Take Away the Stone

Let's turn again for a little to the chapter we read in John chapter 11.

John 11 · chapter mention

And we can read that from verse 38 where it says,

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb.

It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

Jesus said, Take away the stone.

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him,

Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days.

This is probably one of the best-known chapters in the New Testament,

and I'm sure everybody has heard many a sermon on this

because it is so full of instruction, so full of meaning.

It is really quite a remarkable chapter,

and it highlights very much the care and the compassion of Christ,

the authority, the power of Christ.

It highlights his humanness, highlights his godness.

And the chapter is full of instructions for us.

And we see the delay of Christ responding to the news that Lazarus was very ill,

and this was a family that he loves.

And it teaches us that the delays of Christ in answering doesn't mean that he's not hearing us.

You know, sometimes when we pray and it appears that the Lord isn't hearing,

there's no answer to our prayer.

We're liable to think, God's not listening.

God's not hearing.

Well, this chapter shows us very clearly that the Lord was fully aware.

The Lord was responding.

But what we've got to learn is that at the end of the day,

God will always work things for his own glory.

And that's a problem for us because we expect things to,

when we bring a matter before the Lord,

we have worked out in our own mind how we want it to work out.

And the Lord might have a completely different purpose and a different plan

because his plan and his way is for his glory.

And while we very glibly say that we want to live to the glory of God,

doing that actually can be really challenging and really difficult.

And that's where faith has to come into exercise.

Because if we're suitably exercised by faith,

and our faith is fixed constantly upon Christ,

then we will be seeking the glory of God,

and we will understand something of the delays

and something of the cross providences that appear to come our way.

Also, it shows us here that we're not always ready

for the way that the Lord will work

because we find Martha in verse 22 saying,

I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.

So that's Martha saying to Jesus, whatever.

I know, Jesus, whatever you ask.

But the thing is, Martha wasn't ready for the whatever.

Because when Jesus asks them to take away the stone,

Martha's horrified.

And Martha's basically saying, you can't do that.

No, Lord, not that.

And I'm sure we've been there as well.

Because there have been times we've said,

maybe not audibly, but in our hearts,

we're saying, Lord, what are you doing?

Lord, not this.

And that shows us that we're not alone.

Here's this good woman.

And she's saying, I know, whatever.

But when Jesus begins to tell whatever means,

she's saying, no, not that.

And again, we see that the sisters make the same mistake.

Both Mary and Martha believe that if Jesus had been present,

that Lazarus would not have died.

They both think that.

And again, sometimes we make the mistake

when losses and pains and difficulties come into our life,

that it's a sign that the Lord isn't with us.

That is not the case.

The Lord had a purpose in allowing Lazarus to die,

as is very obvious here.

But sometimes we make the mistake of thinking

that the Lord isn't there.

Well, we've always got to remember

that the way that God works is

that he has to try us.

You know what the Lord says of the trial of our faith?

That it's more precious than gold.

Now, we know how precious gold is.

But in the Lord's sight,

the trial of our faith

is of far more importance and more value than gold.

And so it's inevitable,

but the Lord is going to test his people.

It makes it very clear it's a mark, indeed,

of the Christian that they will be tested along the way.

But the thing is, often our eyes of faith are dimmed

and we're not seeing in the way that we should.

And Jesus says in verse 40,

Jesus said,

Did I not tell you if you believe

that you will see the glory of God?

You know, unbelief

is an incredible blight on our Christian life.

Unbelief robs us of seeing so much.

Unbelief is a hindrance to the work of Jesus.

It's not a sense of unworthiness

that holds back the work of Jesus.

It's not a sense of our sin

that holds back the work of Jesus.

It's unbelief.

It tells us in Mark's gospel,

He could do no mighty works there

except lay hands on a few.

And he marveled at their unbelief.

So you see how unbelief hinders

the work of Christ like little else.

And it's a challenging question to ourselves as well.

Is unbelief hindering

and holding back in our life

the work of Jesus?

Because you see,

unbelief clouds our sense

of how the Lord is working.

You could have two Christians

looking at exactly the same situation.

And one Christian could be saying,

Oh, do you know, it's wonderful.

It's wonderful the way the Lord is working.

I'm amazed at what the Lord is doing.

And another Christian beside is saying,

Oh, do you know,

Lord's not with us at all.

Nothing happening today.

Everything is dead.

And the problem is

of what's going on within the person's heart.

One person has a vision to see.

One person has a sensitive heart,

a tender heart,

a spiritual heart,

a heart that is fixed

by faith and the glory of God

and is seeing God at work,

sees God in everything.

And the other person

is hindered and hampered

because of unbelief.

And remember,

unbelief is still there

in the heart of the Christian.

Lord, I believe,

help thou mine unbelief.

And you will find unbelief

very much in the prejudiced heart

and in the hard heart.

And so we need to seek

to have our hearts softened

and our hearts molded by Christ

so that there will be a seeing

all that Jesus is doing.

And again, this chapter brings before us

one of the most remarkable statements

that Jesus ever made,

where he says,

I am the resurrection and the life.

where Jesus is stating

that he is a personal guarantee

that he will win victory

over death and over the grave.

And that because he will win victory

over the death and the grave,

so will all his people.

And you know,

that's a glorious hope.

If you're a believer tonight,

you know something,

you have a wonderful hope in your heart.

Paul likens death to sleep.

So does Jesus.

And when you and I go to bed at night,

two things happen.

One is we have rest.

And another thing is we have renewal.

You get up the next day

and that's you ready for another day.

And in a sense,

that's what happens in the grave as well.

Our bodies are laid in the grave to rest.

Till when?

Till the resurrection.

And at the resurrection,

we find that everything is going to change.

Because the return of Jesus

is going to change things

in a way that we cannot even begin to imagine.

You know, when Jesus returns,

it's going to be so different

to how he came.

At this time of year,

so many are thinking about the birth of Jesus.

When Jesus came into this world,

very, very few recognized him.

as the Messiah,

as the Son of God,

as who he is,

the second person of the Godhead,

come in our nature.

But you know,

the day he returns,

there won't be one solitary soul alive

that will have the slightest doubt,

but that this is the Son of God.

because we're told that when Jesus returns,

it will be the most amazing spectacle.

There'll be dazzling brilliance as he returns.

He'll descend from heaven,

and there'll be three great,

as it were,

phenomenon occurring at the same time.

the Lord will shout.

It also tells us

that there will be the voice of the archangel,

and there will be the sound of the trumpet of God.

Now, we know that

the trumpet was often used

to signal the dawn of the day.

the trumpet is often used

to signal the arrival of royalty.

But here, the trumpet,

yes, it's going to announce

the arrival of royalty,

but it's going to do more than that.

It's announcing the resurrection.

It's announcing the opening of the graves.

The trumpet of God,

with a moment that blows,

the graves will open.

Imagine if we're still alive at that time.

What a thought that would be.

Paul tells us about that in Corinthians.

He says,

In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trumpet,

for the trumpet will sound,

and the dead will be raised imperishable,

and we shall all be changed.

At that moment,

the graves will open,

and the graves of corruption

will give way to incorruption,

and we will be changed.

Our bodies will be changed

to become beautiful, glorious, spiritual.

We will resemble our saviour,

our mediator,

the Lord Jesus Christ.

We're told that.

It's all a great mystery.

Now, Paul likens it to

planting a seed in the ground.

And he says,

Our body is like that seed.

And when you put that seed into the ground,

whether it's going to be a flower or a plant,

that seed will die.

But from the seed

will grow the plant or the flower.

So in a sense,

the flower or the plant is a seed.

Although the seed has died,

this is what has come from it.

And Paul says,

that's what it's going to be like

for us as well.

The continuation there,

so our body laid into the grave,

the same body will rise

just in the same way

as you have to plant the seed in the ground,

and from it this beautiful flower.

So it will be for the believer.

And it's no wonder

that there's this wonderful hope

within our heart.

Now, this is what,

although Jesus isn't saying all that to Martha

at this particular moment,

that is what it means

when Jesus says

that he is the resurrection and the life.

And I hope tonight

that you have this hope in your heart,

that you have this hope.

If you're a Christian tonight,

you have this hope.

If you're believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,

that's part of what you believe in.

You believe in the resurrection.

Now, as I read on Wednesday night,

there's going to be a resurrection for everybody,

not just for the Christian.

Remember, I read in Daniel,

and it tells us,

they are very, very solemn words.

And many of those who sleep

in the dust of the earth

shall awake.

Some to everlasting life,

and some to shame

and everlasting contempt.

That's how it's going to be.

There's going to be a division

in the resurrection.

Some to everlasting life,

some to everlasting shame

and contempt.

And that's a serious thing

to reject Jesus

because Jesus is the only...

This world has nothing for death.

This world,

there's nobody that can give you

any hope

for what happens in death

apart from Jesus.

And that's why it is so important

that we lay hold upon the truth.

Jesus said,

I am the way,

I'm the truth,

I'm the life.

And it's the most wonderful privilege

that you have tonight

to be sitting

where Jesus is present,

who is the way,

the truth,

and the life.

And he's saying,

ask me.

Ask me to come into your heart.

Receive me.

Because without me,

you do not have this hope

in any shape or form.

So the Christian is able

to look at death and say,

Oh death,

where is your sting?

To look at the grave and say,

Oh grave,

where is your victory?

You'll often see in a tomb

on a gravestone

till the day breaks.

I'm sure if you walk

around a cemetery,

you'll often see that

till the day breaks.

What day?

It's the day,

the resurrection dawn.

That moment when the trumpet

will sound

and the graves will open.

And then we see

in this chapter

Jesus' reaction to death.

And we see,

of course,

that he weeps.

It's a tiny version.

It's a verse that's full

of meaning and significance.

We see that,

that Jesus,

people will say

it's the smallest version

of the Bible

and so it is.

Jesus wept.

And it shows us something

of just who Jesus is.

It shows us his care,

his love,

his concern.

He enters into our,

where we are.

Maybe tonight you have pain

in your heart.

Maybe,

maybe nobody's listening to you.

Well,

Jesus will.

That's the beauty of it.

You might not be able

to tell anybody

how you feel.

There might be things

going on in your life

nobody else knows about.

You might be able

to hide it from others.

Your face doesn't display it,

but my word,

it's going on deep in there.

Jesus is able.

Jesus is the one.

He is the shoulder

to cry on.

He is the one

who is there

and we're to go to him

and to bring

all our cares,

our anxieties,

our burdens,

our pains,

our sorrows

because he understands.

He's been there.

But he is also able

to help us

in a way that

no human

is able to help.

But there's more

to the fact

that Jesus wept

because it tells us

in verse 33

when Jesus saw

our weeping

and the Jews also

had come with our weeping,

it tells us

he was deeply moved

in his spirit.

And then again

in verse 38

it tells us

that he was deeply

moved.

And that word

actually translated

means

really there's

an outburst

of indignation

or anger.

Now we often

don't associate

that with Jesus.

But that's

at that moment

that's what

Jesus gives us

and within him

there's this

outburst of anger

within him.

Not just weeping

but there's

this anger

at what death

has done,

what sin

has brought

into this world.

The havoc,

the pain,

the destruction,

the tears,

the sorrows,

all because of sin.

And Jesus is angry.

In fact,

it's,

it has been said

that

that as he

went to the

B.B. Warfield

who says

Jesus approached

the grave

of Lazarus

in a state

not of

uncontrollable

grief

but

inexpressible

anger.

That's who he was.

He was so angry

with what

sin

has caused

and the

havoc

and the pain

and the destruction

and the death.

And so Jesus

is angry

with death.

But the wonderful

thing is

Jesus has come

to confront

death

and to confront

the devil

who's behind it

and he's come

to confront

what nobody

else could.

And as Jesus

came to the grave

weeping and angry

he commands

take away

the stone.

And of course

this is where

the protest

comes from

Martha.

Why?

Because behind

the stone

there's corruption

and nobody

wants to see

corruption.

And you know

spiritually

that's who we

are in our

natural state

corrupt.

And

there's

stones

layers of

stones

over us

that hide

from ourselves

what we're

really like.

And we don't

want to see

what we're

really like.

why do you

think people

want the

Bible

removed?

Why do

people say

whatever book

you look at

don't look at

the Bible?

Because the

Bible is the

only book

that will

shift the

stones.

The Bible

is the

only book

that reveals

to us

how we

really are.

And so

people don't

want to know.

When Jesus

came into

this world

he declared

I am the

light of

the world.

And people

didn't want

the light.

Jesus said

that.

Men love

darkness

rather than

light.

They prefer

it.

Leave me

alone.

You know

there's so

many people

don't want

to hear

the gospel.

They don't

want to

come to

church

because

they'll be

disturbed.

That's the

bottom line.

They don't

want to

hear about

sin.

They don't

want to

hear about

their

accountability

before God.

They don't

want to

hear that

inside here

there's all

kind of

corruption

and sin.

And so

people don't

want to

hear these

things.

But Jesus

says take

away the

stone.

And you

know that's

the greatest

thing that

could happen

to you

tonight.

If tonight

you're still

not a

Christian.

That the

stones that

is covering

your own

eyes from

your own

heart would

be shifted

in order

that you

would see.

And if

you're a

Christian you

look back

in your

life and

you thank

the Lord

that came

a day

when he

removed that

stone.

That was

hiding what

was in there

from yourself.

Oh it

wasn't a nice

thing to begin

with.

It was a

terrible

discovery.

But it

was the most

wonderful

discovery because

that discovery

brought you to

seek the

Lord.

To seek

his forgiveness.

To seek

his mercy.

to seek

his pardon.

To seek

his renewal.

And so

this is what

Jesus has

done.

And you

know the

wonderful

thing is

that Jesus

is the

one who

has power

over death

and over

the grave.

He

demonstrated

in his

own death.

Because

remember the

ladies they

came to

anoint the

body of

Jesus.

And as

they were

coming to

the grave

there was a

problem and

they were

saying who

is going to

shift the

stone?

Because they

knew that they

hadn't the

strength to

shift the

stone.

Who's going

to shift

the stone?

But when they

got there they

saw the

stone was

gone.

Because you

see Jesus

he no stone

no grave

could hold

him.

He had

power over

it.

And so

Jesus is the

one who

has conquered

death.

And so

Jesus approaches

the grave

miracles.

And he

comes distressed

and angry

and weeping

and he

commands

take away

the stone.

Now some

people will

say why

did Jesus

ask them

to take

away the

stone?

If Jesus

has power

over death

if Jesus

is able

to perform

so many

miracles

why didn't

he just

take the

stone away

himself

through

his own

power?

Well I

don't believe

that Jesus

is going

to use

miraculous

power to

do something

that is

quite simple

for other

people to

do.

Nobody

could bring

a person

to life

but Jesus

but plenty

of people

around could

shift the

stone.

I think

it's as

simple as

that.

And so

Jesus very

simply says

take away

the stone.

And I'm

sure that

there are

many stones

tonight

that are

covering

your heart.

If you're

still not

a Christian

it is

because of

the stone

that is

over you

so that

you're not

seeing.

If you're

a Christian

you will

look back

over your

life and

you will

remember so

many different

people.

You will

remember people

who said

things to

you.

You will

remember

people and

it was their

life that

spoke to

you.

They were

Christians

and they

loved the

Lord and

their life

spoke the

way that

they lived

their life

the way

they reacted

in situations.

There was

something about

them that

spoke to

you.

It was

one of the

stones.

Maybe by

their

lifestyle.

Maybe it

was what

they said

to you.

But these

were what

they were

beginning to

move the

stones in

your life

so that

you were

beginning to

get a

glimpse of

who you

were and

who you

needed.

And if

you're here

tonight without

Jesus Christ

you need the

stone moved

so that you

too will

discover your

need and

discover that

there's only

one who can

meet that

need and

that's

Jesus.

There are

so many

stones.

There's the

stone of

unbelief.

You know

it's possible

to come to

church week

in, week

out, month

in, month

out and

still not

believe.

There's a

stone of

carelessness,

of apathy.

Again you

can come to

church week

in, week

out, month

in, month

out and

it doesn't

really bother

you.

You hear

the gospel,

you read

it.

In fact you

could tell

people if

somebody said

to you,

you know

what do

you do to

become a

Christian?

Oh you

could quote

oh you

just believe

in the

Lord Jesus

Christ and

you'll be

saved.

But it

doesn't really

mean anything

to you.

Well let

me assure

you there's

a huge

stone over

your heart

that sure

needs to

be moved.

For some

people it's

stones of

doubt.

Other people

it might be

stones of

fear.

You know

there might

be people

here tonight

and they're

saying I

would like to

be a

Christian but

I'm afraid

I'm afraid

of how it

will affect

my life.

What will

people say?

What will

people say in

school if

I become

a Christian?

You know

when you get

older maybe

it doesn't

matter but

when we're

young I

remember it

myself the

whole thing

of peer

pressure.

What will

other people

think?

That sometimes

holds us

back.

Well we need

that stone

removed.

It doesn't

matter what

people think.

It doesn't

matter what

people say.

It matters

what the

Lord says.

And so you

ask tonight

Lord whatever

stones are

there that are

blocking me

from accepting

you.

Take them

away in

order that I

may discover

my need and

discover the

saviour who

can meet that

need.

Because nobody

else can

except the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

Remember

Jesus says

I am the

resurrection

and the

life.

Let's pray.

Oh Lord

our God we

give thanks for

the tremendous

statement that

you made by

a grave.

When it all

seemed so

bleak so

empty there

was so much

distress and

sorrow and

sadness and

yet you made

the most

wonderful statement

that that has

been made in

the face of

death saying

I am life and

I am the

life that rises

again.

We give thanks

for the hope

that is in our

heart tonight

and that we

are able to

look at death

when it will

approach us

and to say

oh death

where is your

sting?

Oh grave

where is your

victory?

We pray for

that faith

oh Lord.

We pray if there

are any here

tonight who are

still outside

Christ that

they won't

linger any

longer because

our days are

running away.

The return of

Jesus Christ is

coming ever

closer.

and we

read there of

what will

happen on

that day

and that

some to

everlasting

shame and

contempt

some to

outer

darkness.

It tells us

that men love

darkness rather

than light

and if we

choose that

darkness

then it ends

in outer

darkness which

is a fearful

thought.

And so we

pray that the

light of Jesus

may enter into

our hearts and

into our lives

tonight and

that we may

discover what

it is to have

Jesus as our

Lord and our

Saviour as the

resurrection and

life in our

life.

Bless us all we

pray grant us

your grace and

take us all home

safely we ask in

Jesus name.

Amen.

We're going to

conclude our

service singing

to God's praise

in Psalm 16

from Sing

Psalms.

Psalm 16

from Sing

Psalms.

And the tune

is Golden

Hill.

Verse 8

Before me

constantly I

set the

Lord alone

because he

is in my

right hand

I'll not

be overthrown

therefore my

heart is glad

my tongue

with joy

will sing

my body

too will

rest secure

in hope

unwavering

for you

will not

allow my

soul and

death to

stay

nor will

you leave

your Holy

One to

see the

tombs decay

you have

made known

to me

the path

of life

divine

bliss

shall I

know

at your

right hand

joy

from your

face

will shine

these verses

verses 8

to the end

of Psalm 16

before me

constantly

before me

constantly

I said

the Lord

the Lord

because

he is

at my

right hand

I'll not

be

over

up

my

my

my

!

my

For you will not allow my soul and death to stay.

Nor will you leave your only heart to see the tomb decay.

You have been known to me.

The path of life divine.

Where shall I know?

So at your right hand,

For if all your face will shine.

I'll go to the door on my right.

Now may the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

rest and abide upon each one of you now and forevermore. Amen.

Hello.

Hello.

Thank you.