Speaker 1: 0:07

Hello friends and welcome to the Rooted and Grounded podcast. Hope you're all doing well, we're doing well.

Speaker 2: 0:13

How about yourself?

Speaker 1: 0:14

All is good. All is good. So, guys, I want to start off talking about, maybe, the fountain of youth or that desire that people have had to either live longer, maybe in some cases try to live forever, and that led me down the Google rabbit hole of what people have done over time to try to prolong their life, and I found a few interesting things that I want to bring up Okay.

Speaker 1: 0:39

Number one, and this one was just kind of. I think all of these now are just so common sense. You're like how stupid can you be? But yes, we weren't we weren't alive hundreds of years ago, just like, I'm sure, people in like 2400 will look back at us um.

Speaker 3: 0:55

So number one is milk transfusions.

Speaker 1: 0:59

Oh, so instead of a blood transfusion they would do milk transfusions and they believed that the fats and the oil from milk would become white blood cells and fight infection. And supposedly it worked on a couple of people A couple, but in most cases it just sped up the death process. Oh wow, this next one was for asthma sufferers.

Speaker 3: 1:28

Wow, um, this next one was for asthma sufferers um and to help that, the recommendation was to smoke cigarettes. Oh yeah, I could see that.

Speaker 1: 1:35

Yeah, okay, here, take the cigarette for your cough and another one for asthma. Was uh chloroform, so like if you have trouble breathing just knock out and try again when you wake back up. Just kind of the computer reset up today was uh not the people out then. And uh there there was uh people who would drink uh liquid gold and liquid mercury. And all of these were met with with terrible, terrible outcomes.

Speaker 1: 1:58

Yeah, um, but but, matt, I thought, well, one thing that you and I could do today, as we're in the presence of someone approaching triple digits, who has lived such a long and healthy life.

Speaker 3: 2:10

So easy, Wayne. What can we?

Speaker 2: 2:13

do to help.

Speaker 3: 2:14

Exactly yes, we need some advice on this.

Speaker 2: 2:18

Maybe because see last year at St Augustine. You know, I went nowhere. That fountain of youth, oh, he's actually been there.

Speaker 3: 2:26

That's why been there. I can't say it helped, but I was there. Well, I walked by it.

Speaker 1: 2:32

Okay, I just walked by it okay on the street, didn't even walk back to it okay, okay, so I don't know what kind of thing that has you know we like to start these off with a little bit of fun, but with a purpose, and so today we're going to look at John, chapter 11, and Jesus teaching that he is the resurrection and the life. And so this idea of life that we will work on developing today. And so, as we dive into the text, I just want to say John 11 is a busy chapter.

Speaker 1: 3:05

There is a lot going on. We could spend a lot of weeks talking about John, chapter 11, but I want us to try to really focus in on the specific I am teaching. But before we get to that point, I want to just get us up to speed. And so Lazarus is sick and Jesus doesn't act right away. He knows what is happening. He tells his apostles hey, lazarus is asleep. And they're like okay, well, he can wake up. And he's like no, he's dead, we've got to go do something about it. But Jesus also reveals that he's doing this for a purpose and that is to bring glory to God, and that's part of why he delayed in acting.

Speaker 1: 3:46

And so Jesus takes his disciples. They go back to Bethany, which has become an increasingly hostile town and environment for them, and that's kind of where we pick up the story in John 11, verse 17. Now, when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, god will give you. Jesus said to her your brother will rise again.

Speaker 1: 4:32

Martha said to him I know that he will rise again in the resurrection. On the last day, jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die yet, shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to him yes, lord, I believe that you're the Christ, the son of God, who is coming into the world. So, matt, obviously there's a lot there, but I want you to focus on this story and put these seven words from jesus and how they change the outcome. How do they change kind of the direction of the story as a whole, but also the impact that it has on the main characters?

Speaker 3: 5:19

yeah, like no. Once he makes this statement, you fast forward and Lazarus comes out of the tomb. You know, martha, right here, she recognizes and she understands. You know, I think it was a truth, we had talked about this with even Paul that idea of you know the different sects and what they believed as far as resurrection and stuff and very much so. The Pharisees would believe that there would be a resurrection and they would teach that where Sadducees was. You know, basically, like this is it type deal. So you see, martha is understanding and truly is following this logic that the Messiah comes, you know, with this idea of resurrection and things of that nature, and maybe she had really heard Jesus maybe even talk about this or refer to it. Not sure the specifics on that, but she does recognize that he will rise again verse 24, at the last day.

Speaker 3: 6:30

But what he's showing in this statement is a twofold deal. I mean the first part is he says to Lazarus come out of that tomb. And when everybody sees that, when Lazarus sees that, I mean there is a change in. Wait a minute, he just resurrected this, he resurrected Lazarus from the dead right now. And you know, no doubt there then becomes and they had to have questioned Lazarus, or even thought of. Maybe not questioned is the right term, but maybe they just I mean, their mind is spinning. Now it's like wait a minute, he did it right now.

Speaker 2: 7:15

Heard that phrase I can't believe my eyes.

Speaker 3: 7:17

Yeah, like wait a minute. He just did it right now, not on the last day, but is this the last? Well, maybe this is the last. Ain't no telling what started happening, but what it's doing is the exact thing that he's been doing with these I ams. He's drawing them to him, he's elevating himself by his actions.

Speaker 2: 7:38

Man, that's application and to the glory of god and to the glory of god before yep, I mean, that was one of the reasons he praised that that's right and that's why he even delayed as you said a few moments ago, matt, that he delayed in coming for a reason, yeah. I mean he knew what was going to happen and, uh, to bring glory to god and see the power of god and to bring about that resurrection. I mean I can only imagine what it would have been like to been there to see that I mean I.

Speaker 3: 8:07

the thing that gets me um, the thing that just continually gets me is, you know, I'm thinking about now, like Mary and Martha, but what did Lazarus think when he saw the Lord Exactly?

Speaker 1: 8:21

Or like waking up in the tomb, yeah. Or like, yeah, exactly Like what is on me?

Speaker 3: 8:27

I'm being commanded to come out, like the words that Jesus said commanded him to come out. I mean there's a lot happening.

Speaker 3: 8:37

And I know that they were in just in awe of it, and I mean, there's no wonder that Mary and Martha and even Lazarus, and really you know, as you continue, that the thought of Lazarus going forward when they're thinking about killing Jesus, lazarus becomes a key ingredient to that, because Lazarus is like I don't know what to tell you, just like John 9, but I was dead and now I'm alive, and he did it Exactly right.

Speaker 1: 9:08

And I think some of the unknowns of this story are really interesting, Like what did Lazarus experience? What part of the afterlife did he experience?

Speaker 2: 9:18

during those four days.

Speaker 1: 9:19

Right, and what would his testimony have been?

Speaker 2: 9:23

once he was alive.

Speaker 3: 9:24

Oh yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1: 9:25

I mean you think about like in Luke the rich man and Lazarus in Abraham's bosom or paradise. Like what would he have been able to say or proclaim?

Speaker 1: 9:28

Like in Luke the rich man and Lazarus in Abraham's bosom or paradise, Like what would he have been able to say or proclaim? And kind of like Jesus was the proof of the pudding, Like Lazarus was like hey, I was dead, I've seen this, I'm not making this up. And there's a whole town of people that saw me walk out of the tomb and they knew I had been there not for four hours but for four days.

Speaker 3: 9:51

four days, they said I was going to stink, Exactly. And then I think, the other big thing is is Martha, because you go from cooking and cleaning and Jesus get on my sister.

Speaker 1: 10:03

But now she says everything, right.

Speaker 3: 10:07

Like she does, hit up on it.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Like she has got the.

Speaker 3: 10:11

The.

Speaker 1: 10:11

Bible class answers down Like Jesus. I know you're teaching, I know what you're gonna do. And Jesus is like Martha, Martha.

Speaker 3: 10:19

You've missed it again, you know.

Speaker 2: 10:20

Even though you are so right I'm about to help you out, you've missed the point. I could see her saying you know, you thought I was just Cooking and cleaning, but I was thought I was just cooking and cleaning, but I was really listening.

Speaker 3: 10:30

I was listening. I was listening.

Speaker 2: 10:30

You know, Lord, I was listening Exactly, just wanted to say that, and so really I think this— that's awesome.

Speaker 1: 10:37

I think all of this just shows how much this one instance from Jesus' life really shifts the perspective or the paradigm for His story and for the people, but for the story of God as a whole. And so, Wayne, that's kind of what I want to shift to you and focus on. So, as Matt kind of broadened this story, what does Jesus' teaching of I am the resurrection and the life mean for the rest of God's story?

Speaker 2: 11:04

Well, you know, when you think about those seven words and we all know, and I'm sure a lot of our hearers have and those who are tuning in have heard that the number seven is a word of completion, uh, in the scriptures.

Speaker 2: 11:19

And it's interesting to me that these seven words have such an impact, not only us today but for all people of all time, because the the change and the difference that it makes, especially when you think about for us today and when I think about the meaning just for our lives and for people who have served God for generations, I cannot think of anything better than when you think about the resurrection and the life we understand life here.

Speaker 2: 11:50

We understand life here, we experience life here. But that eternal life, the hope that it instills in us, the confidence that it bestows upon us to think about one day, what Lazarus experienced and all those people observed and saw were evidences. They knew that couldn't happen without the power of God and no doubt bringing glory to God. But what it does for us today is for me. It instills that hope of what one day, because you know, life here sometimes is not all that easy. And to think about that eternal life, you know that's described by Jesus and by John, the Apostle in Revelation. I mean that eternal life where there's just peace and blessings and comfort. Even the psalmist says where there's pleasures forevermore.

Speaker 3: 12:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 12:45

You know we enjoy some pleasures here, but they're here and they're gone some pleasures here, but they're here and they're gone.

Speaker 3: 12:57

He kind of back wayne, set up that the thought from earlier. So well, he's drawing himself on purpose. He's drawing and doing all these things, and he's drawing the people to him for a specific purpose, so that they'll believe what he says. So then, what he says, I go to prepare a place for you If I go, prepare this place, I'm going to come back.

Speaker 3: 13:15

It's better that I go, because this helper is going to come and he's going to comfort you, right? All of these words now, well, you think about. I was just kind of reading ahead as Wayne was talking. In verse 45, it says many of the Jews who had come to Mary had seen the things which Jesus did, believed in him.

Speaker 3: 13:36

Well, if you back up just a little bit and Wayne alluded to it as well earlier, verse 41, he says then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said Father, I thank you that you have heard me and I know that you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by, I said this that they may believe that you sent me Lazarus, come out of there.

Speaker 3: 14:09

So what is he doing? He is about to perform something where people he's talking to talk, but he is walking the walk. And now he's saying this guy resurrected this man from the dead and he said that he was sent by God. I need to listen to what this man is saying and now, all of a sudden, they're hearing a different perspective. I always draw people to John. Early on in Christianity I say read the book of John, because the book of John is going to do— I mean, john wrote this so that people would believe in Jesus, and when they believe in him, there's a promise of something greater, and there's some words there in verse 42.

Speaker 2: 14:49

I knew that you always hear me what it does for us today is. It gives us that hope. But, man, I don't know about you guys, but that's some assurance right there. You hear me, you always, hear me Always. And the fact that he states that in this setting yes, sir, when he's bringing such glory to God and demonstrating the power of the Almighty, it's a great source of strength for us today to know that God is always there to hear us.

Speaker 3: 15:15

Well, it's the Hebrew thought, Like of course he's here at this time, but he ascends to heaven and he lives to make intercession for us, so he always hears us, he's always listening Him and the Father are always in agreement. He's trying to tell you.

Speaker 1: 15:33

So I think every story of Jesus reveals something about him. Is there a story in Scripture that reveals more about Jesus than this one in John, chapter 11?

Speaker 2: 15:47

Because I think just.

Speaker 3: 15:49

You see the glory of God aspect you see the compassion that he has for the sisters.

Speaker 1: 15:55

You see, the commitment to Christ, you see, I mean there's just so much that you can see and that you can learn from Jesus, from one chapter that.

Speaker 3: 16:05

I just question if there is anywhere else this might be it, the manifold that, just all all the angles yeah, and like I think, and we'll look at this in the next couple- of episodes of the upper room and I think from a teaching standpoint, either there or the Sermon on the Mount, but I think just from a pure action standpoint.

Speaker 1: 16:24

John, chapter 11 is the one it's so much.

Speaker 2: 16:26

Yeah, like you said earlier, it's a very busy chapter because there's so much going on and so much of it that's just life changing. I mean not only for Lazarus, obviously we know that, but for them. But I'm talking about for us today. Yeah, to think about that glorious day.

Speaker 2: 16:44

You know john 5 talks about it- john 5, 28, 29, where all will come before and those have done good and the resurrection of life. And just to think about you know, you read about this and you said a few moments ago about can you imagine what? What labs was thinking and, of course, all the people around- he may think it was it. Yeah, this is it, but then wait a minute. You know, we get to experience that I mean think about that.

Speaker 3: 17:09

Hey, I just gotta throw this in. You said that I mean could lazarus I'm? I'm not saying that he was, I'm just throwing this out. Could lazarus have thought wait a minute, this is're here, we're at the same place. I thought it was going to be different right. Could he have been a little bit bummed out, you mean?

Speaker 2: 17:30

I got to come back to life here. I mean, he saw the Lord.

Speaker 3: 17:32

No, I'm not saying it wasn't great. I'm just thinking. The way that Jesus had taught, I'm sure, was elevating what we know about this idea of the resurrection, but is he like wait a minute? Yeah Well, I'm back to where I was at. How'd I get back here I?

Speaker 2: 17:49

don't know if I want to be Lord. What happened Exactly? Yeah, you know.

Speaker 1: 17:56

Well, and I think that takes us to the interesting. I love that, one of the interesting parts of this and that's the resurrection aspect, where Jesus says he is the resurrection. Lazarus died again, everyone died, but there's the ultimate resurrection that will happen very soon after this story, and then obviously, the one at the end of time that we're living for now, and I know we've dwelt a lot on the life piece and I know in the next episode we'll dwell on that too. But let's talk more about the resurrection. What does Jesus want us to learn from this scene, in this teaching about the resurrection?

Speaker 3: 18:31

Well, he says right there in verse 26, whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you, do you believe this? I mean, he's, he's again. I think there's depth to this thought. If I believe jesus and I believe who he is and I believe what he's done, then when he makes this statement, then that becomes my faith. Now, that's the thing that causes my action, because he says if you die, you'll, you're not really. What does he say? I'm the resurrection life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he's gonna live. It's like okay, what do you mean?

Speaker 3: 19:12

Well, we know that teaching now, paul and all the the new testament writers help us fill in those blanks on some of those thoughts that connect us back to what Jesus was originally saying. But for me personally, I just think that when you think about what Jesus is talking about, it's the thing that drove Paul to the end, because what does he say? There is a crown laid up for me, and not only for me, but everyone who has believed in this, hoping and wanting to see that appearing of Jesus Christ. You know, like we, we base our whole thing on come on, lord, maranatha. Right, paul's was driven by Maranatha. Come, lord, come quick, I'm ready, I want to see you. For me, that's just.

Speaker 3: 20:07

That's a key ingredient that I think other religions don't. I mean I know they believe in some type of you know and it's. It varies and what it looks like, but it seems like it's very selfish sometimes. You know, you do this and you get this reward of you know, know the Muslim belief and the things that they're rewards, that they get. Well, the reward that we get is Jesus Christ. I mean like, and we want that.

Speaker 2: 20:34

And the important question there for us today, when he said to Martha okay, do you get this, do you believe it, do you accept this? Yeah, because that's important Right, that we believe and we accept what Jesus says and take him at his word I'm the resurrection Right.

Speaker 3: 20:50

I am the resurrection Right. That's a powerful statement. This is what you get.

Speaker 2: 20:53

So now we have a decision to make. Just like she had yes, sir she said, yeah, I got it, got it. Okay, I've learned it.

Speaker 3: 21:07

Yeah, but man, that's such a need for people today. Yeah, in the world in which we live, we are driven by a different reward. It's not the porsche and the big house and the nice grass and the cool barbecue that we'll have. We're driven by j Jesus being our reward.

Speaker 2: 21:22

I mean Because of who he is Because of who he is and what he is and what he is. Okay, he is a son of God, but he's also the resurrection and the only source of life. Oh, man, you know.

Speaker 1: 21:33

Well, and Matt, when you were talking about instructing people to read the gospel of John and all that it has that made me think about how the book ends? And it has that made me think about how the book ends when he says if we wrote down everything that Jesus did, the world couldn't contain the book. And I think about John. Chapter 11 was maybe an afternoon, Exactly that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 3: 21:58

Like you know, john ain't lying. Like what are you saying?

Speaker 1: 22:14

He ain't lying. Like what are you saying he ain't lying. Or like you think about when he's going to Jairus' daughter and the woman touches him and just in the crowd of like, or they see people and like if you believe, rise up, walk. And just to put into context, or perspective how? Much Jesus did that.

Speaker 1: 22:24

We just have a drop in the bucket of yeah and the teachings and and I think, at least for me I struggle with like okay, we know the stories, we know the miracles, we know the gospels, but to think about this is just a glimpse, yeah, and every single one was leading to he is a resurrection.

Speaker 3: 22:44

He is the life.

Speaker 1: 22:45

Believe in me.

Speaker 3: 22:46

Yeah, I am. Well, you, I always go back to you, kind of brought up of this thing in my mind, of Evan Almighty in the movie, where he just clicks yes for all the prayer requests, and I think about what the Lord says about the Father he's always at work and so I'm always at work. And so if we take what John says as fact, jesus was a busy man like even more so than what we get, because he says we can't even write about all the things. As busy as this man, this man was laser focused man, like he was just about the business. And I think you're right. You uh said that. Where can we see a better, you know, picture of Jesus in just all the facets you know? Um, I thought about like John nine, and I even think about like all the facets you know. I thought about like John 9, and I even think about like on the cross. I think maybe the cross scene would bring maybe a close thought of this, but in action, john 11 is like the one.

Speaker 2: 23:58

I mean it really does bring out the care for the people the care for the Father, the reverence and even the enemies, Because without this one, without the resurrection of life, then what about the other? I Ams Okay. He's the door. Where's it leading me to? That's right, Okay. That's right, okay. Without the resurrection of life, he's not leading you to anything that's productive. Yeah, for eternity.

Speaker 2: 24:25

Yeah, way truth life I mean, no matter the other, I am seems to me like they got to be connected with this resurrection in life, because there's no resurrection in life.

Speaker 3: 24:34

Yeah, at all.

Speaker 2: 24:37

Yeah, what does it matter?

Speaker 3: 24:39

Light of the world.

Speaker 2: 24:39

Yeah, when does it end? Where does it end, yeah.

Speaker 1: 24:43

So really great discussion today guys.

Speaker 3: 24:47

Yeah, this is good.

Speaker 1: 24:49

And I think we're all feeling this one.

Speaker 2: 24:53

So, as as we move to wrap up and make it real.

Speaker 1: 24:57

Matt. What? What's the takeaway from John 11?

Speaker 3: 25:01

Um, not only is the Lord the life giver, he's the life sustainer. I mean, he says I'll give you eternal life, you'll live forever with me. You'll live forever with me and you don't even know what's prepared for you.

Speaker 3: 25:20

You know, it's like I think about a gift that you want to give somebody and you're like so excited for them to open it and you're like you don't even know what I'm about to give somebody and you're like so excited for them to open it and you're like you don't even know what I'm about to give you. And then they open it up and they're like wow, how did you know I needed a texas longhorn?

Speaker 2: 25:38

magnet right. Oh, I mean our taco tusha socks I mean wow, you know like life giver, life sustainerer man New hair.

Speaker 1: 25:50

Yeah, new hair.

Speaker 2: 25:55

Anything's possible.

Speaker 1: 25:57

Well, Jesus said all things possible to God right, All right, Wayne, what's your?

Speaker 2: 26:02

thing, oh, just that. Death to life. And obviously for Lazarus it was physical. But to think about the spirituality of that, the spiritual going from death, darkness to life and light in Christ, because he's a Savior, and because he's a Savior, it leads us to the fact that he's a resurrection life. What a blessing.

Speaker 1: 26:25

And I would say for mine there are some things, or there are some things that only Jesus can do.

Speaker 3: 26:31

Let him, that's good.

Speaker 1: 26:33

And so when I think about the miracles of Jesus, he never does a miracle on something that people can do themselves. So like you, look at this story. He didn't move away the stone, he had the people move the stone and then he did the miracle. And so I think that there are a lot of things in this life that can only come like.

Speaker 3: 26:52

Jesus, it's good.

Speaker 1: 26:54

Peace that passes all understanding hope the promise of the eternal, all of these things. They're only going to be found in Jesus. Don't try to do something that Jesus needs to do another way and, at the same time, don't neglect your responsibilities and the things that you can do because Jesus is going to do his part and we need to do ours.

Speaker 3: 27:23

Great discussion today guys.

Speaker 1: 27:24

Thank you, guys. Great, and hopefully those of you watching and listening benefited from it as well, and maybe I'll remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Take care.