Skip to content Raised to Tell: Lazarus' Story and Our Spiritual Renewal in John 12 Aug 18 · 14 min ...more
Raised to Tell: Lazarus' Story and Our Spiritual Renewal in John 12
August 18, 2025 · 14 min
Discover the significance of Lazarus' testimony and how our own rebirth in Christ echoes his story.
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Faith in Action: Confession and Boldness 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to stand on the word as we turn to John chapter 12. Is silent faith really faith? I'm gonna answer that question, so stick with me all the way to the end. Verse 42. Nevertheless,0:22 even among the rulers, many believed in him. But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Jesus ended his public ministry after the0:33 raising of Lazarus from the dead, a miracle that is only recorded here in the gospel according to John. So So here's what we have in chapter 12. Number 1, we have Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointing the feet0:45 of Jesus with costly oil. Then we have Lazarus whose testimony of being raised from the dead drew people to Jesus, and he became a target himself of the Jewish leaders. Then we have Jesus'0:57 triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then we have God the father affirming the son for the third time. Let's begin verse 1. Then 6 days before the the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany1:09 where Lazarus, who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was 1 of those who sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly1:21 oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Now this was1:32 recorded in the gospel of Matthew, but Mary was not named by Matthew. It is from John's account that we know who, it was that, anointed the feet of Jesus and1:44 wiped, his feet with her hair. We also know, from John's account who objected to it and why. Look at verse 4. But 1 of his disciples, Judas Iscariot,1:56 Simon's son, who would betray him, said, why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? This he said not because he cared for the poor, but2:08 because he was a thief and had the money box, and he used to take what was put in it. The 300 denarii was about a year's wages. That was a lot of money. Shortly2:20 after this, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, which was about a month's wage. Let me think about that for a moment. 1 gave away a year's wage in the worship of2:31 Jesus while the other walked away from Jesus for that for for a twelfth of that amount, a month's worth. And and by the way, it's interesting. The the poor often used2:43 for a smokescreen for those who are greedy themselves and want to take. Something to think about as well. Verse 9. Now a great many of the Jews knew2:55 that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priest plotted to put Lazarus3:07 to death also because on account of him, many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. So Lazarus, who had a story to tell, was now a target as well. He had a story to3:19 tell of the power and grace of God. And guess what? There are people who didn't like it because it glorified God and brought more people to Jesus. You know, spiritually, if you've3:31 accepted the lord Jesus Christ as your savior, you're like Lazarus. Alright? You've been raised from the dead, from the spiritual death, and and you've got a story to tell.3:43 And the world, frankly, is not gonna like it. But Jesus warned us in John chapter 15 and 16 that hatred by association was coming. We must3:54 remember that it's not about us, but it is the because of the presence and the power of God that is in us. As Peter wrote in first Peter chapter 4 verse 14, if you are4:06 reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the spirit of glory and of God rest upon you. On their part, he is blasphemed, but on your part, he4:18 is glorified. I mean, that's powerful. I mean, it is the spirit of God resting upon us that raises the ire of those who have set themselves against God. So he says, blessed are you.4:30 And Jesus says, rejoice. But make sure it is the spirit of God that, is causing the the friction and not we ourselves. And that's why we have to abide in Christ and,4:42 and be led by the spirit. Alright. Look, alright. In verses, 12 through 19, we have the triumphal entry or what we call Baham Sunday. We've looked at that before. Look at the last verse of this account. Verse 19.4:54 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, you see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look. The world has gone after him. Alright. So they they they haven't stopped him. The world, they say, is going5:07 after him. What a contrast to John the Baptist. Remember? In, in John 3, he rejoiced that the people were moving away from him to Jesus. But here we5:19 have the Pharisees feeling they're losing power over the people because the people are gravitating toward Jesus. Verse 23. But Jesus answered them saying,5:31 the hour has come that the son of man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much5:43 grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Now the kingdom of God, we've seen this before. It is counter to5:55 the fallen nature of man. To gain life, we give it up. When we pursue anything other the other than the kingdom of God and his righteousness, guess what? It becomes elusive. We'll we'll never catch it. It'll never be6:06 enough. It'll never satisfy. Life becomes like a like a treadmill. It it it will run as fast as you want, but want, but you're not gonna get anywhere. But yet when we give our life up to6:18 Christ, he fills us. He satisfies us. He gives us life abundantly. Verse 26. If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there6:30 my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my father will honor. Now notice this real lasting honor comes from the father.6:42 Verse 27. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven saying, I6:54 have both glorified it and will glorify it again. Our god given purpose keeps us focused even in the midst of great difficulty7:06 and challenges we see here with Jesus. And and what is that purpose? Jesus makes it very clear to glorify God. Jesus now gives a a preview of what is about to happen7:18 at the cross, which is the most significant point in human history, in all of human history, the cross. Verse 31, now is the judgment of this world.7:30 Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself. This he said signifying7:42 by what death he would die. Satan's grip on the world would be broken at the cross as death and the grave were defeated by Jesus' atoning death and his resurrection.7:54 Verse 36. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light. These things Jesus spoke and departed and was hidden from them. But although he had done so8:06 many signs before them, they did not believe in him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore,8:18 they could not believe because Isaiah said again, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn8:30 so that I should heal them. These things Isaiah said when he saw his glory and spoke of him. You know, we've discussed this before. If we refuse to see,8:42 eventually, we cannot see. And if we refuse to hear, eventually, eventually, we cannot hear. That is what Paul wrote in second Corinthians. He he said, you know, now is the day of8:54 salvation. Behold, today is the day of salvation. Don't wait until tomorrow because if we continue to push it off, if we refuse to hear, to correct, to repent, to obey,9:06 eventually, we won't be able to hear. We won't be able to see. Verse 42. Nevertheless, even among the rulers, many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should9:18 be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Wow. What an indictment. They wanted the9:29 praise, the temporal praise of men rather than the eternal approval of God. Now there was, there was there were9:41 some among these Jewish Jewish rulers whose eyes had been opened. They could see that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. In fact, some of them came to him under the cover of darkness. We read that about9:53 Nicodemus. But they were afraid to openly follow Jesus out of fear of being rejected by their peers. You know what? Nothing has changed in the nature of human beings.10:05 There there there's so much right here for us to, to expound upon. But first, let me say this. While these religious leaders were under Roman authority, they were they were more than spiritual leaders.10:17 They were political figures for the Jewish people. And public policy that they basically set had a shaping influence on the culture as we read here. If pub public prayer10:29 in schools or other other public spaces is illegal, guess what happens? Fewer people will pray. Faith will be marginalized. That's why why we need to be vigilant and,10:42 you know, we we need to ensure the freedom of religion. We've gotta be watching. We've gotta be engaged. We gotta pray, vote, and stand for these truths. But there's also a personal side here.10:54 Is silent faith really faith? Jesus said they were sacrificing true acceptance from God because of a11:05 desire to be accepted by man. In in Romans chapter 10 verse 9, Paul writes this. He says, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead,11:17 you will be saved. So there's a belief we believe, but we also confess. Remember what Jesus said over Matthew chapter 10 verse 32. Therefore, ever who whoever confesses me before men,11:29 him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my father who is in heaven. Silent faith11:42 is not faith. Now some of them did eventually confess Jesus, but what if 1 of them had openly confessed Jesus sooner? Would others have followed? I think11:53 so because courage breeds courage. To follow Jesus, we must be bold. It's not just about what we hide in our heart. It is what we live out in our lives. It is what we confess12:06 as well. Stop for a moment and honestly think about this question I'm I'm going to ask you. Which do you desire more, The praise of man or the praise of12:18 god? Let me ask it this way. Which are you living for? Are you living for the praise and acceptance of god or the praise and acceptance of man?12:31 Father, we thank you for your word, and, what a, challenging word this is today. And I do pray that we would not only believe, but we would confess, And we would we12:43 would confess it in such a way that others would see it. And, lord, that our boldness would be contagious, that others would follow as a result. Lord, may we not be silent about what you12:55 have imparted to us through your word and through the holy spirit. May we believe and may we confess that Jesus is lord. For it's in his name we pray. Amen.13:07 Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. And until next time, keep standing on the word.13:15 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:27 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Faith in Action: Confession and Boldness
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