God has power over life and death

Article for Sunday March 22, 2026

John 11:3–4 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

This could be a long article but not so much in the sermon.  Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus was ill and eventually dies.  Jesus hears from Martha and Mary who sent a messenger to tell Jesus that His friend whom He loved is very ill.  Martha and Mary do believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that He has the power to heal and this is why they sent for Jesus.

Jesus tells His disciples this illness does not lead to death.  If Jesus wanted to, He could have healed Lazarus from this illness without going back.  We see Jesus healing the servant of a Military leader.  There can be two meanings here, one is that the death that Jesus is speaking of is death that leads to the eternal pit or hell.  The other meaning would be though His friend Lazarus may die there is the hope of the glory of God through the promised resurrection on the last day.

Jesus definitely is talking about that He can use this unfortunate dying of Lazarus as a means to bring glory to God.  Certainly, the apostles and disciples believed Jesus is the savior they have been waiting for.  They all witnessed many of the healings Jesus performed.  The disciples also witnessed times where people who had just died (fallen asleep) were brought back to life.

Now a revelation for not just the disciples but for all who will be around to witness. Jesus shows these gathered witnesses who is really in charge and who has control over everything and especially over death and life.

John 11:6 6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

This may seem cruel to some that Jesus did not immediately take to the road to see if He could heal His friend.  However, Jesus is setting the stage to give a sign to all who will witness.  The sign again, is that God has dominion over death and life. 

So many times, we think we have to hurry and most of the time there is nothing more we can do.  And this causes us much anxiety.  But this is not the case for the Son of God.  Our God is mighty and omnipotent. That is God is all powerful.  What God wills happens and His will is omni-good, in other words God is always good and cannot go against Himself.  God will always make the right choice.

John 11:13–14 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”  16So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus must have previously been to Judea and was about to be stoned by the Judeans.  Needless to say, Jesus escaped the stoning but now has to go back to see His friends Martha, Mary and the ill Lazarus.  The disciples try to talk Jesus out of going in fear of Him and themselves being killed.  But Jesus insists they go for many need to see the glory of God at work. 

Sarcastically Thomas says let’s go and we can all die with Jesus.  Still Jesus’ argument outweighs the disciple’s skepticism.  And the disciples follow Jesus wherever He may go, as should we.  When we realize Jesus is with us, we can feel safer about our wellbeing.

John 11:21–24 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

John 11:32 32Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Both Martha and Mary thought if only Jesus the Son of God were there, Lazarus their brother would not have died.  But Jesus had His reasons for letting their brother die and to have been buried for four days.  Jesus was preparing to show more of the Jews who He was and that they can believe He is the Son of God.  This would also strengthen the faith in all who believed.  It would seem that He is using Lazarus as His test subject to convey His message. 

Martha is willing to accept that her brother is dead and that there is no more to do now.  Jesus speaks to assure Martha her brother will rise, but Martha seems to take the words of Jesus as He is trying to console her in her mourning. Martha’s mind is not hearing that Jesus is talking about the present.  Rather, Martha is hearing what she has learned from Jesus as He taught all who believe will be resurrected on the last day. So, Jesus says to Martha…

John 11:25–27 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

With these words, Jesus re-announces to Mary who He is and the power He has over death and life.  Jesus is not only the resurrection and the life but the one who has complete control of death and life.  Even now Martha is still in the midst of her mourning and grief. 

The words Jesus speaks to Martha still does not resonate to the present.  But one thing that we can be sure of is that Martha’s faith in that Jesus is the Christ is solid.  We are at times just like Martha as we get tied up on what is in front of us at any given moment.  A time to take a step back from the moment and realize not only is Jesus the Christ but He has the power to bring life when life seems to have slipped away.

John 11:35–37 35Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus wept.  Astounding or expected?  Jesus shows compassion towards those who are mourning and grieving out of their love for Lazarus.  Indeed, Jesus is also mourning and grieving which shows us that we do have a compassionate God.  I’m sure God has shed many of tears whenever He looks upon us.  We are His children and we cause our own suffering and then we suffer every time a loved one passes on.

John 11:38–40 38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

If the body starts to decompose it truly says one has died.  Martha still cannot understand fully the words of Jesus.  Her brother will rise; He is the resurrection and the life.  We see what is before us and believe in only what we see.  We think we know and understand but we let our eyes and flesh deceive us. 

We do not realize the truth is right in front of us even though it appears to be hidden.  The glory of God is Jesus Christ who through His glory dies on a criminals cross for the sake of all believers to be resurrected.  Though we have not seen the death and resurrection, we can put our faith in the documented witness of those who followed Jesus.

John 11:41–43 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

One true God.  We see God in three persons and know that He is one God.  Being one God the Son cannot do anything without the Father and the Father without the Son, and both cannot do anything without the Holy Spirit.  One true God whose actions are one will, and Their or His will that cannot be broken. 

Jesus prays to the Father with thanks and praise for the sake of all who are in hearing range.  As always God speaks and it happens.  “Lazarus, come out.”

John 11:44–45 44The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”  45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.

      “Unbind him and let him go.”  Jesus shows us a metaphor of how we are saved from the bondage of sin and death.  Death and sin must unbind us and let us go. 

Jesus shows us that even we who have been and will be in the grave and have decomposed that we will be whole again in our resurrection.  Jesus gives us a glimpse of His resurrection as well as ours.  Jesus wept, because we have a compassionate God who loves us to life everlasting. 

Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May