John 11:1-46 Title of sermon taken from QT series –I hope you are enjoying…
Little background- End of John 10, Jews were about to stone Jesus in Judea. They traveled to East of Jordan away from Judea- (wilderness) safe. Upon hearing of death of friend …decide to travel west across to Jordan—Bethany is close to Jerusalem- danger…Risk involved.
Tension- nervousness—difficult to be hunted and persecuted…In the middle of that tragic loss
How do we deal with death, tragedy, sadness, loss?
As human beings we all suffer death, tragedy—For disciples opportunity to be light to world.
- Hold on to Jesus in toughest times.
Martha has lost her brother – Mary is so sad she is at home mourning and many Jews are there comforting her. What does Martha do in her moment of sadness and despair?
She fixes her eyes on Jesus- doesn’t lose sight on who Jesus is –He is Son of God.
Composes herself and goes out to meet Jesus to welcome him…
11:22 Even Now- God will give you whatever you ask- even with finality of death, Martha has not given up hope—because her eyes are fixated on Jesus.
11:25 I am the resurrection and life …What a powerful statement. What an inspiring/ encouraging statement. DEATH is pretty discouraging, overwhelming, powerful.
V.26 Do you believe this—v.27 Yes Lord I believe that you are son of God.
We as humans do not have power over DEATH. Yet in Jesus—even in Jesus we can have hope-
Because of the resurrection—cornerstone of our faith- what gives the gospel message hope.
MARTHA gets bad rap as busybody—Luke 10:38-41 –
We can see here that Martha is very spiritual. In fact I believe in this setting she is more spiritual than Mary…
What or to whom do we turn to in our toughest times: For many of us unfortunately, the tough times can reveal weakness of our conviction and faith – Don’t turn to Jesus—
For some of us the toughest times –reveal a radiant. Resilient- powerful faith. A strength that is not man-made –from God.
Another person that holds on to Jesus is Thomas –
V.16 Thomas bad reputation as doubter—Very bad situation, hopeless. Not yet but very soon Jesus will be captured and killed.
Thomas demonstrates courage, loyalty- honesty…
He is willing to follow Jesus even if it means death….
This church is full of Thomas like –faithful people—in the toughest moments. You remained faithful to God and to this Church. I think there is something special about loyal people.
Older xians – I hope this gives us confidence.
Hold on to Jesus in the toughest of times
- It is ok to cry—
11:35 Jesus wept dakruo: shed tears: – weep
Jesus burst into tears. (ISV)イエスは涙を流された。(改訳)
Why does apostle John tell us that Jesus wept? Jesus wept, tears.. it was not wrong. It’s ok.
Response to Jesus’ tears twofold –
1) See how they loved them- those grieving were moved. Jesus connected with them. All unified in feeling sadness for Lazarus.
2) Negative/ Critical attitude toward Jesus –could he not have saved him.
**DISCONNECTED COMMENT – Some of us make these kinds of comments.
Some of us in a very emotional moment – say the wrong things- get uncomfortable run away.
Uncomfortable with tears? Don’t want to appear weak/ emotional.
In the church past –taught: 感情的は良くない・・・Where does this come from?
Learned it from the world…
男は泣くな、(特に人前)
泣いて馬謖を斬る 泣いてばしょくをきる
第二次世界大戦前から戦後しばらくの間などは、男らしさ
リーダーシップ、判断力、決断力 落ち着いていること いさぎよさ 我慢強さ
33 イエスは、彼女が泣き、一緒に来たユダヤ人たちも泣いているのを見て、心に憤りを覚え、興奮して、
Embrimaomai — with anger); to have indignation on, that is, (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin, (specifically) to sternly enjoin: – straitly charge, groan, murmur against.
Jesus didn’t suppress emotions. He didn’t rebuke Mary and others for showing emotions.
Jesus was not indifferent to emotions—people’s emotions – stirred his emotions
We can see the human side of Jesus not just deity…
Jesus did not suppress emotions- did not call his disciples to suppress emotions
He was honest with his emotions—processed emotions. At the end of the day, emotions are emotions. They should not dictate our actions, convictions, or our faith…
If we do not process emotions correctly we become emotionally unhealthy…
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALLY—
EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SPIRUTAL MATURITY ARE INSEPERABLE
Top ten symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality
- Using God to run from God
- Ignoring emotions of anger, sadness and fear
- Dying to the wrong things
- Denying the past’s impact on the present
- Dividing our lives into secular and sacred compartments
- Doing for God instead of being with God
- Spiritualizing away conflict
- Covering over brokenness, weakness and failure
- Living without limits
- Judging other people’s spiritual journey
We all want to achieve spiritual maturity – yet we often try do it while emotionally unhealthy
ARE WE EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY?
How do we become emotionally healthy? –Not ignore emotions. Be honest. Talk about them.
Discuss/ Share… Emotions need to be processed properly. Not harmfully, aggressively, attacking manner…Cannot make emotions excuse for un-Christ like behavior
*Share hi’s and lows
*Be able to address emotions accurately – improve vocabulary (FEELING CARDS)
*Habit of sharing vulnerably — I feel…
*Journaling emotions
Parents – super important with children…
All of us –in order to connect – to promote true faith –process emotions…
When we don’t process emotions healthy –DISCONNECTED, GET ANGRY WHEN OTHERS DON’T UNDERSTAND US, CAN GET ARROGANT AND SELF=RIGHTEOUS, NOT REAL APPROACHABLE, NOT ENDEARING, RIGID AND LEGALISTIC, LACK COMPASSION AND GRACE/ MERCY
It’s ok to cry. It’s ok to be emotional- process in healthy way.
I have heard it said that love is not an emotion it is a decision.
Partly true- it is also emotion –because it is something we feel. Without proper emotions love does not get communicated properly.
Let us Become an emotionally healthy church…and a truly spiritually mature church
—shared this many times – my changes…(learned to value emotions not suppress)
3) Unwavering faith focuses on God –(not feelings or circumstances)
As we discussed earlier –Jesus was feeling a lot of emotions – yet at the end of the day.
His faith was rock solid. Jesus’ faith did not waver according to what he felt or what was going on.
11:41 I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me…
JESUS faith was absolute…He had CONVICTION—God always hears him.
11:42 Said this for benefit of people… People doubt, waver in their faith.
We want to be men and women of faith—Focus our faith on God, not on our feelings or circumstances—Do we believe in God’s promises? Or do we waiver in unbelief?
Miracles happen when we have unwavering faith in God.
イエスに従い、泣いて悲しむ
–Hold on to Jesus in toughest times.
–It is ok to cry—
–Unwavering faith focuses on God
