The Implications of Easter: Life After Death

 The Implications of Easter

Life After Death

Welcome and Introduction:

Good morning Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Today we are starting a new series entitled “The Implications of Easter”. It will be a four week series that will explore the implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection changed everything! The reality of the resurrection proclaims the victory over sin and gives believers today a hope for eternal life. The reality of the resurrection is the foundational truth that sets in motion the Great Commission and the birth of the New Testament Church. You might say that the resurrection changed everything. 

What are the implications? We might hear this phrase when thinking about parts of everyday life, such as the effect of inflation on the stock market and the economy, or the effect of health issues on the quality of life. “Implication” is defined as “a possible future effect or result…the fact or state of being involved in or connected to something. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has tremendous implications for the entire world. Think about it. Jesus’ resurrection split time in two. Because of His resurrection, we now think of existence in two different distinct eras or ages, B.C. or A.D. Before Christ and Anno Domino. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ became a central point to date history. I was recently reading a book entitled “How Easter Changed Everything”, and the author had this to say about Jesus’ resurrection, “It’s not just an important event in history, it is the central event in history; the fulfillment of a process that

began in the accounts of Genesis in which God sets about to redeem a broken and fallen world that is marred by sin”. 

This morning we are going to look at Jesus’ resurrection power. If you will, open your Bibles to John’s Gospel, chapter 11 verses 17 through 27. We will also look at verses 34 through 44. Jesus’ resurrection power went far beyond Himself. In the coming weeks, we will most certainly look at the resurrection story of Jesus but today we are going to look at another man’s escape from death and the grave. This morning we I’ll be looking at Lazarus’ resurrection. 

What will you do with this story? How will you respond? If you are a seeker, if you are looking for truth, if you are investigating this Jesus character this morning, what will you do with this information? Will you simply toss Jesus into the dust bin of history? Will you cast Him aside as just another historical figure? Will you examine the life of Christ and become a true believer?

Over the years, I have had people try to put Jesus in many boxes. Some will say that Jesus was a good teacher. A healer. A righteous man. They will say that Jesus was a philosopher, a prophet maybe, or someone who came to show us ethics. Teacher, healer, righteous man, philosopher, prophet, ethicist…Jesus was all of these things but NOT GOD!

The late great C.S. Lewis thought that for many years. C.S. Lewis was what I would call an evangelical atheist. He believed that there was evidence of Jesus’ historical presence, that being that Jesus did exist. However, Lewis did not believe in the claims of Jesus. He did not believe that Jesus was God. Lewis thought that Jesus was a good man, a good teacher, a righteous man, but nothing more. Setting out to disprove Jesus, C.S. Lewis began to study the Bible. For many years, Lewis read, devoting himself to investigating Jesus life. Do you know what C.S. Lewis discovered? This brilliant man discovered that Jesus was in fact…God. C.S. Lewis became a Christian, a believer and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. After his studies, C.S. Lewis concluded that other’s opinions of Jesus being a good man, a righteous prophet, and an ethical teacher were wrong. Listen to what C.S. Lewis states about Jesus in his book “Mere Christianity”, 

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. . . . Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.”

So, what do you think? Jesus can only fit into one of three categories. Liar. Lunatic or crazy person. Is Jesus truly Lord? Do me a favor this morning, fill in the blanks under today’s thought. Lazarus’ Resurrection Demands A Response! Jesus Is Either A Liar, A Lunatic, Or He Is Lord! 

One of my all time favorite preachers is Adrian Rogers. I want to encourage you this morning to take some time and listen to his messages. You can find his messages on any podcast platform. You can also watch his messages on YouTube. In fact, when I am running, I will listen to many of Pastor Roger’s sermons. This morning I want to share a quote from him…

“The resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christianity. It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other world religions.”

Background and Context:

Again, we are reading from John 11. Before we jump into that passage of Scripture this morning, I want to offer you the background and context of the Scripture. Imagine the scene: Mary and Martha, overcome with sorrow at the death of their beloved brother Lazarus. Their hearts heavy with grief, their spirits crushed by the finality of death. But in the midst of their despair, Jesus arrives, and with Him comes the promise of resurrection power.

In our own lives, we too face moments of despair and loss. We experience the pain of broken dreams, shattered hopes, and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Yet, just as Jesus stood before Mary and Martha, He stands before each of us today, offering the hope of new life.

Jesus declares to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." These words hold the key to unlocking the power of resurrection in our lives. You’ll see in this story that if Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, that He can raise you and me from the dead as well. By the way, we know that Jesus did indeed raise Lazarus from the dead because the miracle was referenced at Jesus’ crucifixition. “He raised others from the dead; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” This morning, we are going to examine this miracle and discuss the implications of this resurrection story. 

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.   

Today’s Scripture:

John 11:17-27, 34-44  NLT

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. [18] Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, [19] and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. [20] When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. [21] Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." [23] Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." [25] Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. [26] Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" [27] "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."

Let’s skip down to verse 34…

"Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see." [35] Then Jesus wept. [36] The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!" [37] But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?" [38] Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. [39] "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible." [40] Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" [41] So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. [42] You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." [43] Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" [44] And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

What Are 3 “Implications” Of Lazarus’ Resurrection?

Implication One: Christ’s Power is Revealed vs. 17-22

Clearly there are more than three implications of Lazarus’ resurrection. For time’s sake, let just talk about three this morning. Let’s answer the big question, what are the 3 implications of Lazarus’ resurrection? Our first answer is this…we see Christ’s power revealed. Martha makes a powerful statement when Jesus arrives, 

"Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.“

You see friends, Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus days earlier. Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time. Lazarus and his sisters were in Bethany, a short 2 mile walk. Jesus and His disciples could have easily made it to Bethany but Jesus delayed. Martha knew that if Jesus had come immediately that Jesus could have used His divine power to heal Lazarus. How did she know this to be true? She had seen it time and time again. It was in Jesus’ nature to heal people. Written in the New Testament are some 26 instances of Jesus healing people. 

Remember the man with the withered hand? Healed. 

What about the widow’s son who had died? Not only healed but resurrected.

Then there is old blind Bartimaeus. Healed. 

What about the fella born blind? You guessed it. Healed. 

Then there is the guy who had the hat trick of illnesses and disease, he was blind, dumb and possessed. Healed. Healed. Healed. 

So Mary and Martha were not off base by telling Jesus that if He would have been there that He could have healed Lazarus. In this simple statement lies a large truth. Jesus can heal but will not always heal. 

“But preacher, if Jesus can heal us, why doesn’t He heal us?”

That’s a good question. The reason that Jesus does not heal everyone is because our physical healing is not His main earthly objective. God prioritizes our spiritual health over our physical health. I know that it is hard to understand but our physical healing may not be in our best interest. Put yourself in Lazarus’ shoes. Lazarus passes away. He was a deep man of faith. He was a believer in Christ. What happened to him when he passed? He went to heaven. Lazarus spent 4 days in heaven. Do you think that Lazarus really wanted to come back to earth? Doubtful. Lazarus experienced something that we can only dream about and hope for. He experienced heaven, life eternal, the Kingdom of God. No tears. No fears. Then suddenly he was reinstalled into a frail failing body. Lazarus sadly died not once but twice. You see friends, our ultimate goal should be eternity with heaven not health on this earth. Can Jesus heal, absolutely. Jesus does heal. Everyday He heals. Nevertheless friends, this mortal bodies are just that, mortal. They were not created to last forever. They are not outfit for immortality. I had a friend call me the other day and tell me that his grandmother had passed away. He told me that she had been declining for a few years. You know it hit me, we are all declining from the moment that we are born. The clock is ticking. We are a mist, a vapor, here then gone. 

God desires more for us than physical well being and physical health. If we were all physically perfect, if we were all in good working order, would we have a need for God? God allows our lives to be measured so that we will see a need for His eternal nature. 

Jesus has tremendous power. Power to heal. Power to resurrect. Let’s talk about that for a second. Lazarus had been dead for how many days? 4. Correct. Let’s talk about Lazarus’ body and what had happened to his body during that period of time. I went to the Daphne library and did some research on what happens to the human body when we die. I don’t want to be macabre with you this morning but I do want you to understand the nature of the miracle. 

By my best guess, it appears that Lazarus did not suddenly pass. He had been suffering for a period of time. Chances are he had a lengthy illness. He could have been battling infection like pneumonia or maybe some sort of plague-like illness. Lazarus could have been battling cancer. Most scholars believe that Lazarus died from septic shock, toxicity of the blood. Either way, we know that Lazarus was dead. The people of Jesus’ day were very educated when it came to death. They saw death daily. Death was a very public matter in the ancient world. Lazarus’ death would have been confirmed by multiple parties. We know that he was dead because he was put in burial clothing, his body prepared, and he was placed in a tomb. He had been ther for 4 days and decomposition had already set in. The people could smell it in the air, leaking from the sealed tomb. 

Lazarus’ body would have experienced hypoxia and lactic acidosis and a decreased pH. 

On the cellular level, his DNA would swell and start to break down. Lysosomes which store digestive enzymes would have swollen and burst which would begin the deterioration of Lazarus’ entire body. Lazarus’ kidneys started decaying 15 minutes after his death. His liver 30 minutes after death. His heart 24 hours after his passing. His brain 3-5 minutes after his death. Lazarus would have appeared pale, cold, and rigid. All the important organs for Lazarus to live would be deteriorated beyond any sort of function by 4 days. Not to mention the state in which the body was left. Wrapped in an enclosed, hot, tomb. 

I think that we are all getting the picture. When Jesus came to the tomb and said "Lazarus, come out!”, everything that I just described to you was immediately reversed in an instant. Lazarus blood was rejuvenated. His skin was refreshed. His dead brain resuscitated. His kidneys, lungs, and liver restored in the blink of an eye. His entire body reanimated. This man who was dead was revived and made alive. Lazarus went from a death bed to upright, able to breath, speak, respond and walk. What amazing power. I love what Paul says about the power of Christ in Ephesians 1…

Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power [20] that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

What Are 3 “Implications” Of Lazarus’ Resurrection?

Implication One: Christ’s Power is Revealed vs. 17-22

Implication Two: Eternal Hope Is Realized vs. 23-25

So our first point is that Christ’s power is revealed. Our second implication this morning is that eternal hope is realized. 

John 11:23-25 NLT

Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." [25] Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

There are so many things that I love about this story. This reveals so much about who Jesus is and what how He cares for humanity. Don’t you love how He responds to Mary and Martha? As He approaches them, they come to Jesus and they are angry. That’s right, they were angry. I can see Martha with tear stained cheeks stomping out towards Jesus, creating a dust storm under her feet. Jesus did not meet their expectations. Ever been there before? Have you ever been angry with God? Did God not meet your expectations? Did your loved one die even though you prayed that they wouldn’t die? Did you get passed over when you prayed for that promotion? Did you get cut from the team even though you prayed that you would make the final roster? We prayed for healing and it didn’t happen. We prayed that the relationship would work out and it didn’t. We prayed for financial security and your bank account is dwindling. You are left scratching your head, scrambling for answers, and by your estimation, God is to blame. Did Jesus reflect back to the sisters their anger? Did He put up His hand and quiet them? Did He say, “you know what, if you are going to be that way, I’m out of here”? No. How do you act when people are angry at you, disrespect you, blame you for something that is not your fault? We usually give back to them the very dish they are serving. Not Jesus. Jesus is compassionate. Caring. Understanding. 

The other thing that I love about this story is Jesus’ humanity. Verse 35, Jesus wept. Jesus shows emotion. He was a real person with real emotions. He cried real tears. But why? Why did Jesus cry? Surely He knew what was going to happen. He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Why did He dry? Was He crying for Lazarus’ suffering and death? Maybe. Was He crying because of the sisters’ anger, were His feeling hurt? Doubtful. I think that Jesus cried at the tomb because the people that He loved were hurting. In His humanity, He was overcome by their grief, their mourning, their pain. Jesus didnt just sympathize with the sisters, He truly empathized with them. He took their pain as His own. This tells me that Jesus knew exactly what it felt like to be human. He knew what it was like to hurt, to have pain, to be emotional. I did a funeral yesterday for a precious sister and church member. Her beloved husband passed away and I had the great privilege to conduct his home going service. She came to meet with me Monday. When she came in my office, she was crying. In her arms was urn that contained the ashes of her husband. She sat with me, talking about him, crying and laughing. She just held that box tight. When I prayed for her, I remembered how Jesus wept with Mary and Martha. It should comfort us to know that Jesus laughs when we laugh, celebrates when we celebrate, and grieves when we grieve. He mourns when we mourn. He is not distant, removed, far away. He is with us in the midst of our troubles and sorrows. 

The last thing that I love about this story is that Lazarus’ resurrection gives me hope for eternal life. If Jesus can renew and resurrect Lazarus, Jesus can do the same for me. Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 4:14 that if we believe in Jesus, that He died and rose again, that Jesus will also raise us up from the dead. “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” We do not have to fear death because Jesus has overcome the grave. Jesus proves to all of us once and for all that there is something beyond death. Until Jesus Himself rose from the dead, we had no actual proof that there was anything after death. Lazarus and Jesus changed all that. 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us that “God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus.” We don’t need to fear death, because Jesus’ resurrection shows us that death isn’t the end fo the story, it’s the start, the beginning. 

Are you thankful for Jesus’ love? His grace? His compassion? I know that I am. John 3:16 reminds us of a marvelous truth. 

John 3:16 NLT

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

What Are 3 “Implications” Of Lazarus’ Resurrection?

Implication One: Christ’s Power is Revealed vs. 17-22

Implication Two: Eternal Hope Is Realized vs. 23-25

Implication Three: Jesus’ Life, His Teachings, and Miracles Demand A Response vs. 26-27

Well, we have come to our final implication, Jesus’ life, His teachings, and miracles demand a response. Let’s go back to verses 26 and 27. 

 John 11:26-27 NLT

Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" [27] "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."

How many of you have heard of the Jesus film? To date, more than 200 million men, women and children have given their lives to Christ after watching the Jesus film. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of churches have been planted in far away areas after this movie was shown to the people. The movie is not new. Hardly. It was produced in 1979 and has been translated into over 70 languages. It is stated that it is the most widely viewed movie in the history of cinema. Even today, modern day missionaries take The Jesus Film to unreached people and places, show it, and the response is incredible. 

Paul Esheman, the man who is responsible to distributing The Jesus Film to millions of people around the world, tells about the time when the film was shown at a refugee camp in Mozambique. None of the people had ever heard of Jesus. They had never heard His story. As they played the movie, the people fell in love with Christ. They cheered for Christ’s miracles. They shouted as Christ healed people. They were jubilant as Jesus drove demons from people. The danced as Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave. Sadly, as they saw Jesus mocked, beaten, battered, and hurt, they grieved. They wailed. They wept. The people created such a stir that at one point, they had to turn the movie off. The people were just too emotional. For about a half an hour, the people wept bitterly in the dirt. Not even really knowing how to pray, they prayed. They prayed that Jesus would forgive the men who were putting Him to death, not knowing the full story and how Jesus did indeed forgive them. Esheman had counselors in the crowd trying to console the people, taking with them, praying for them. The counselors relayed back to Eshman that the people were confessing their sins and asking for God’s grace. 

Then they turned the movie back on. Jesus died on the cross. The refugees couldn’t believe it. They were stunned. Jesus is dead. They laid Jesus in a borrowed grave. The people began to shout at the screen at the injustice that had been visited upon Jesus. The movie continued. The third day arrived. The stone rolls away revealing an empty tomb. Jesus is alive. Resurrection. Esheman is quoted saying, “The crowd exploded as if a dam had burst. Everyone began cheering and dancing and hugging one another and jumping up and down. When the invitation was given for people to accept Christ, nearly everyone in the crowd wanted to respond! The following Sunday five hundred new believers showed up at the forty-member church in the refugee camp.”

Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" [27] "Yes, Lord," she told him. 

Martha believed in Jesus. That was her response. Jesus asked a similar question of Peter in Matthew 16:16. Listen to his response. 

Matthew 16:16 NLT

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Will it take a dead man rising from the grave like Lazarus for you to believe in the risen Savior Jesus Christ? Is the testimony of Lazarus, Mary and Martha enough? What say you? Do you believe in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ? Will you give Him your heart, your life, your everything today?

Let’s pray!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Our hearts are stirred by the profound truths we've encountered in Your Word. We've journeyed through the story of Lazarus, witnessing the power of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who conquered death itself. In this narrative, we find hope, reassurance, and the promise of eternal life.

Lord, we thank You for the reminder that Your love knows no bounds, that even in our darkest moments, You are present, ready to breathe new life into our weary souls. We are grateful for the gift of salvation through Christ's death and resurrection, and we marvel at the depth of Your love demonstrated on the cross.

During this time of invitation, may we carry the message of Your grace and redemption in our hearts. Empower us to live lives that reflect Your love and compassion, drawing others into relationship with You. Help us to be vessels of Your light, sharing the good news of salvation with those who are lost and hurting.

Father, we pray for the courage to follow Christ wholeheartedly, even when the path seems uncertain. Strengthen our faith, Lord, and grant us wisdom to discern Your will in all things. May Your Spirit guide us every step of the way, leading us closer to You.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus Is Calling You From Death To Life!