Title: Mystery "Two days"/John 11:17-27
Content - Mystery "Two Days" - (John 11:17-27)
We are now understanding God's will through Lazarus. Lazarus fell ill and died.
Then the sisters hurriedly send someone to Jesus. When Jesus heard this emergency, he said, "This sickness is not a disease to die, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified through it" (John 11:4).
So far, it's understandable. However, verse 6 is difficult to understand.
“When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two more days where he was” (John 11:6).
Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus especially (verse 5).
We are desperately looking for Jesus in the family that the Lord loves.
But Jesus acts as if he has nothing to do with him.
Why did Jesus take this attitude? Why did you stay two more days?
To solve the mystery 'Two Days', you need three questions.
First, where did Jesus hear the news of Lazarus? It's "the place where you were".
It was the place where John first baptized (John 10:40).
It was here that the Lord heard about Lazarus.
Second, what was Lazarus's condition when Jesus heard the news from the messenger?
Jesus arrived in Bethany four days after Lazarus had died.
The distance between the place where Lazarus lived and the place where Jesus was staying is about 30 km.
If so, one day for the messenger to go to Jesus, one day for Jesus to come to Bethany, and the two days he stayed together add up to four days.
This means that Lazarus was already dead when the messenger left for Jesus.
Then Jesus heard the news.
Third, what was Jesus doing when he heard this news?
Jesus is surrounded by many people now (John 10:41-42).
People are listening to the word of the Lord. So, the work of believing in Jesus was taking place in that field.
I just heard the news while doing this.
So the Lord stayed there for two more days.
After Jesus stayed there for two more days, he told his disciples, 'Let's go back to Judea' (verse 7).
Judea here refers to Jerusalem. It is the place where the Jews had tried to stone Jesus in the past (John 11:8, John 10:22-23, 31, 39).
So the disciples stopped Jesus from going (John 11:8). But the Lord is firm.
"Jesus answered, Isn't it twelve o'clock in the daytime, and when a man walks by day, he sees the light of this world and does not stumble" (John 11:9)
He is suddenly referring to the present time and time to his disciples.
What did Jesus mean by 'day'? Low means "When you work, Opportunity".
Specifically, it refers to an opportunity to reveal the name of God to those who need salvation, that is, to share the gospel.
So what does 'twelve o'clock' mean here? It means 'the Lunar New Year's Day is just around the corner before God'.
In fact, this incident of Lazarus is almost the end of Jesus' public life.
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where was Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead” (John 12:1).
This Passover is the very Passover where Jesus gave the Last Supper.
It happened only ten days before the crucifixion.
The Lord is now counting down his life.
Meanwhile, the Lazarus incident occurred.
An errand sent by the two sisters came running. However, Lazarus was already dead.
But now, in front of my eyes, many people come and listen to the Word.
Where should I prioritize? The Lord cares more about those who need to be saved here than on the beloved Lazarus.
This is a place where the Lord will never come again.
These are people you will never see again. A lot of people are listening right there.
How can you leave them alone and run for the 'dead'?
The Lord boldly gave up on Lazarus, who had already died, and stayed there for two more days for those who had to live to be saved.
But there is a more important reason for staying there for two days.
In fact, who is dying spiritually? Lazarus of Bethany has already been saved by believing in Jesus.
If you die now, there is no problem.
But those in front of us are spiritually dead. It is more urgent to save them while they are still alive.
So the Lord stayed there two more days. But why is it 'two days'?
As many people became interested in the 'gospel' through the evangelism of the Suga-seong woman, the Lord stayed there for two days and preached the word (John 4:40-41).
Then, the amazing fruit of evangelism, in which the number of believers increased, appeared.
Therefore, 'two days' in Jesus is closely related to the preaching of the gospel.
Dear all!
The Lord took a deeper interest in the living.
Those who are not saved have priority over those who are saved.
The Lord was not drawn to human affections.
He thought it was more important to share the gospel with those who need it by my side right now.
So he stayed there for two more days.
And he didn't care as much as 'the Jews were going to stone them' (John 11:8).
He preached the gospel even as he went there, and threw his life to the cross.
What did you do at the scene where you were nailed to the cross?
Although it was indescribable pain, he was by his side and saved the robber (Luke 23:43).
In the end, while hanging on the cross for six hours, he was ridiculed and despised, and he poured out all his water and blood. And he said 'It is finished' and he was destined to die. Finally, the Lord was buried in the tomb.
Where and what did the Spirit do while the Lord was in this tomb?
In the confession of faith that the churches of the world profess, it is recorded that "he went down to prison after being buried."
“He also preached by spirit to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19).
For the past 3 weeks, we had a "Purpose 339 Special Prayer Meeting". I tried to discover God's purpose and will through praise, the Word, and prayer, and I found it.
① We were created for the joy of God.
②We have been called into the family of God.
③ We are created to be like Christ.
④ We were created to serve God.
⑤ We were created for a mission. And I learned that the conclusion of everything is a mission.
However, one of the missions is to preach the gospel. When we preach the gospel, God is pleased (Luke 15).
How should we take on this mission?
We must be enlightened through the appearance of the Lord who stayed 'two more days' before the death of Lazarus.
We must be enlightened by seeing the Lord preach the gospel to the spirits even on the cross and even in the grave, while suppressing the human level, without hesitation of being stoned.
The person you meet now may be the last person you meet.
Now that may be the last place.
We should be those who stand before God while doing the work that pleases the Lord.
The marching trumpet for the 'Great Spiritual Awakening Evangelism Rally' is sounding.
There is nothing more noble than bringing a life back to the presence of Jesus.
I hope that we can all participate in this work and bear abundant spiritual fruit so that we can all make God smile.