The resurrection of Lazarus demonstrates Jesus' divine power and his identity as the resurrection and the life. The sermon traces Jesus' deliberate delay in responding to the news of Lazarus's illness, emphasizing that this was for God's glory and to reveal Jesus' sovereign authority. Key to the message is Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," offering eternal life to all who believe in him, regardless of their physical state. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to respond quickly to Jesus' invitation, as their eternal destiny depends on this choice.
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After being involved for many years in the Lord's work, there's something I still can get used to, and that's to say goodbye. This is our final night with you, and before I pass on my message, I'd like to thank you for your kindness and hospitality to my dear wife and my mother and I. We've given this a tremendous week here, and we're sure grateful for the Lord's kindness and for your hospitality. And I would seek to thank also those who have made a contribution in the organ, in the piano, and the special numbers that have been given to us this past week. I omitted this morning to thank especially our sister Joy and sister Sally for their wonderful contribution this morning.
It truly was a tremendous thing to hear that wonderful. In fact, it was a new number to me, and I really enjoyed it immensely. So we thank Sally and also Joy for participating this morning. Well, the Lord has given us truly a great day. We've touched the young and we've touched the old and everything in between. This morning at the family Bible hour, a lad of ten years of age, his name is Mike, and he wanted to get saved. Well, I said, Mike, why do you want to get saved, son? Well, he says, I don't want to go to hell. Well, that's a good reason to get saved. And then with the joy of Seeing our beloved brother here, going down into the waters of baptism.
At the end of the meeting, little Deidre, who has been the subject of much prayer this past week, she trusted the Lord over in the office. And it's one of those occasions when you would like to have a sanctified camera and a sanctified tape recorder in your pocket to recall these prayers and expression of appreciation to the Lord for the salvation of the soul. And so that cute little thing this afternoon just bowed her head, asked the Lord to forgive her of her sins and to give her everlasting life and to take over her life. So we're thankful for what the Lord has done. We certainly have been rejoicing here. And just as she accepted the Lord this afternoon, the telephone rang, and it was one of our friends from the Bahamas, the governor's daughter, just checking on me to see if I'm behaving.
And I was able to tell her about little Debraid getting saved. So the news went back to the Bahamas immediately. And they are rejoicing down there. But they are rejoicing also in heaven. The scripture says when a soul is saying there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels. Not among the angels. But angels will rejoice. But rejoicing in the presence of the angels. And so the father... He rejoices. In Zephaniah we read those words. He will save and he will rejoice over you with singing. So God was singing this afternoon. And the Lord Jesus Christ sees at the trial will of his soul.
And he is satisfied. But I believe the Christians in heaven know also what is going on. They are fully active. And as the Apostle said, having a desire to depart to be with Christ. is far better. Conscious existence in heaven, they know what's going on. And I'm sure our beloved brother, Robert Willie, and the saints who have met here in this place are rejoicing today. What has gone on down here in Keystone Heights. So we're thankful for the family of God and for the communication we have between heaven and earth. And so I'm thankful that two years ago, he booked me for this weekend, and it's certainly, rather this week and this weekend, and it certainly has been very, very precious to my wife and to my dear mother and myself.
Many thanks. Now shall we turn, please, again to the Gospel by John. The twelfth chapter, or rather the eleventh chapter of the Gospel by John. And just to conclude where we left off on Friday evening, Let's look at a few verses in chapter ten. Verse thirty-nine, therefore they sought again to take him, but he escaped out of their hand. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized, and there he abode.
And many resorted unto him and said, John did no miracle, but all things that John spoke of this man were true, and many believed on him there. Now a certain man was sick named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary, and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore his sister sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. Now please over to verse twenty-five. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, ye though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She said unto him, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
And when she had so said, she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The master is come, and calleth her thee. As soon as she heard it, she arose quickly, and came unto him. And down to verse forty, Jesus said unto her, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laying. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always. And because of the people which stand by, I said it.
that they might believe that they were sent me. And when he had thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed, on him. The Lord again will bless to us this lovely section of his holy work. We have been discussing the signs in John's Gospel. Remember the first sign we saw that the Lord's compound title could be drawn alongside the sign at the marriage in Cana of Galilee when the Lord turned the water into one.
And we called the Lord's title there to bear Jehovah Shema. The Lord is there. In the second miracle, again at Cana of Galilee, the healing of the nobleman's son. That title, Jehovah Ravika, I am the God that healeth, was brought to bear in that study. And then we saw the third sign, which was at the pool of Bethesda, in the city of Jerusalem by the sheep gate, when the man who had been there for thirty-eight years was made whole. Jehovah said, Can you? Said, Go and sin no more. Then in chapter six we group two signs, the fourth and the fifth sign, Jehovah Jireh the Lord will provide as he fed the five thousand.
And then as he walked on the water and comforted the disturbed hearts of the disciples, Jehovah Shalom, the Lord sent peace. And then on Friday evening we went to chapter nine and saw the Lord there as Jehovah, O I, the Lord is my shepherd. Where he healed the man who was blind, And it was a double miracle, his physical sight was restored, and the Lord gave him spiritual sight. Now here in chapter eleven, we have the seventh sign, and in chapter twenty-one, we won't have time to look into it, there we have the eighth and the final sign of the eight signs in John's Gospel. Here we have the Lord presented to us, and Jehovah Helion, the Lord Most High.
We close somewhat hurriedly in chapter ten concerning the good shepherd. We saw the shepherd described and then the shepherd's discourse. But here in verse thirty nine we have the shepherd's departure. Therefore they sought again to take him and he escaped out of their head. And then the shepherd's destination was at Jordan, when and went away again. beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized, and there he abode. This was the shepherd's destination. So in chapters nine and ten, we have the Lord as the shepherd.
But here, friend, in chapter eleven, Jehovah Gileon, we see him as the sovereign, the sovereign Lord. Now in the Song of Solomon, chapter one, these two titles of the Lord are brought before us. We see him there as the sovereign. The king has brought me to his chambers. We also see him there as the shepherd. Tell me, O thou whom I so love it, where thou feedest, and where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon. But why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? So you see the Holy Spirit here brings these two titles, the shepherd and the sovereign, together in chapters ten and chapter eleven.
Now the shepherd's destination is very, very interesting in chapter ten. It was where John baptized at the River Jordan. There we remind the friend that that was the place of recognition. These disciples acquired a refresher course and so the Lord took them to the most opportune place which was the place of baptism. Now this afternoon we were right there at the place of baptism. And it was a refresher course for us, the people of God. It was a place where the Lord's recognition was fully made known. You remember as he came up out of those waters of baptism, God said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I find all my delight.
To the disciples, it was a refresher course that this was God's beloved Son, who was being hounded and hunted. by these wicked Pharisees and scribes, a place of recognition. But also to them it was a place of repose. When the Lord came up out of those waters, you remember the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a dove-like shape and resting upon the person of the Lord Jesus. He was the only one who could retain and hinder the full energy and supply of the Spirit of God. There are those men and women in the Bible who have been filled with the Spirit.
But the Lord Jesus was always full of the Spirit. And the Holy Spirit in complacency rested upon the Lord Jesus. The place of recognition and the place of repose. But these disciples also at this destination were reminded also that it was a place of renunciation. Right there on the banks of the Jordan, John said, After me, come as a man whose prefer before me, the lecture of whose shoes I am not worthy to enlist. He must increase, and I must decrease. And if you and I are going to be a success in the work of the Lord, we have to take the lowly flesh.
All of God's great men and women, honorable women in the scriptures, they took the lowly flesh. Even the one who brought the Savior into the world, it is my soul that magnify the Lord. My spirit doth rejoice in God my Savior, and she called herself the Handmaid of the Lord. The last picture you have of Mary is at a prayer meeting in the upper room. And there she goes out as she came in, dependent upon God, the handmaid of the Lord. We must learn lessons of humility before we can make any progress in the things of the Lord.
The place of renunciation. But it was also the place of evaluation. Because John said, or rather the Lord said, and many resorted unto him and said, John did no miracle, but all things that John said of this man were true. John never multiplied the bread and fed the hungry like the Lord Jesus. He never touched the leper. He never raised the dead. He never spake with tongues. John did no miracle, but all things that John said of this man were true. John's ministry covers a period of about eleven months and he did more in those eleven months than all of us together could do in eleven years.
And he speaks so well about the Lord Jesus. It was a place of evaluation that what John said about Christ, behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world, that John was telling the truth and the Lord sought to vindicate that at the place of baptism. but not only was it a place of recognition and a place of repose and a place of renunciation and a place of evaluation but thank God it was a place of regeneration souls were saved when the Lord stayed those two extra days right there at the place of baptism and many believed on him there so this was a wonderful refresher course for these disciples.
And so the shepherd, he reached his destination at the place of baptism. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it, when souls believe. And we're just rejoicing this afternoon, you know, when Paul was in Mars Hill and gave that great address, it says, Some mocked, and some said, We will hear thee again. But the scripture says, Some believe. And among them was Dionysius, the Areopagite. He was a man. and a woman called the Marins. And the law was kind to us today. We've got a male and a female, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. But that has only given us an appetite for more tonight. And so we find the shepherd reaches the destination.
But then going into chapter eleven, we have the sovereign's decision. Secondly, we have the sovereign's definition. And thirdly, we have the sovereign's deliberation. What was the sovereign's decision in verse seven upon hearing that Lazarus was sick? He decided to stay two more days at the place of baptism where John had baptized. Why did the Lord purposely delay either thought he would have reacted immediately to the appeal of his friends? But that delay was for the glory of God. but then verse seven produced an enigma to these disciples the Lord said let us go into Judea again he was the sovereign's decision the Lord was always moving within the framework of the will of God he was always controlled by the Spirit of God and so as a man he sought to do the Father's will and again he's guided by the Spirit the time has come Let us go into Judea again.
And of course this was a problem to the disciples. And so the Lord gave a definition in verse nine. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man work in the day he stumbles not, because he seeeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night he stumbles because there is no light in him. These things said he, and after that he said unto them, Our friend, Lazarus sleeping. The Lord's definition, the sovereign's definition here is this. To walk in the night without him is a walk of fear. I repeat, to walk in the night without him is a walk of fear.
But to walk in the day in the light with him is a walk of faith. Thank God For those who have travelled this pathway of faith. And have come to the Lord Jesus. Seeking him as a personal saviour. Much can be said about this. But I want to dwell a little more on the sovereign's deliberations. He was working through a plan. And finally. Master comes. And she tells the Lord Jesus. That Lord. If thou hads been here. My brother. Had not died. Now the Lord Jesus loved that home in Bethany.
He loved Lazarus and Martha and Mary. But you remember again that the delay was for the glory of God. And Jesus said, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection of the day. Jesus said unto him, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this. The law is telling us here about the Old Testament saints I believe and the New Testament saints.
I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me, though he were dead. The dead in Christ. Yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this. This is a reference to those who are alive and remain. The apostle develops this as he wrote to the Thessalonians. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first. And we which are alive and remain. shall be caught up together in the clans to meet the Lord in the air.
So shall we ever be with the Lord. So whether we be asleep or alive, we shall hear the call of Christ. Rise up and come away. This was good news to Mary, to Martha, and then she went to see her sister. And she says, the master is come, and call it for thee. As soon as she heard it, she arose quickly and came to him. This is a lovely little gospel section of the world. The master is come, the coming of Christ. And calleth for thee.
That's the invitation of Christ. As soon as she heard that, that's the message of Christ. She arose. and came quickly. That is response to Christ. The Master is cut. The whole of the Old Testament is pervaded with things relative to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. And it was a happy day when the Master came to Bethany. And it was a happy day when the Lord came to this chapel and saved two precious souls. The Master Now the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ right here in chapter eleven was first of all for the vindication of the goodness of God.
You see there was a man who was dead but the Lord miraculously brought him to life. So the Lord's coming was for the vindication of the goodness of God. Death gives place to life. Now the Lord came to the planet earth for that purpose because if you're not saved God says you're dead. Dead in trespasses and in sins. But it's possible to have life through Christ. This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou art sent. He brings eternal life with him.
Verily I see unto you, says John. He that hears my word, I believe it in him that sent me half everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is fast from death unto life. So it's possible, friend, to be the recipient of everlasting life. Moreover, In that home circle in Bethany, there was sadness. Lazarus was dead. But thank God the coming of Christ brought gladness. Sadness comes in because of sin.
But gladness comes in because of salvation. You remember when the shepherds were on the fields of Bethlehem. The angel said, Fear not. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. So you see friend, sin brings in sadness, but thank God Christ brings in gladness. And his coming was for the goodness of God because in that home there was fear, fear of death.
but the Lord in his kindness injected peace. I might have told this story before, but it's always a favourite of mine. And a very dear friend in the north of Ireland, his name was Hawthorne Bailey, and he had a granddaughter, just five or six years of age, and he sure adored that little granddaughter. His son was a parliamentarian in the government of Lord Brookborough, and Lord Brookborough one day put on a special banquet, for the parliamentarians, their wives and children. So running around in this bedwining house was the granddaughter of our friend, cute little girl of five or six years of age. Lord Brookborough saw her, was attracted and he pulled her onto his knees.
He said to her, my dear, can you sing? Oh yes, she said, I can sing. So he asked for quietness, and she began to sing at the top of her voice, you'll never know peace, real peace, until you know Jesus. Everybody was thrilled. Lord Brookborough again asked if she could sing the number again. And she sang, You'll never know peace, real peace, until you know Jesus. Do you have that peace, friend? The peace which passes all understanding. The peace that can garrison the heart and the mind. So the coming of the Lord to Bethany and to peace don't hide is for the vindication of the goodness of God.
The coming of the Lord was also for the manifestation of the love of God. These Jews, these Hebrews, when they saw the Savior weep, just like the Lord, he weeps with those that sorrow and tears coursing down his cheeks. They said, Oh, how he loved him. They knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had a special love For Lazarus, oh how he loved him. My dear friend, I must remind you tonight that the Lord loves you. If you don't remember any other thing of what I have said tonight, let me say again that the Lord loves you.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God loves you. God's love is incomparable. He loves the unlovable. It is incomprehensible. It is irreputable. And it is irrepressible. There is nothing like it. The love of God. That has been made manifest to us in the person of his beloved Son. So the coming of the Lord was for the vindication of the goodness of God. And for the manifestation of the love of God.
But also we saw in verse forty that it was for the revelation of the glory of God. I never ceased to marvel at the conversion of a soul. And God was glorified in this place today. Because Paul says God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And think of the great God whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, was glorified in the salvation of a boy and a girl and in the obedience of our beloved brother as he went into the waters of baptism.
God was glorified in our midst today and we thank him for it. He deserved all the glory that is available to him. And also that coming was for the revelation of the glory of God. And so the Master is come. That was the coming of Christ. And calleth for thee. That was the invitation of Christ. I think it's a marvel that the Lord should invite us, call us to His wonderful family, the family of God. If we had received the due reward of our deeds, if God had dealt with us the way He could, then we would have been in a lost eternity for ever and ever.
He might have withdrawn himself when Adam sinned behind the portals of glory and accept the obeisance of angels for eternal years and left us in our misery. But he saw us ruined in the fall, yet loved us notwithstanding all. He can save us from our lost estate, his loving kindness, Oh, how great. And so he calls us as individuals. That's predominant in John's gospel. He called Nicodemus. The woman in chapter four. The man with the pool of Bethesda, the blind man and friend. He's an interest in you as an individual.
That makes the gospel story so precious. And so the Lord says to you tonight, come. first time the word come was ever used, it was used by God. He said to Noah and to his family, Come, thou and all thy house into the ark. There was destruction round the corner that God made provision in the ark. My dear friend, there's destruction coming upon this godless world. It's ready to explode. But thank God there is an ark. There is a refuge. And that is the person of the Lord Jesus. And tonight God addresses you personally.
And he says that you tonight come. Have you come? The Master has come. And call it for thee. And the last time we have the word come used is in the Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit says God. The Holy Spirit is in this gathering tonight. The Sovereign Spirit sent to them. Holy Spirit. And He's probing the hearts. And He's calling tonight to you if you're not saved. And He says come. And the bride of Christ says come in the same chapter. Those of us who are saved in this gathering would just want to see our loved one saved.
And our friends. And our neighbors. Time is running up. I have a brother-in-law in Rochester, New York. My mother stayed with him. He's a very, very kind gentleman. Always courteous. But he's not saved. We would do anything to see him saved. So tonight the bride says come. Every Christian that's born again wants you to come tonight. And you're not saved. Right in the middle of her Bible, the Lord says, come unto me, O he that labor under heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Have you come? The Master has come and calleth for thee. Jan Snadden, well known to all here, was a prisoner of war with a dear friend of ours, captured in Singapore. And Dan, my friend, told us of the awful hardships they went through as they constructed the railroad from Bangkok to the coast. And there was a Maori officer who was now skin and bone, body emaciated, malaria, dysentery, and the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers. And they were dropping like flies.
And Dan stood, and he addressed each man, the master is coming. and call it for thee. One Maori, tall man now skin and bone, he said to Brother Dan Snodden, does it mean me? Dan said he mean down to the body. He says, tell him I'm coming and he dropped down dead. The master has come and called it for thee. That man will be in heaven because he responded to the invitation. And the Lord says, call upon me. And the Lord says, Come unto me. And the Lord says, Look unto me.
And that will guarantee you a place in heaven. Salvation comes through a very simple channel. Simple to us. But of tremendous magnitude to God. For it costs God everything. To lay the plan of salvation. And all it costs us is faith. In the Lord Jesus Christ. The Master has come. The coming of Christ and calling for thee the invitation of Christ. And as soon as she heard that, that was the message of Christ. There was nothing more precious, more sweet to the one who was at home, no doubt, some were annoyed that the Lord had not come and prevented the death of her brother.
But oh, that was sweet news to her. The master has come and called it for thee. And as soon as you heard that message, oh friend, what a wonderful message is the message of Christ. It's twofold. There's a heaven to gain, and there's a hell to shun. The Lord always presents the balance. He spoke more about hell than he ever spoke about heaven, because it's love that warns the sinner to flee from the wrath to come. So the message tonight is very clear. The Lord says, Come unto me.
But if you reject him, then he will say to you, When that door is shut, Depart from me, I never do. Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. But then there will be a response, and they will pound on that door, Lord, Lord. Oh, they can use religious propriety. They can address him as Lord. He said, I never knew you. But, Lord, we ate and we drank in thy presence. We partook of the communion. The sacraments, Lord. He said, I never knew you. Religious participation. And, Lord, you taught in our streets.
Lord, I can quote John three, sixteen. I never knew you. Because they were not changed on earth. Their names were not written in heaven. They were unknown in heaven. They were unwanted by Christ because they were unchanged on earth. So the message tonight is come, but very soon the word will be depart. And she came quickly. That was the response to Christ. She came quickly. It would be wonderful tonight if you are not in God's family, if you're not really sure about being born again, to respond like this lady, and she came quickly.
Quick response to the appeal of Christ. This could be the final night that the Word of God will be preached in this place. It's the final message of these wonderful conference, a week that you've had, but it could also be the final message If we believe in God's word and we do, then the Lord says, very soon he's coming back again. All conditions around us reveal to us that the Lord's coming is very, very near. And tonight he might shut that door and then for you it shall be too late.
And then of course the Lord went on to raise Lazarus from the dead. And he restored him to his family. And in chapter twelve they made him a supper. And the Lord sat down and dined with them in beautiful Bethany. But always I conclude friend. I appeal to you again tonight. To respond to the Lord Jesus Christ. And to his invitation. Because tomorrow might be true life. The poet says. Dear ones will weep all my silent face, loved ones will class me in sudden grace, darkness and shudder will fill the place.
Five minutes after I die, quickly the years of my life have flown, gathering treasure I thought my own. Now I must reap the seed I have sown. Five minutes after I die, not to replace the good I lack, Fixed to the goal of my chosen track. No time to repent. No turning back. Five minutes after I die. Fool that I am. Hard word yet true. Passing the Savior with death in view. Doing a deed I can never undo. Five minutes after I die.
If I am flinging a fortune away. If I am spurning salvation's day, just as a verdict, my soul will say, Five minutes after I die, the Lord help you to choose. Your eternal state depends on your choice. You must not win. For it will be too late. Five minutes after you die. May the Lord help you then to respond to his invitation. If you have not saved and put your trust in the Lord Jesus. If I can be of any help to any of you after this meeting, in any way at all, you feel free to talk to me. I am here to help you as a servant of the Lord.
Shall we pray? Our Father we thank thee for giving us this wonderful week with our dear children here at Keystone Heights at Park of the Palms. Our Father we are so thankful that thou and I kindness has given to us the sacred Scripture And we thank thee again for the gospel of the glory of the Blessed God that has reached down to our hearts and brought us to the Savior. We thank thee for what has been done today. But, Lord, again, we are concerned about other friends who might be still in the danger zone. Do bring them to thyself, we pray, as we ask it in its precious name.