Easter | The Resurrection of Lazarus: Jesus Ruins Funerals - Part 3

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THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS
Jesus Ruins Funerals – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
March 24, 2024
#realspringcreekchurch #jesusruinsfunerals #resurrection #countdowntoeaster #easter #jesus #miracle #hope #lazarus #palmsunday https://www.springcreekchurch.org/
Leading up to Easter, we’ve been looking at the resurrection miracles in the gospels. There is actually a progression in these miracles that seems quite intentional. In the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, she was raised from the dead shortly after she had died but was still in the home. The son of the widow of Nain experienced his miracle while his body was being carried to the cemetery for burial. Then in this week’s message, Lazarus is raised from the dead after having been placed in the tomb and decay had already set in. Yet in each circumstance, Jesus demonstrates that no matter how advanced, death is no match for Him. Even more importantly, each miracle speaks powerfully as to what Christ will accomplish in His death and resurrection.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. This message illustrated both the struggle with what Jesus failed to do in responding immediately to the crisis and how compassionate He was in meeting both sisters where they were with exactly what they were needing. Have you ever felt like God let you down? Did you have an expectation that He would do something for you and it failed to materialize? Describe what that was like. Since that time, have you had any new learnings, or understandings in retrospect? Have you ever had God meet you in a crisis with a word of assurance?
2. It doesn’t matter if they just died (like with Jairus’ daughter), or their body is being carried to the cemetery (like the widow of Nain’s son) or they’re already in the grave and the decay of death has already set it (like with Lazarus). There’s a progression in these resurrection miracles we’ve been looking at. And it truly doesn’t matter how long a person has been dead or the state of their body in death because Jesus IS the Resurrection. Even in the Old Testament, there is a vision of resurrection that involves the valley of dry bones that are made to come back to life (Ezekiel 37) – talk about an advanced state of death! God will one day breathe life into whatever remains of our body and it will live again. How does our ultimate resurrection give you hope? Comfort? Why is it significant that our bodies will live again? Every miracle sends a message and is a down payment on a promise God makes. What message does this miracle send?
3. There are tremendous parallels between the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of Christ that will happen just a week after this. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?
4. There are also parallels between the Resurrection of Lazarus and the Exodus from Egypt. Can you list some of the similarities? Can you think of any others?
5. Jesus has taken the sting out of death. That’s what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15…
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15.55-57
How has the experience of death changed for the believer? What does it mean for Christ to have taken the sting out of death? Share honestly with the group your own experiences, fears, or comforts around death. As a bonus, it might be helpful to read all of 1 Corinthians 15 (the Resurrection chapter Paul wrote) and discuss what other truths are meaningful, challenging, and helpful concerning death.