Trey H. Little

Sermon Text:  John 11: 17-44

June 26, 2011

Albany, Texas

“Can You Believe It?”

Open your Bibles to John 11.  Today we will hear the 7^th “I Am” statement of Jesus.  However, I think it is important that we get the full context of the story so I want to read a bit more text this morning.  Briefly let me bring you up to speed—a man named Lazarus was sick—so much so he literally was on his death bed. Lazarus had two sisters—Mary and Martha—and they were from Bethany and were all close friends with Jesus. 

The sisters sent word to Jesus of Lazarus’ terminal condition—hoping their “miracle worker” friend would drop everything and come right away to take care of their brother.  However, Jesus stayed where He was—in fact; He stayed there an additional two days.

Lazarus died.

But then Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

We pick the story up here.

            The headline on the front of Monday’s USAToday SPORTS section read, “One for the books, One for the ages.”  The story was about the 22 year-old golfing phenom named Rory McIlroy. The 5 foot 9 inch, 160 pound golfer from Northern Ireland broke countless records at the 111^th U.S. Open.  When it was all said and done he beat the rest of the field by 8 shots. 

            His fellow competitors said things like, “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen.”  “He’s a future No. 1 without a doubt.  He can really change history again.”  People were, and still are, in awe by McIlroy’s exhibition over four days at Congressional.  Of course, being a golf fan as I am, I was caught up in the excitement, even if I wasn’t there.

            However, what really struck me was what a couple of the golf announcers said during the telecast on Sunday.  As McIlroy was standing on the tenth tee the camera scanned over the crowds.  There were literally thousands of people—they were stacked in together like a bunch of toothpicks in a box.  One of the announcers said, “Can you believe it?”  And then another announcer chimed in with, “That is the thing about people—they love witnessing greatness” (Mark Rolfing).

             Now, you may not know McIlroy from McDonalds.  You may not know a tee from a green or a birdie from a bogey.  But we all have a desire to witness greatness.

            And I think it was this desire that was interwoven in our sermon text today.  Look at verse 21—Martha said to Jesus:  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  Later, in verse 32, Mary echoed the same desire.  And in between, Jesus spoke these words of comfort:  “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  And then He asks, “Do you believe this?”

            Can you believe it?

            Could there ever be a greater display of greatness than to conquer death?

            Jesus promises to be the One who can, did, and will forever display His greatness.

But here is what strikes me in this story.  It is back to what Martha said to Jesus.  Did you catch it?  In the midst of her deep grief over the loss of her beloved brother.  Even in the midst of what surely was disappointment in the Lord that He had not seemingly “been there” in her time of need.  In the midst of what quite possibly could have been her lowest moment—Martha was still able to open the door of faith wider than she could have ever anticipated.  She said, “even now.”  From the depth of her loss and sorrow she clung in faith to Jesus.  “But I know that even now…” 

Friends, I wonder, could this be an “even now” moment?

Could this be a time that we would love to witness greatness?

I love the story about three friends who were discussing death and one of them asked:  “What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?”  The first of the friends said:  “I would like them to say, ‘He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community.’”  The second said, “I would like them to say, ‘He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow.’”  The third friend said, I would like them to say, ‘Look, he’s moving!!’” (Brett Blair)

Jesus had compassion for Mary and Martha.  Verse 33 says that Jesus “was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”  So much so, “Jesus wept.”  Now, I don’t know exactly why “Jesus wept.”  And quite frankly, the reason “why” He wept is not what matters—the fact that He “wept” does matter.  It matters because we can always know that we have a Lord who cares.  We serve a God with emotions, not one that simply goes through the motions.  We embrace a Lord and Savior who desperately desires to embrace us. 

So let me ask you:  could it be that “even now” we need to be reminded that Jesus is the giver of life?  Could it be that even now we need to LIVE like we are alive and not as if we were dying?  Could it be that even now we need to BELIEVE in Him and His greatness and not doubt in the midst of our weakness?  Could it be that even now we need to TRUST that when our emotions are volatile Jesus can calm the storm?

Can you believe it?

Jesus—again, deeply moved—made His way to the tomb of Lazarus.  After He asked for the stone in front of the entrance to be removed, Martha stepped in and said:  “But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 

Jesus responded, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Can you believe it?

Then, after a prayer, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  And guess what?  “The dead man came out!!”  And Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

All those around WITNESSED the GREATNESS of Jesus.  In fact, according to the Scripture, “Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.”  Can you believe it?

Friends, we have witnessed the greatness of Jesus right here in Albany.  We have seen Him bring this congregation to life.  We have seen Him transform lives.  Even now on June 26, 2011—He is doing great things—take off the grave clothes and let’s go!!!

But here is the challenge—can you believe it? 

Can you believe that He will continue to be the RESURRECTION and the LIFE for you and MMPC?  Can you believe that He is not finished with you yet?  Can you believe that He wants you to COME OUT of whatever tomb you may be in and LIVE for Him?  Can you believe He wants you to GO out into this community and this world and show people that you are not a dead-man walking but you are one who lives and believes in the greatness of Jesus Christ?

I think I have shared this with you before, but it kept coming into my mind this week.  Chris Tomlin has a song called “God of this City.”  The lyrics go like this:  “You’re the God of this City; You’re the King of these people; You’re the Lord of this nation; You’re the Light in this darkness; you’re the Hope to the hopeless; You’re the Peace to the restless.  For greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city.”

Friends, I am convinced there is no one like our God.

I am convinced that deep down inside we love to witness greatness!

I am convinced that GREATER things are still to be done in this city.

Can you believe it?

Let me ask you one more question:  What do you want people to say about MMPC? 

I will tell you what I want them to say, “Look, they’re moving!” 

AMEN.