary. 38:28 She wants the authorities to know that Jesus is here. 38:31 She sends a word to Mary. 38:33 Mary her eyes swollen red 38:35 with tears comes running to Jesus. 38:38 Verse 32 "And when Mary came where Jesus was, 38:41 and saw Him, she fell down at His feet" 38:45 You can see this in your eye. 38:47 "She fell down at His feet, 38:51 saying to Him, 'Lord,'" the identical words, 38:53 "'Lord if you had been here, 38:57 my brother would not have died.' 39:02 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, 39:05 and the Jews who came with her weeping, 39:07 He groaned in the spirit" 39:09 this is deeply emotional language in the Greek. 39:12 "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 39:15 And he said, 'Where have you laid him?' 39:16 And they said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.'" 39:19 And verse 35 shortest line in all scripture, "Jesus wept." 39:27 On this page of my Bible right at the top, 39:30 I have these words by the poet William Blake scribbled in pen 39:34 "Till our grief is fled and gone 39:39 He doth sit by us and moan." 39:46 "Jesus wept" The word made flesh, wept. 39:54 A writer somewhere and I don't know who or where 39:58 but I will not forget the line put it this way. 40:02 When Jesus wept the ground of all being shook. 40:11 Jesus wept. 40:13 Christianity is the only religion 40:17 beautiful baptism this morning of our Hindu students 40:22 who has accepted Jesus Christ are sure as his Lord and Savior. 40:27 Christianity is the only religion on the earth 40:30 with the God of the religion is immersed 40:35 in the suffering of his children. 40:41 But Desire of Ages draws the veil of side 40:44 to this two word deceleration. 40:47 With these words I put it on the screen for you. 40:49 This is something but-- 40:50 "But it was not only because of His human sympathy 40:52 with Mary and Martha that Jesus wept. 40:55 In his tears there was a sorrow 40:56 as high above human sorrow 40:58 as the heavens are higher than the earth. 41:00 The weight of the grief of ages was upon Him. 41:03 He saw the terrible effects 41:04 of the transgression of God's law. 41:06 He saw that in the history of the world, 41:08 beginning with the death of Abel, 41:09 the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing. 41:12 Looking down the years to come," to where you come and I come 41:16 "He saw the suffering and sorrow, 41:18 the tears and death that were to be the lot of all of us. 41:21 His heart was pierced with the pain 41:23 of the human family of all ages and in all lands. 41:27 The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon His soul, 41:31 and the fountain" write that in. 41:33 This wasn't just a little tear that trickled down his cheek. 41:36 "And the fountain of His tears was broken up 41:40 as He longed to relieve all our distress." 41:47 The fountain, 41:50 He didn't pull a hanky out and say sniffles once. 41:52 He is sobbing now, 41:54 He is sobbing beside that grave, a cave. 42:01 Jesus wept-- and because he did ladies and gentlemen, 42:04 there is hope for the likes of you and me, 42:07 because he wept. 42:10 Verse 38 "And Jesus again groaning in Himself, 42:13 came to the tomb. 42:14 It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 42:17 Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' 42:19 Martha" just oh-- don't move. 42:22 Master, you apparently misunderstood me. 42:28 "Martha, the sister of him who was dead, 42:30 said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there is a stench, 42:35 for he has been dead four days.'" 42:38 Twice now in a single narrative 42:40 we have been reminded he has been dead four days. 42:45 Craig Keener notes that among Palestinian Jews 42:48 at the time of Christ there was a tradition they believed 42:51 that after the death of an individual the person 42:53 or the soul of the deceased remain 42:58 in that place for three more days until-- 43:00 until decomposition set in. 43:06 And at the end of the third day 43:09 as the decomposition set in 43:11 that the person quote and quote "Left." 43:17 It is no accident then that Jesus waits until the fourth day 43:22 to come to make certain that no bid of folk law, 43:25 no little local tradition would be allow to counteract 43:28 and gainsay what is about to take place. 43:30 And Martha's interrupting response 43:32 at the grave loud enough for everyone there to hear 43:36 confirms that is a death four days old. 43:42 Decomposition has now set in, in that hot climate. 43:46 That's what happens. 43:51 It's the fourth day. 43:55 Verse 40, "Jesus said to her Martha, 43:59 'Didn't I say to you that if you would believe you 44:00 would see the glory of God?'" 44:03 And take that stone away 44:05 verse 41 "Then they took away the stone from the place 44:08 where the dead man was lying. 44:10 And Jesus lifted up His eyes 44:15 and He said "Father, 44:17 I thank you that you have heard Me. 44:20 And I know that you always hear Me, 44:22 but because of the people who are standing by I said this, 44:24 that they may believe you sent Me. 44:27 Now when He had said these things, 44:30 He cried with a loud voice, megale phone in the Greek. 44:35 Megaphone, He cries out with a megaphone voice, 44:38 "'Lazarus come forth!'" 44:43 And Verse 44, 44:44 "And he who had died 44:47 came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, 44:52 and his face wrapped with a cloth. 44:54 Jesus said to them, 'Loose him, let him go.'" 45:00 Death be not proud so loose him, 45:06 let him go, I'm resurrection in the life. 45:12 He who believes in Me though he dies yet shall he live, 45:16 she who believes in me though she dies yet shall she live. 45:23 With incontrovertible evidence 45:26 Christ says now proven His claim 45:28 that He is Almighty God made flesh. 45:37 Sanctified imagination, 45:40 it's not hard to picture the glorious pandemonium 45:44 that explodes around that grave cloths corpse 45:48 who with tiny little steps has made his way 45:52 to the front of the cave. 45:55 And no doubt he's calling out through the cloth, 45:59 would somebody unwind me? 46:06 Desire of Ages concludes the chapter with these words, 46:10 "Lazarus is set free, 46:14 and stands before the company, 46:16 not as one emaciated from disease, 46:17 and with feeble, tottering limbs, 46:19 but as a man in the prime of life, 46:21 and in the vigor of a noble manhood. 46:23 His eyes beam with intelligence and love for his Savior." 46:28 You can just see that look on his face 46:30 locked on Jesus eyes. 46:33 "His eyes beam 46:36 with intelligence and with love for his Savior." 46:38 And in a detail note recorded in the gospel. 46:41 "He casts himself in adoration 46:46 at the feet of Jesus." 46:50 What else will we do on that great getting up morning, 46:54 when from the dust of the earth 46:55 we arise to gaze upon the face of our life giver. 47:00 Will we not too cast ourselves 47:04 in attrition at His feet? 47:10 Desire of Ages, continues 47:11 "The beholders are at first speechless" 47:14 this is a great understanding. 47:16 "The beholders are at first speechless with amazement. 47:20 Then there follows an inexpressible" 47:23 meaning there is way to tell you. 47:24 "Then there follows an inexpressible scene 47:26 of rejoicing and thanksgiving. 47:28 The sisters receive their brother back to life 47:30 as a gift of God, and with joyful tears" 47:33 Mary and Martha, "brokenly are trying 47:34 to express their thanks to the savior. 47:36 But while brothers, sisters and friends 47:38 are rejoicing in this reunion, 47:40 Jesus withdraws from the scene." 47:42 And "When they look for the Life-giver, 47:46 He is not to be found." 47:49 He is gone. 47:53 The end. 47:56 Let me conclude by sharing with you two fascinating facts. 48:02 Fascinating fact number one, 48:03 did you know that in John's gospel, 48:06 Jesus public ministry begins and ends 48:10 with a public miracle. Did you know that? 48:12 It begins with the happiest 48:13 of all human gatherings a wedding, 48:16 where Jesus turns the water into wine 48:19 and it ends with the saddest 48:21 of all human gatherings a funeral 48:23 where Jesus turns dead into life. 48:28 A miracle at the beginning at a wedding 48:32 and a miracle at the end at a funeral 48:36 because when Jesus is in your story, 48:40 there is a miracle in store for you. 48:44 Write that down. 48:46 When Jesus is in your story, 48:50 there is a miracle in store for you. 48:54 So what's a miracle in store for you this New Year? 48:57 Could it be a resurrection? 48:59 You say come on Dwight, 49:00 I'm not dead yet, I hardly need one of those. 49:02 Let me rephrase the question. 49:04 Could it-- is there anything 49:05 in your life right now that is dying? 49:10 Something down deep inside 49:11 that is ebbing away in spite of all the CPR 49:13 that you have administered to keep it living. 49:16 It could be a relationship that is dying, 49:18 a friend, a lover, a child, a parent 49:22 right before your eyes it is dying. 49:24 It could be a marriage. 49:28 And in spite of all the resuscitation 49:29 that you have attempted it is slipping away 49:31 while you watch in heart broken disbelief. 49:36 It could be an ambition that you've cling to for years 49:39 hoping against hope 49:40 that the right opportunity for that ambition 49:42 might yet present itself but after all this time 49:45 it is finally clear that, that opportunity 49:48 is not gonna ever come your way 49:50 and that ambition will have to die. 49:54 Is there anything in your life this New Year that is dying? 50:00 Your academic dream, 50:02 the major you would always hope to successfully conquer 50:06 but your grades have made its clear the dream is dead. 50:10 You'll have to change that major, 50:11 you'll have to abandon that career. 50:15 Perhaps it's your health it's dying, 50:18 and try as you and the doctors have, 50:22 you can't turn it around and death seems inevitable. 50:27 It maybe your faith that is on its death bed. 50:32 No amount of girding and striving and pretending 50:35 seems able to resuscitate the faith you grew up with. 50:39 Could it be and anyone of these 50:42 might be a miracle in store for you. 50:43 The resurrection you have been longing for this New Year, 50:47 I suppose it could. 50:50 But, but, what if, 50:56 what we want to have resurrected 50:58 isn't what needs to be resurrected. 51:03 What if Jesus has purposely stayed away 51:06 just long enough for that which is dying in me 51:09 to die in me, be it my health, 51:12 or my ambition, my dreams, in my marriage, 51:14 what if He stays away in hopes 51:21 that with that dying. 51:23 I might turn to Him as I never would have 51:26 had that which is dying not died in me. 51:34 Does my brooding make sense? 51:35 Are you following this? 51:37 What if, what if what is dying 51:40 is not what needs resurrecting right now 51:42 as important or as precious as that dying is to me? 51:48 What if as it was with Martha? 51:53 But Jesus longs to resurrect most this New Year 51:58 is an unshakable trust in Him 52:01 and unbreakable bound with Him. 52:05 "What if He allows that particular death in me, 52:12 so that He might resurrect that particular part of me?" 52:18 So He allows that ambition in me to die 52:20 that He might resurrect an ambition to live for Him. 52:23 So He allows that relationship to die in me 52:26 so that He might resurrect in relationship to live for Him. 52:29 So that He allows that dream to die in me 52:32 that He might resurrect a dream to live for Him. 52:37 Fascinating fact number one, 52:40 "A miracle at the beginning, a miracle at the end, 52:45 because when Jesus is in your story, 52:49 a miracle is in store for you." 52:52 And finally fascinating fact number two, 52:55 archeologist have discovered 52:59 a burial cave in Bethany today, 53:03 that days back to the time of Christ 53:06 and inside that cave they examine the walls 53:10 and they discover a list of names carved on those walls. 53:14 And as they carefully read through their names, 53:16 they came upon three names that appear together, 53:19 Mary, Martha and Eleazar which in Greek is Lazarus. 53:27 Isn't that something? 53:31 Dust is all that remains of their remains 53:35 but when they were buried trust me, 53:39 I know this is true. 53:40 When they were buried those three siblings, 53:43 those three friends of Jesus I'm certain enough to believe 53:47 you can be absolutely certain too that each of them, 53:49 I don't know who died first 53:51 but each of them died confident in the unassailable truth. 53:56 That one day some day their friend 53:58 and Savior Jesus would return 54:00 to that very same cave in Bethany. 54:05 One day He will call all three of them forth to life 54:11 with Him forever and ever, amen. 54:17 And that my friend, is the miracle 54:19 that is in store for you too. 54:23 If my friend, 54:26 if Jesus is in your story too, 54:33 so the question is, this New Year is He in your story? 54:53 Take out your hymnal, please. 54:58 Turn to hymn 175. 55:05 A powerful confession of the life 55:10 that is resurrected in Christ Jesus. 55:14 Let us stand as we sing hymn 175. 55:45 Now the green blade rises from the buried grain 55:52 Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain 55:57 Love lives again, that with the dead has been 56:03 Love is come again like wheat arising green 56:11 In the grave they laid Him Love by hatred slain 56:18 Thinking that He would never wake again 56:24 Laid in the earth like a grain that sleeps unseen 56:30 Love is come again like wheat arising green 56:38 Forth He came in triumph Like the risen grain 56:45 He that for three days in the grave had lain 56:50 Raised from the dead My living Lord is seen 56:56 Love is come again like wheat arising green 57:03 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain 57:10 Your touch can call us back to life again 57:17 Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been 57:23 Love is come again like wheat arising green 57:35 Father, we pray what we have sung 57:36 when our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain 57:40 Your touch can call us back to life again. 57:45 Oh, God, resurrect us this New Year 57:50 through Christ Jesus our Lord 57:53 who is the resurrection in the life, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17