I just don't
like them, funerals.
00:00:01.40\00:00:05.08
There's a lot of
humor on TV about funerals,
00:00:05.11\00:00:07.55
but when it's your child,
00:00:07.58\00:00:09.16
when it's your
spouse, or your parents,
00:00:09.19\00:00:11.99
it does something
bad to your insides.
00:00:12.02\00:00:15.49
155,000 people die
everyday on this planet.
00:00:15.52\00:00:20.02
And at best
that's just a statistic.
00:00:20.05\00:00:22.53
But at its worse, it's someone
you know, someone you love.
00:00:22.56\00:00:27.14
It's something that hurts.
00:00:27.17\00:00:29.76
So what happens
when a person dies?
00:00:29.79\00:00:32.82
Is this just the end of
the line as evolution teaches?
00:00:32.85\00:00:36.41
Or is the grave as most suggest
00:00:36.44\00:00:39.04
just a doorway that
leads to a new reality?
00:00:39.07\00:00:43.43
On this point, Jesus' teachings
00:00:43.46\00:00:45.46
are a giant thunderbolt of
confusion and contradiction,
00:00:45.49\00:00:49.64
to almost every form of religion
00:00:49.67\00:00:52.18
that's out there,
including Christianity.
00:00:52.21\00:00:56.63
When it comes to
the subject of death,
00:01:48.68\00:01:50.91
the teachings of Jesus do
not start in the four gospels.
00:01:50.94\00:01:55.07
They start in
the Book of Genesis.
00:01:55.10\00:01:58.12
In John 1:3, the last of
Christ's twelve disciples
00:01:58.15\00:02:02.01
makes this bold statement.
00:02:02.04\00:02:04.72
"All things were made by Him,
00:02:04.75\00:02:06.86
and without Him was not
any thing made that was made."
00:02:06.89\00:02:11.34
In other words,
Jesus was the creator God.
00:02:11.37\00:02:14.97
The apostle Paul
wrote the same message
00:02:15.00\00:02:16.99
to the believers in Ephesus.
00:02:17.02\00:02:19.39
Ephesians 3:9 says,
00:02:19.42\00:02:21.26
"God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ."
00:02:21.29\00:02:26.60
John plainly stated,
"The world was made by Him."
00:02:26.63\00:02:30.58
John 1:10.
00:02:30.61\00:02:32.36
"For by Him," that is by Jesus
00:02:32.39\00:02:35.02
"were all things
created, that are in heaven,
00:02:35.05\00:02:37.80
and that are in
earth, visible and invisible,
00:02:37.83\00:02:40.99
whether they be
thrones, or dominions,
00:02:41.02\00:02:43.19
or principalities, or powers,
00:02:43.22\00:02:45.68
all things were
created by Him, and for Him.
00:02:45.71\00:02:50.85
And He is before all things,
and by Him all things consist."
00:02:50.88\00:02:57.29
So back in the
Book of Genesis 2:17,
00:02:57.32\00:03:01.17
the creator God in
love for His new creation,
00:03:01.20\00:03:04.54
warned our first
parents not to eat of the tree
00:03:04.57\00:03:07.59
of the knowledge
of good and evil.
00:03:07.62\00:03:10.25
"But of the
tree of the knowledge
00:03:10.28\00:03:11.89
of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it,
00:03:11.92\00:03:14.97
for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die."
00:03:15.00\00:03:20.47
The key word
here is die, not live.
00:03:20.50\00:03:26.27
In this verse, God is
either telling the truth
00:03:26.30\00:03:29.46
or telling a lie.
00:03:29.49\00:03:31.12
He either means what He says
00:03:31.15\00:03:32.59
or His words have
no meaning at all.
00:03:32.62\00:03:36.05
In Genesis 3:4,
00:03:36.08\00:03:37.45
we find the serpent
sitting in this very tree
00:03:37.48\00:03:39.82
of the knowledge
of good and evil.
00:03:39.85\00:03:42.06
This interloper
encourages our first mother
00:03:42.09\00:03:45.30
to eat of the forbidden fruit.
00:03:45.33\00:03:47.80
She knows she should
not eat or even touch it.
00:03:47.83\00:03:50.72
And she knows the consequence
of doing so is death.
00:03:50.75\00:03:55.51
"But the serpent
said unto the woman,
00:03:55.54\00:03:57.80
ye shall not surely die."
00:03:57.83\00:04:01.22
Hmm, creator says you
will. Snake says you won't.
00:04:01.25\00:04:06.35
Today each of us has a choice.
00:04:06.38\00:04:08.79
We will either believe
what the creator God says
00:04:08.82\00:04:11.83
or we will believe what Satan,
00:04:11.86\00:04:13.56
that old
serpent, the devil, says.
00:04:13.59\00:04:16.41
From the dawning of
time, the source of all love
00:04:16.44\00:04:19.18
and all truth has offered
to us the truth about death.
00:04:19.21\00:04:23.89
And when Emmanuel, God with us,
00:04:23.92\00:04:26.71
came to this earth,
He reiterated that truth.
00:04:26.74\00:04:30.81
So what was Jesus'
disruptive doctrine about death?
00:04:30.84\00:04:35.96
Well, Charles,
there's probably no better way
00:04:35.99\00:04:37.96
to see and understand
the teachings of Jesus
00:04:37.99\00:04:40.40
about death than by examining
00:04:40.43\00:04:41.80
the story of
Lazarus, here in Bethany.
00:04:41.83\00:04:44.93
Now we're on the
way to his first tomb
00:04:44.96\00:04:46.63
and as we're headed there,
00:04:46.66\00:04:48.03
Andrea, why don't you
get a start on this story?
00:04:48.06\00:04:49.75
Sure. This story
starts in John Chapter 11.
00:04:49.78\00:04:53.33
"Now a certain man was
sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany,
00:04:53.36\00:04:57.13
the town of Mary
and her sister Martha.
00:04:57.16\00:04:59.67
It was that Mary
which anointed the Lord
00:04:59.70\00:05:01.76
with ointment and
wiped his feet with her hair,
00:05:01.79\00:05:04.55
whose brother Lazarus was sick.
00:05:04.58\00:05:07.74
Therefore his sisters
sent unto him, saying,
00:05:07.77\00:05:10.63
Lord, behold, he
whom thou lovest is sick.
00:05:10.66\00:05:14.67
When Jesus heard that, he said,
this sickness is not unto death,
00:05:14.70\00:05:19.18
but for the glory of God,
00:05:19.21\00:05:21.26
that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby."
00:05:21.29\00:05:26.70
So what do we know from
these first, four verses?
00:05:26.73\00:05:29.68
Well, we know
that Lazarus is sick.
00:05:29.71\00:05:32.11
And his sisters Mary and Martha
00:05:32.14\00:05:34.31
are sufficiently concerned
to send a message to Jesus,
00:05:34.34\00:05:37.20
fully expecting
Him to come and work
00:05:37.23\00:05:39.04
His healing
powers on their brother.
00:05:39.07\00:05:41.93
The followers of Jesus believed
that He had the prophetic gift.
00:05:41.96\00:05:45.31
And so Mary and Martha must
have found some courage and hope
00:05:45.34\00:05:49.08
when Jesus said,
00:05:49.11\00:05:50.48
This sickness
is not unto death."
00:05:50.51\00:05:53.11
But Jesus delayed His coming.
00:05:53.14\00:05:55.87
He did delay His coming
00:05:55.90\00:05:57.49
even though He loved
Martha, her sister and Lazarus.
00:05:57.52\00:06:01.97
"When He had heard
therefore that He was sick,
00:06:02.00\00:06:04.48
He abode two days in the
same place where He was."
00:06:04.51\00:06:09.47
Then Jesus said
to His disciples,
00:06:09.50\00:06:11.57
"Let's go back to Judea.
00:06:11.60\00:06:13.83
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.
00:06:13.86\00:06:15.51
But I go, that I may
awake him out of sleep."
00:06:15.54\00:06:18.37
Okay, what does sleep mean?
00:06:18.40\00:06:20.95
Here is where
the teaching of Jesus
00:06:20.98\00:06:22.60
needs a complete
reading on the text because
00:06:22.63\00:06:25.25
if you read the story in
context it's absolutely clear.
00:06:25.28\00:06:30.00
An important principle
in biblical study says,
00:06:30.03\00:06:32.88
"A text, without a
context, is a pretext."
00:06:32.91\00:06:37.33
That is to say, you
can take a single word
00:06:37.36\00:06:40.36
or even a single sentence
and make it say almost anything.
00:06:40.39\00:06:44.84
So the context, the bigger
picture can create a broader,
00:06:44.87\00:06:48.32
more complete
understanding of the text.
00:06:48.35\00:06:51.30
Jesus said His
friend Lazarus was sleeping.
00:06:51.33\00:06:55.06
So what's the context?
00:06:55.09\00:06:57.35
Well, the disciples
thought, this was great.
00:06:57.38\00:07:00.96
They said, "Lord, if he
sleep, he shall do well.
00:07:00.99\00:07:05.58
Howbeit Jesus
spake of his death.
00:07:05.61\00:07:08.41
But they thought
that he had spoken
00:07:08.44\00:07:10.14
of taking of a rest in sleep.
00:07:10.17\00:07:12.95
Then Jesus said unto them
plainly, Lazarus is dead."
00:07:12.98\00:07:17.36
We often use colloquialisms
to describe something's
00:07:19.56\00:07:21.75
that's difficult to talk about.
00:07:21.78\00:07:23.60
When referring to death,
00:07:23.63\00:07:25.00
we use words like
crossing over or passing on.
00:07:25.03\00:07:27.94
But when Jesus used the
word sleep to describe death,
00:07:27.97\00:07:30.97
He was deliberate in His intent.
00:07:31.00\00:07:32.55
For example, in
Mathew Chapter 9,
00:07:32.58\00:07:34.21
Jesus came to
the home of the ruler
00:07:34.24\00:07:35.78
of the synagogue in Capernaum.
00:07:35.81\00:07:37.64
His daughter had died.
00:07:37.67\00:07:39.04
And people had already
gathered to mourn her passing.
00:07:39.07\00:07:41.67
"He said to them, 'Why
make this commotion and weep?
00:07:41.70\00:07:44.36
The child is not
dead, but sleeping.'
00:07:44.39\00:07:46.38
And they laughed Him to scorn."
00:07:46.41\00:07:48.66
They laughed at Jesus because
they all knew she was dead.
00:07:48.69\00:07:51.47
But here again,
Jesus calls death, sleep.
00:07:51.50\00:07:55.59
Death and sleep have
some real similarities,
00:07:55.62\00:07:57.72
but the most notable
00:07:57.75\00:07:59.12
is the
suspension of consciousness.
00:07:59.15\00:08:01.10
Eight hours can quickly
pass by, but we are unaware
00:08:01.13\00:08:03.48
of our
surroundings or lapse of time.
00:08:03.51\00:08:06.10
This was the same teaching
of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:5,
00:08:06.13\00:08:10.08
"For the living
know that they shall die,
00:08:10.11\00:08:12.02
but the dead know not any thing,
00:08:12.05\00:08:14.21
neither have they
any more a reward,
00:08:14.24\00:08:16.25
for the memory of
them is forgotten."
00:08:16.28\00:08:19.26
The word of God clearly states
the dead don't know any thing.
00:08:19.29\00:08:23.28
Here in Israel, when you want to
remember a departed loved one,
00:08:23.31\00:08:26.19
it is a custom to
leave a stone on the grave.
00:08:26.22\00:08:28.91
It is a reminder
to us, the living,
00:08:28.94\00:08:30.86
that we are not the only
ones who have come to remember.
00:08:30.89\00:08:33.70
But for the
person inside the grave,
00:08:33.73\00:08:35.66
it means absolutely
nothing because they are asleep,
00:08:35.69\00:08:38.86
completely unconscious
to the world around them.
00:08:38.89\00:08:41.67
Unfortunately,
this restful truth
00:08:41.70\00:08:43.76
does not
resonate with most people
00:08:43.79\00:08:45.22
on this planet,
including Christians.
00:08:45.25\00:08:47.80
But whether we
choose to accept it or not,
00:08:47.83\00:08:49.79
the truth is still the truth.
00:08:49.82\00:08:51.45
And death, being in an
unconscious state of sleep
00:08:51.48\00:08:54.49
is the clear
teaching of scripture.
00:08:54.52\00:08:56.62
In fact, 66 times the
term sleep is used for death
00:08:56.65\00:08:59.83
in 17 different
books of the Bible.
00:08:59.86\00:09:02.92
The same is true,
in the case of Lazarus.
00:09:02.95\00:09:05.60
Jesus said Lazarus was asleep
and He was going to wake Him up.
00:09:05.63\00:09:09.27
The disciples
took Jesus literally.
00:09:09.30\00:09:11.24
He's sleeping let him rest.
00:09:11.27\00:09:13.23
"Then said Jesus unto
them plainly, Lazarus is dead."
00:09:13.26\00:09:18.28
Two small observations
here before I move on.
00:09:18.31\00:09:20.94
Back in the day, they didn't
have cell phones or email.
00:09:20.97\00:09:23.72
So how did Jesus know
that Lazarus was dead?
00:09:23.75\00:09:26.28
The same way He knew
that Lazarus's illness
00:09:26.31\00:09:28.52
would not
ultimately end in death.
00:09:28.55\00:09:31.31
My second observation is
that Jesus clearly understood
00:09:31.34\00:09:34.28
that Lazarus had died
and so did every one else.
00:09:34.31\00:09:37.66
In fact, in the story of
Lazarus in John Chapter 11,
00:09:37.69\00:09:40.31
it is
categorically stated eight times
00:09:40.34\00:09:42.53
that Lazarus was dead.
00:09:42.56\00:09:44.84
And by the time Jesus
had finally showed up,
00:09:44.87\00:09:47.64
Lazarus had been
dead for four days.
00:09:47.67\00:09:51.09
Yes, it had been four
days since Lazarus had died
00:09:51.12\00:09:53.71
when Jesus finally
showed up here in Bethany.
00:09:53.74\00:09:56.67
And it would appear
that Jesus was late.
00:09:56.70\00:10:00.32
But God's plans know
no haste and no delay.
00:10:00.35\00:10:05.26
What appears to be our extremity
00:10:05.29\00:10:07.81
is God's
opportunity to better showcase
00:10:07.84\00:10:11.17
His unlimited power and
love for the human race.
00:10:11.20\00:10:15.12
When Martha heard
that Jesus was coming,
00:10:15.15\00:10:17.32
she slipped out to meet Him.
00:10:17.35\00:10:19.49
And from the pain
in her heart, she said,
00:10:19.52\00:10:22.38
"Lord, if you had been
here, my brother had not died."
00:10:22.41\00:10:28.56
There was no
recrimination in her words,
00:10:28.59\00:10:31.10
just disappointment and sadness.
00:10:31.13\00:10:34.79
But I think the
next two verses reveal
00:10:34.82\00:10:37.51
why she could keep
herself from going negative.
00:10:37.54\00:10:40.70
'Cause she knew,
who she was talking to.
00:10:40.73\00:10:44.14
Absolutely, if
you had been here,
00:10:44.17\00:10:47.59
my brother would
not have died, she said.
00:10:47.62\00:10:50.25
"But I know, that even now,
00:10:50.28\00:10:52.44
whatsoever thou wilt ask of
God, God will give it thee."
00:10:52.47\00:10:56.68
Martha knew she was talking
to someone who wasn't limited.
00:10:56.71\00:10:59.18
And that was born out of
the promise He made to her.
00:10:59.21\00:11:02.79
"Thy brother will rise again."
00:11:02.82\00:11:06.60
So here's Jesus'
teaching on death,
00:11:06.63\00:11:09.43
just as sleep is temporary
so death is also temporary
00:11:09.46\00:11:14.27
for those who love the Lord.
00:11:14.30\00:11:17.19
But Martha already
knew that. She did.
00:11:17.22\00:11:20.33
Verse 24,
"Martha saith unto Him,
00:11:20.36\00:11:23.55
I know he shall rise again
00:11:23.58\00:11:25.75
in the
resurrection at the last day."
00:11:25.78\00:11:29.70
How did Martha know
00:11:29.73\00:11:31.10
about the
resurrection of the last day?
00:11:31.13\00:11:34.19
And because she was
also a disciple of Jesus
00:11:34.22\00:11:36.46
and she knew what
Jesus taught on that subject.
00:11:36.49\00:11:38.76
And here's what He
taught from Mark 12:26, 27,
00:11:38.79\00:11:43.83
"And as touching the
dead, that they rise,
00:11:43.86\00:11:46.77
have ye not read
in the book of Moses,
00:11:46.80\00:11:49.06
how in the bush
God spake unto him,
00:11:49.09\00:11:51.11
saying, I am the God of Abraham,
00:11:51.14\00:11:53.66
and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
00:11:53.69\00:11:56.79
He is not the God of the dead,
00:11:56.82\00:11:58.76
but the God of the living,
ye therefore do greatly err."
00:11:58.79\00:12:04.07
Jesus said there will be
a time when the dead rise.
00:12:04.10\00:12:09.16
That's exactly what
Jesus said in John 5: 28, 29.
00:12:09.19\00:12:13.92
He said, "Marvel not at
this, for the hour is coming,
00:12:13.95\00:12:19.30
when all who are in the
graves will hear his voice,
00:12:19.33\00:12:22.47
and will come forth,
they that have done good,
00:12:22.50\00:12:25.26
unto the resurrection of life,
and they that have done evil,
00:12:25.29\00:12:28.94
unto the
resurrection of damnation."
00:12:28.97\00:12:32.51
Here Jesus
expands our understanding
00:12:32.54\00:12:34.48
with one more insight.
00:12:34.51\00:12:36.53
Not only will
there be a resurrection
00:12:36.56\00:12:38.19
when dead people
will come back to life
00:12:38.22\00:12:40.14
or the sleeping
people will be wakened.
00:12:40.17\00:12:42.75
There's actually going
to be two resurrections.
00:12:42.78\00:12:44.98
Now we need to
unpack that further,
00:12:45.01\00:12:46.94
but we're going to
do that at another time.
00:12:46.97\00:12:49.56
The point we need to
make here is that Jesus taught
00:12:49.59\00:12:52.56
there is something beyond death.
00:12:52.59\00:12:54.93
Indeed. And that something
is called the resurrection.
00:12:54.96\00:12:57.96
Right. And didn't Paul refer
to that as the blessed hope.
00:12:57.99\00:13:02.39
Yes, in his letter to Titus.
00:13:02.42\00:13:05.34
He said, "He was
looking for that blessed hope,"
00:13:05.37\00:13:08.16
and he defined that as
"the glorious appearing
00:13:08.19\00:13:11.34
of the great God and
our Savior Jesus Christ."
00:13:11.37\00:13:14.52
When the dead will
be raised to life again.
00:13:14.55\00:13:17.26
Hey, there's the tomb.
00:13:17.29\00:13:21.16
In Mathew Chapter
21 and Luke Chapter 20,
00:13:21.19\00:13:23.42
the Bible makes it very clear
00:13:23.45\00:13:25.22
that Jesus
definitively believed in
00:13:25.25\00:13:27.86
and taught the resurrection
as one of His kingdom truths.
00:13:27.89\00:13:32.26
But He told Martha
and He's telling us,
00:13:32.29\00:13:34.90
that the resurrection is not
so much an event in the future.
00:13:34.93\00:13:38.91
The resurrection is a person.
00:13:38.94\00:13:42.63
"Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection,
00:13:42.66\00:13:46.66
and the life, he
that believeth in Me,
00:13:46.69\00:13:49.78
though he were
dead, yet shall he live.
00:13:49.81\00:13:54.00
Jesus said I am the
way, the truth and the life,
00:13:54.03\00:13:59.63
no man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me."
00:13:59.66\00:14:04.36
There is no
resurrection and no life
00:14:04.39\00:14:07.28
and no way to get
there, if you don't have Jesus.
00:14:07.31\00:14:11.70
And John 11:26, Jesus
makes such a radical claim,
00:14:11.73\00:14:16.83
you must conclude that He is mad
00:14:16.86\00:14:19.23
or that He is opening up
one of the most precious truths
00:14:19.26\00:14:22.54
about death, that
we could ever embrace.
00:14:22.57\00:14:26.80
"And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die.
00:14:26.83\00:14:31.80
Do you believe this?"
00:14:31.83\00:14:34.46
Jesus asked
Martha that question.
00:14:34.49\00:14:37.13
And He's asking
us that question.
00:14:37.16\00:14:39.91
"Whoever lives and
believes in Me, shall never die.
00:14:39.94\00:14:43.81
Do you believe this?"
00:14:43.84\00:14:46.23
Martha's answer was "Yea, Lord.
00:14:46.26\00:14:48.53
I believe that thou art
the Christ, the Son of God,
00:14:48.56\00:14:51.71
which should
come into the world.
00:14:51.74\00:14:54.24
She chose to say, yes,
to the Lord's doctrines.
00:14:54.27\00:14:57.38
Yes, to His
teachings, His truth.
00:14:57.41\00:15:01.40
Any one can make a foolish claim
that has no basis in reality.
00:15:01.43\00:15:06.19
Martha, on the other hand,
00:15:06.22\00:15:07.95
based her faith on
the reality of prophecy
00:15:07.98\00:15:11.06
that pointed directly to Jesus
00:15:11.09\00:15:13.43
and on the works that
Jesus had already done.
00:15:13.46\00:15:16.38
The miracles he had wrought
00:15:16.41\00:15:18.23
that could never have been
done in normal human strength.
00:15:18.26\00:15:23.06
In stark contrast
to Martha's steady,
00:15:23.09\00:15:26.15
calculated faith is the blatant
and willfully blind rejection
00:15:26.18\00:15:30.38
by the priests and the Pharisees
of Christ's teachings on death.
00:15:30.41\00:15:35.25
The same truth
that Christ shared
00:15:35.28\00:15:36.97
with Martha in John Chapter 11,
He had already sought to share
00:15:37.00\00:15:40.34
with the Jewish
leaders in John Chapter 8,
00:15:40.37\00:15:43.39
"Verily, verily, I say unto you,
00:15:43.42\00:15:45.59
if a man keep my saying,
he shall never see death.
00:15:45.62\00:15:50.54
Then said the Jews unto Him,
00:15:50.57\00:15:52.61
Now we know that
thou has a devil.
00:15:52.64\00:15:55.14
Abraham is
dead, and the prophets
00:15:55.17\00:15:58.11
and thou sayest, if
a man keep my saying,
00:15:58.14\00:16:00.90
he shall never taste of death.
00:16:00.93\00:16:03.46
Art thou greater than our
father Abraham, which is dead?
00:16:03.49\00:16:06.81
And the prophets are
dead, whom makest thou thyself?"
00:16:06.84\00:16:11.34
By asking their
indignant question in verse 53,
00:16:11.37\00:16:15.27
are you greater than
Abraham and the prophets?
00:16:15.30\00:16:18.52
Who do you think you are?
00:16:18.55\00:16:20.32
They are actually asking,
are you greater than death?
00:16:20.35\00:16:25.10
Jesus had said if
any man keep my saying,
00:16:25.13\00:16:28.04
he shall never see death.
00:16:28.07\00:16:30.63
Are you greater than death?
00:16:30.66\00:16:32.62
No human being had
ever cheated death.
00:16:32.65\00:16:35.61
Even the great pillars of faith
00:16:35.64\00:16:37.15
Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
00:16:37.18\00:16:38.89
David, Daniel, and
Isaiah had all died.
00:16:38.92\00:16:42.65
So how could these
words possibly be true?
00:16:42.68\00:16:47.39
The only one who
could rescue mortal souls
00:16:47.42\00:16:50.27
from the grip of death would be
the one who could create life.
00:16:50.30\00:16:54.95
Jesus claimed to be the
resurrection and the life.
00:16:54.98\00:16:59.11
Either this is an idle
claim or this is the truth.
00:16:59.14\00:17:03.72
Let's join Levi and
Andrea at Lazarus' tomb,
00:17:03.75\00:17:06.96
as we seek to discover the truth
00:17:06.99\00:17:09.34
concerning this mighty
doctrine and claim of Jesus.
00:17:09.37\00:17:14.18
Jesus taught it.
And Martha believed it.
00:17:14.21\00:17:16.96
At the end of this world
00:17:16.99\00:17:18.36
there is gonna
be a resurrection,
00:17:18.39\00:17:19.76
when all who are
in their graves will
00:17:19.79\00:17:21.49
awake out of the sleep of death.
00:17:21.52\00:17:23.96
And today, we're standing
here at Lazarus' first tomb
00:17:23.99\00:17:27.51
which stands as a
monument, a living testament
00:17:27.54\00:17:30.46
to the truth and
teachings of Jesus.
00:17:30.49\00:17:33.71
Hey, I'm gonna head on in.
00:17:33.74\00:17:38.92
I wonder what Jesus
would have been feeling
00:17:38.95\00:17:41.67
as He stood here at this tomb.
00:17:41.70\00:17:44.97
You know, that's a
great question, Levi.
00:17:45.00\00:17:47.32
Perhaps, the two most touching
passages in John Chapter 11,
00:17:47.35\00:17:50.38
are the ones that
show the feelings,
00:17:50.41\00:17:52.50
the emotions that
were in Jesus' heart.
00:17:52.53\00:17:55.35
The first is verse 35, the
shortest verse in the Bible.
00:17:55.38\00:17:59.24
"Jesus wept."
00:17:59.27\00:18:01.50
No one gets through
this life without some pain,
00:18:01.53\00:18:03.75
without some tears.
00:18:03.78\00:18:06.30
We live in a world that
war with God's law of love.
00:18:06.33\00:18:10.01
This war causes us great
deal of pain, hurt, and loss.
00:18:10.04\00:18:14.79
Often the mind maybe
clouded because of this pain.
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.80
When that happens,
don't try to think.
00:18:17.83\00:18:20.39
Just cling to this one
truth, Jesus loves you.
00:18:20.42\00:18:24.86
He understands
your disorientation,
00:18:24.89\00:18:27.04
your weakness, and tears.
00:18:27.07\00:18:29.59
In such cases,
you may do His will
00:18:29.62\00:18:32.03
by simply resting in His arms.
00:18:32.06\00:18:36.24
The second verse
that opens our view
00:18:36.27\00:18:37.64
to the emotions
of Jesus is verse 38,
00:18:37.67\00:18:41.21
"Jesus therefore again groaning
in Himself cometh to the grave.
00:18:41.24\00:18:45.16
It was a cave, and
a stone lay upon it."
00:18:45.19\00:18:48.89
Jesus understands our emotions.
00:18:48.92\00:18:51.21
He has tasted the saltiness
and the bitterness of our tears.
00:18:51.24\00:18:54.89
He understands the
feeling of loss, of pain.
00:18:54.92\00:18:59.01
But that day when Jesus
came to the tomb of Lazarus,
00:18:59.04\00:19:02.14
he was not weeping merely
for Lazarus, Mary, or Martha.
00:19:02.17\00:19:06.09
He was weeping for
the countless millions
00:19:06.12\00:19:08.27
who would never know
the joy of the blessed hope
00:19:08.30\00:19:10.85
of the resurrection.
00:19:10.88\00:19:12.89
Jesus cares about every one.
00:19:12.92\00:19:14.70
Even those who
choose to reject Him
00:19:14.73\00:19:17.11
and are finally lost forever.
00:19:17.14\00:19:19.10
He weeps for them.
00:19:19.13\00:19:21.97
When Jesus came to
the tomb of Lazarus,
00:19:22.00\00:19:23.91
"He said, Take away the stone.
00:19:23.94\00:19:26.59
Martha, the sister
of him that was dead,
00:19:26.62\00:19:28.74
saith unto Him, Lord,
by this time he stinketh,
00:19:28.77\00:19:32.38
for he hath
been dead four days."
00:19:32.41\00:19:35.32
It may not be
socially acceptable.
00:19:35.35\00:19:37.24
And it may not be
politically correct.
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.29
But it's time to
cooperate with Jesus.
00:19:39.32\00:19:42.09
When we obey His
command and take away
00:19:42.12\00:19:43.52
the stone of indifference,
of apathy, of disbelief.
00:19:43.55\00:19:47.45
When we are ready to be honest
with Jesus and to the world,
00:19:47.48\00:19:50.01
to admit that our way stinks
00:19:50.04\00:19:51.69
and has led to the death
of God's plan for our life,
00:19:51.72\00:19:55.78
the way is clear for Jesus
00:19:55.81\00:19:57.18
to create a
miracle of new life in us.
00:19:57.21\00:20:00.34
"Jesus said to
Martha, Said I not unto thee,
00:20:00.37\00:20:03.42
that, if thou wouldest believe,
00:20:03.45\00:20:04.82
thou shouldest
see the glory of God?"
00:20:04.85\00:20:07.62
He wants us to see the
glory and the power of God.
00:20:07.65\00:20:11.08
He wants to do
miracles in our lives
00:20:11.11\00:20:12.71
so that we can believe.
00:20:12.74\00:20:15.08
I think the hardest
job that we have is,
00:20:15.11\00:20:16.81
making the choice
to let God, be God.
00:20:16.84\00:20:20.00
To believe what He says.
00:20:20.03\00:20:22.27
Jesus had already told Martha,
00:20:22.30\00:20:24.53
I am the
resurrection and the life.
00:20:24.56\00:20:27.73
"Jesus said, I am the
way, the truth, and the life.
00:20:27.76\00:20:33.37
No man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me."
00:20:33.40\00:20:38.21
Just as described in the Bible,
the tomb of Lazarus is a cave.
00:20:38.24\00:20:41.86
And as such you
have to go down 28 steps
00:20:41.89\00:20:44.95
to get to the bottom.
00:20:44.98\00:20:46.59
When Jesus came to
the entrance of this tomb,
00:20:46.62\00:20:49.03
He fully
intended to do a miracle.
00:20:49.06\00:20:51.87
He was going to
show that He was indeed,
00:20:51.90\00:20:54.80
more powerful than death,
00:20:54.83\00:20:56.62
more powerful than
our strongest fear.
00:20:56.65\00:21:00.16
Looks less like a cave now
00:21:00.19\00:21:01.60
since a crusader strengthened
the tomb with masonry
00:21:01.63\00:21:04.70
which obscures most of
the original rock surface.
00:21:04.73\00:21:07.96
But the cave and the structure
isn't what's important here.
00:21:07.99\00:21:11.00
Here's where Jesus submitted
humanity the ultimate proof,
00:21:11.03\00:21:14.81
second only to His own
resurrection of His divinity.
00:21:14.84\00:21:18.61
Here He presents a
crowning act, a living evidence,
00:21:18.64\00:21:22.89
that He is
indeed the Son of God.
00:21:22.92\00:21:25.71
Okay, so you now have
an idea of how far down
00:21:40.75\00:21:44.67
in the ground
Lazarus was buried.
00:21:44.70\00:21:48.23
All right, Levi,
what happens next?
00:21:48.26\00:21:50.78
John 11 says,
"Then they took away
00:21:50.81\00:21:54.72
the stone from the
place where the dead was laid.
00:21:54.75\00:21:57.96
And Jesus lifted
up His eyes, and said,
00:21:57.99\00:22:00.43
Father, I thank thee
that thou hast heard me.
00:22:00.46\00:22:03.59
And I knew that
thou hearest me always
00:22:03.62\00:22:05.29
but because of the
people which stand by I said it,
00:22:05.32\00:22:08.35
that they may believe
that thou hast sent me.
00:22:08.38\00:22:11.73
And when He thus had spoken,
He cried out with a loud voice,
00:22:11.76\00:22:16.04
Lazarus, come forth."
00:22:16.07\00:22:19.39
With intense and
painful interest,
00:22:19.42\00:22:21.52
all who were at the entrance
were listening and watching,
00:22:21.55\00:22:24.08
for the evidence
that would substantiate
00:22:24.11\00:22:26.15
His claim to be the Son of God.
00:22:26.18\00:22:28.25
They wanted to know
if Jesus really did have
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.81
power over the grave.
00:22:30.84\00:22:33.14
The voice of Jesus
was clear and penetrating.
00:22:33.17\00:22:36.35
It pierced the ear of the
dead and sleeping Lazarus,
00:22:36.38\00:22:39.25
life sprang into
the lifeless shell
00:22:39.28\00:22:41.32
of the man and he lived.
00:22:41.35\00:22:44.52
There's just one problem,
00:22:44.55\00:22:46.21
Lazarus was
wrapped up like a mummy.
00:22:46.24\00:22:48.39
John 11:44 says,
"He was bound hand
00:22:48.42\00:22:51.45
and foot with grave clothes
00:22:51.48\00:22:53.44
and his face was
bound about with a napkin."
00:22:53.47\00:22:56.78
So the same power that
gave Him life, picked him up,
00:22:56.81\00:23:00.70
and transported
his once lived body,
00:23:00.73\00:23:03.50
out of the burial
chamber and up the steps
00:23:03.53\00:23:05.99
and placed him at
the entrance of the tomb.
00:23:06.02\00:23:08.98
No one likes the
thought of death.
00:23:15.19\00:23:17.75
Placed in the
ground to decompose
00:23:17.78\00:23:20.15
and that was
never God's intention.
00:23:20.18\00:23:22.12
His desire is for
us to live forever.
00:23:22.15\00:23:26.84
The teachings of Jesus
make it absolutely clear,
00:23:26.87\00:23:29.88
how any one can
escape their tomb
00:23:29.91\00:23:32.50
and live forever with Him.
00:23:32.53\00:23:35.47
In John 6:49-51,
Jesus made it unmistakable,
00:23:35.50\00:23:40.83
that He is living bread.
00:23:40.86\00:23:42.72
If we want to live
forever, we must eat that bread.
00:23:42.75\00:23:46.32
Jesus interprets
what He means in verse 63,
00:23:46.35\00:23:49.41
"The words that
I speak unto you,
00:23:49.44\00:23:51.63
they are spirit
and they are life."
00:23:51.66\00:23:55.35
His words are life.
00:23:55.38\00:23:57.62
Many times we go through
our day as a 'The walking dead.'
00:23:57.65\00:24:01.07
We maybe physically alive,
00:24:01.10\00:24:02.47
but spiritually and
emotionally we're actually dead.
00:24:02.50\00:24:05.99
Jesus really emphasizes
that point in John 5:24,
00:24:06.02\00:24:10.81
"Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that hears my word,
00:24:10.84\00:24:15.24
and believes on
God that sent Me,
00:24:15.27\00:24:17.92
hath everlasting life,
00:24:17.95\00:24:19.97
and shall not
come into condemnation,
00:24:20.00\00:24:22.34
but is passed
from death unto life."
00:24:22.37\00:24:26.84
There's life in the word
and no life outside the word.
00:24:26.87\00:24:31.77
Jesus also
taught that just hearing
00:24:44.65\00:24:47.26
and believing His words
isn't enough to escape death.
00:24:47.29\00:24:51.77
"Verily, verily, I say unto you,
00:24:51.80\00:24:54.02
if a man keep my sayings,
he shall never see death."
00:24:54.05\00:24:58.05
Salvation is not
just a mental ascent.
00:24:58.08\00:25:01.94
Salvation must also
include doing what He says,
00:25:01.97\00:25:05.06
being obedient to
His will, His love, love.
00:25:05.09\00:25:08.81
Saying, yes, to
Him with every choice.
00:25:08.84\00:25:13.64
I believe it, Levi.
00:25:13.67\00:25:16.07
Starting in
Genesis, the bible teaches
00:25:16.10\00:25:18.53
that life comes from God
00:25:18.56\00:25:20.74
and obedience to
Him preserves that life.
00:25:20.77\00:25:23.70
If you disobey, you'll
lose that life. You die.
00:25:23.73\00:25:27.60
In John 3:16, Jesus confirmed
that teaching, that doctrine.
00:25:27.63\00:25:32.82
Now there are some Christians
00:25:32.85\00:25:34.68
who find this
teaching so disruptive.
00:25:34.71\00:25:38.05
No, we have a
soul that lives on,
00:25:38.08\00:25:41.20
a spirit consciousness
that transcends death.
00:25:41.23\00:25:44.56
We go to heaven
immediately when we die.
00:25:44.59\00:25:48.26
Often stated, but not biblical.
00:25:48.29\00:25:51.74
The three words translated
in the Bible as immortal
00:25:51.77\00:25:55.42
are only used in
the Bible in 16 verses.
00:25:55.45\00:25:59.18
Not once are
they used to tell us
00:25:59.21\00:26:01.64
that a human soul is immortal.
00:26:01.67\00:26:04.88
In fact, they tell
us the exact opposite.
00:26:04.91\00:26:09.29
Three verses tell us plainly
that only God is immortal.
00:26:09.32\00:26:14.08
And here is the
verse that is most clear.
00:26:14.11\00:26:16.52
It speaks to us
of the Kings of kings
00:26:16.55\00:26:19.39
and Lord of lords,
"Who only hath immortality."
00:26:19.42\00:26:24.73
So who are you gonna believe,
God and His bible or Satan?
00:26:24.76\00:26:30.15
The serpent told
Eve, "You won't die."
00:26:30.18\00:26:33.95
But the evidence shows
that he was wrong, dead Wrong.
00:26:33.98\00:26:38.53
And that old snake is still
tempting us to believe his lie.
00:26:38.56\00:26:44.39
So I've chosen to believe
the clear teachings of Jesus.
00:26:44.42\00:26:48.64
There is life after
death, but that will be
00:26:48.67\00:26:51.50
at the
resurrection, at the last day.
00:26:51.53\00:26:54.64
That's what Jesus
said in John 6:44,
00:26:54.67\00:26:57.93
"No man can come to
me, except the Father
00:26:57.96\00:27:00.72
which hath sent me draw him,
00:27:00.75\00:27:02.81
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:27:02.84\00:27:07.90
"Behold, I show you a
mystery," writes Paul.
00:27:07.93\00:27:11.23
"We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed,
00:27:11.26\00:27:15.51
In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye,
00:27:15.54\00:27:18.80
at the last trump, for
the trumpet shall sound,
00:27:18.83\00:27:22.58
and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible,
00:27:22.61\00:27:25.50
and we shall be changed."
00:27:25.53\00:27:29.04
Lazarus's first tomb is empty,
00:27:29.07\00:27:31.48
proving Jesus has power
over death and the tomb.
00:27:31.51\00:27:36.35
So who are you
choosing to believe,
00:27:36.38\00:27:38.99
the truth or the
one that has already
00:27:39.02\00:27:41.86
proven himself to be dead wrong?
00:27:41.89\00:27:45.19