"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform, He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread, are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower." Author unknown
One such bitter bud, is death. For the unbeliever the bitterness never ends, but for the believer, the Child of God by faith in Jesus, death's bitter bud becomes the fragrant flower of eternal life. Death for the Christian, is both a falling asleep and a great awakening at the same time. These are the things I will speak to you about today.
Go with me to John 11:1-44. "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. {2} And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. {3} The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." {4} But when Jesus heard it, He said, "THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED BY IT." {5} Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. {6} When therefore He heard that he was SICK, HE STAYED THEN TWO DAYS LONGER IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS. {7} Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." {8} The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?" {9} Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. {10} "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." {11} This He said, and after that He said to them, "OUR FRIEND LAZARUS HAS FALLEN ASLEEP; BUT I GO, THAT I MAY AWAKEN HIM OUT OF SLEEP." {12} The disciples therefore said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." {13} Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. {14} THEN JESUS THEREFORE SAID TO THEM PLAINLY, "LAZARUS IS DEAD, {15} and I am glad FOR YOUR SAKES that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him." {16} Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." {17} SO WHEN JESUS CAME, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE TOMB FOUR DAYS. {18} Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; {19} and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. {20} Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still sat in the house. {21} Martha therefore said to Jesus, "LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. {22} "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." {23} Jesus said to her, "YOUR BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN." {24} Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." {25} Jesus said to her, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME SHALL LIVE EVEN IF HE DIES, {26} AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?" {27} She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." {28} And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, "The Teacher is here, and is calling for you." {29} And when she heard it, she arose quickly, and was coming to Him. {30} Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. {31} The Jews then who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. {32} Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, "LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED." {33} When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled, {34} and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." {35} JESUS WEPT. {36} And so the Jews were saying, "Behold how He loved him!" {37} But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have kept this man also from dying?" {38} Jesus therefore again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. {39} Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "LORD, BY THIS TIME THERE WILL BE A STENCH, FOR HE HAS BEEN DEAD FOUR DAYS." {40} Jesus said to her, "DID I NOT SAY TO YOU, IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?" {41} And so they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. {42} "And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me." {43} And when He had said these things, HE CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, "LAZARUS, COME FORTH." {44} HE WHO HAD DIED CAME FORTH, BOUND HAND AND FOOT WITH WRAPPINGS; AND HIS FACE WAS WRAPPED AROUND WITH A CLOTH. JESUS SAID TO THEM, "UNBIND HIM, AND LET HIM GO."
In this passage of scripture we are brought face to face with the physical consequences of the fall. The dying of our bodies. With death comes much pain and agony of the emotions and the spirit, however the believer and the unbeliever suffer in different ways and to differing degrees. Yes, Christians grieve, but not as the Gentiles do. For they are without God and without hope in this world. Believers tremble at the thought of death, but not as the unbeliever does. The believer's hope in Jesus sustains him in life, and in death. The believers hope is not of this world, it has to do with eternity, it reaches far beyond the grave. Such hope fills one with strength and peace while on this earth, it sustains him in the thought of, and in the experience of death as well .
Christ's dealings with Lazarus and his Sisters have surprised people for generations. The surprise is, He doesn't jump and run when notified of his friends serious illness. The context reveals, this is by design, for the glory of God. Jesus intended that Lazarus die! He and His Father were working together doing something for the good of the elect and for His glory. God took this man's life, at just the right time, and for the right reasons.
Jesus said, "THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED BY IT." {5} Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. {6} When therefore He heard that he was SICK, HE STAYED THEN TWO DAYS LONGER IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS." He refused to respond, because it was time for Lazarus to die. His sickness and his death were appointed by God! God does not intend that His children be well always, rather He ordains the means and time of their death. We do not die because someone failed to catch the disease in our bodies soon enough. Rather, we die at the appointed time, in the appointed way.
(1 Sam 2:6 NASB) "THE LORD KILLS AND MAKES ALIVE; He brings down to Sheol and raises up."
(Job 12:9-16 NASB) "Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, {10} IN WHOSE HAND IS THE LIFE OF EVERY LIVING THING, AND THE BREATH OF ALL MANKIND? {14}"Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. {15} "Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth. {16} "With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him."
(Acts 17:24-26 NASB) "The God who MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS IN IT, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; {25} neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since HE HIMSELF GIVES TO ALL LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL THINGS; {26} AND HE MADE FROM ONE, EVERY NATION OF MANKIND TO LIVE ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, HAVING DETERMINED THEIR APPOINTED TIMES, (time in history, time of birth, of salvation, and of death) AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR HABITATION," (He speaks of where we live on Earth)
(Rom 11:33-36 NASB) "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! {34} For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? {35} Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? {36} For from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL things. (This includes life, death and everything in between.) To Him be the glory forever. Amen."
In our living, God is working in us, "to will and to do of His good pleasure." He is doing so in our dying as well. He is God, He alone is in control, in this we should rejoice. The scripture declares, "And we, (Christians, trained by the scriptures), know that GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom 8:28 NASB)
In verses 11-16 of John 11, Jesus explains a little more about what has happened to Lazarus and the reason God has done this.
"This He said, and after that He said to them, "OUR FRIEND LAZARUS HAS FALLEN ASLEEP; BUT I GO, THAT I MAY AWAKEN HIM OUT OF SLEEP." {12} The disciples therefore said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." {13} Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. {14} THEN JESUS THEREFORE SAID TO THEM PLAINLY, "LAZARUS IS DEAD, {15} and I am GLAD FOR YOUR SAKES that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."
Notice how tenderly Jesus speaks of Lazarus. He was obviously aquatinted with all the Disciples, for Jesus said, "OUR FRIEND has fallen asleep." "Let's go to him now and I'll wake him up." The disciples argued, "If he is just asleep we needn't risk the danger of going back to Jerusalem, he'll wake up on his own." These men didn't understand that Lazarus had died. They didn't understand that death for the Christian is, "Falling asleep in Jesus." What a tender phrase Jesus used concerning His friend, "Our friend Lazarus, has fallen asleep."
Here is the reason I've brought you this study. I wish to equip you with accurate thinking for your personal comfort and peace in both life and death. Second I want to equip you with the necessary tools for the comfort of others.
We have already seen that the Believers death is ordained by God. It is always right on time and in the appointed way. Now, we must understand that the Believers death is a, "falling asleep with a view toward a blessed awakening."
(Mat 27:50-52 NASB) "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. {51} And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, {52} and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED;"
(Acts 7:59-60 NASB) "And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" {60} And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, HE FELL ASLEEP."
These passages and many more are set before us to remove the sting of death from our thinking. They teach that whether a Believer's death is sudden, violent, prolonged, difficult or peaceful, he or she has, "FALLEN ASLEEP IN JESUS!" This person has not experienced a horrible thing, but rather, that which is appointed by our all wise Father. The death of a Christian is spoken of in terms meant to encourage and bless.
The phrase, "Falling asleep in Jesus," might be enough to comfort us, but hear these beautiful texts as well.
(Psa 116:15 NASB) "Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones."
(Luke 16:22 NASB) "Now it came about that the poor man died and he was CARRIED AWAY BY THE ANGELS TO ABRAHAM'S BOSOM; (The souls of those who have fallen asleep in Jesus are immediately in the presence of God) and the rich man also died and was buried." (See the context to discover that this man's soul went to hell)
2 Cor 5:6-9 NASB) "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- {7} for we walk by faith, not by sight-- {8} WE ARE OF GOOD COURAGE, I SAY, AND PREFER RATHER TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE AT HOME WITH THE LORD. There is no such thing as, "soul sleeping." The body goes to the grave, the soul to it's appointed place. To heaven or to torment, depending on ones disposition toward Christ.
(Luke 23:43 NASB) "And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, TODAY you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Paradise now refers to Heaven)
(John 14:1-3 NASB) "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; (mansions) if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. {3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO." (Phil 1:19-21 NASB) "For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, {20} according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, CHRIST SHALL EVEN NOW, AS ALWAYS, BE EXALTED IN MY BODY, WHETHER BY LIFE OR BY DEATH. {21} For to me, to live is Christ, and TO DIE IS GAIN."
Death is gain in that it takes us into the very presence of God. It is gain in that it removes us from whatever suffering brought us to the place of death. Death is gain in that it sets our care givers free of much hard labor and concern over us. To die is gain in that it removes us from all the effects of the curse. We will no longer be tempted to sin from within or without, we will at last be free from the presence of sin. Death for the believer is gain in that it leads to the promised resurrection, pictured so well in the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
The resurrection of Lazarus showed forth God's power over death and the grave. It proved that the bodies of saints do indeed just sleep for a while, till God, by Christ sounds that resurrection trumpet. Jesus gave the command, "Lazarus Come Forth!" In that second he was given life. The corruption left his body, his lungs filled with air, his mind came back on line, his muscles began to function. By the command of Christ this man rose to walk out of his tomb. So it shall be for all who fall asleep in Jesus.
(1 Th 4:13-18 NASB) "But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, about those who are ASLEEP, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. (the Christian is not to grieve like the unbeliever) {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have FALLEN ASLEEP IN JESUS. (here is clear evidence that the soul goes to be with the Lord at the moment of death, "He will bring them with Him when He returns) {15} For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have FALLEN ASLEEP. {16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead IN CHRIST shall rise first. {17} Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up TOGETHER WITH THEM in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. {18} "THEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS."