Word Made Flesh: Life and Death
Pastor Steve Poole
THEME - The flesh and blood Jesus deals with death.
TEXT - John 11:17-44
1. Jesus doesn’t blame Lazarus or his sisters.
“The flesh and blood Jesus doesn’t rebuke any of the
mourners for showing their grief over the death of
Lazarus, and he could have!” ~Steve Poole
2. Jesus doesn’t condemn their emotional response.
“…the Son of God, having clothed himself with our flesh,
of his own accord, clothed himself also with human
feelings, so that he did not differ at all from his brethren,
sin only excepted.” ~ John Calvin
3. Jesus offers peace through truth.
“I am that high and holy One who, by taking man’s nature
upon Me, have ennobled his body, and made its
resurrection possible. I am the great First Cause and
Procurer of man’s resurrection, the Conqueror of death,
and the Saviour of the body. I am the great Spring and
Source of all life, and whatever life any one has, eternal,
spiritual, physical, is all owing to Me…” ~ J.C. Ryle
4. Jesus offers peace through sharing in our tears.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had
come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his
spirit and greatly troubled.” ~ John 11:33
“Yet I have no doubt that Christ contemplated something
higher, namely, the general misery of the whole human
race; for he knew well what had been enjoined on him by
the Father, and why he was sent into the world, namely,
to free us from all evils.” ~ Calvin/Pringle
5. Jesus is deeply moved for ALL those who suffer the angst of
death, even himself.
“Jesus therefore again groaning within himself. Christ
does not approach the sepulcher as an idle spectator, but
as a champion who prepares for a contest; and therefore
we need not wonder that he again groans; for the violent
tyranny of death, which he had to conquer, is placed
before his eyes.” ~ Calvin/Pringle