John 11:1-16 · The Death of Lazarus

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

When God Is Silent
John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37
Sermon
by Bill Bouknight
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I recall Thanksgiving 1983 as the worst one of my life. It came about six months after the death of our younger son. It was midnight hour in the valley of the shadow of death. The shock had worn off, and I was trying to accept the unacceptable. I could not imagine life ever becoming good again. On Thanksgiving Day we gathered for dinner with relatives at the home of my wife's parents. Routinely, they called on me, as the only pastor in the family, to offer the Thanksgiving prayer. I bowed my head, but words wouldn't come. I could not say "thank you" when I was anything but grateful. Some sensitive relative understood my problem, and offered the prayer. Have you ever had such a moment when God seemed distant and prayer almost pointless? Have you experienced a time when heaven seemed to be…

ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Collected Sermons, by Bill Bouknight