Word Of Truth Christian Church

Last Sunday, we reflected on John 11:38–57 under the title The Final Sign Before the Cross. Sa passage na ito, nakita natin ang huling dakilang tanda na ginawa ni Jesus bago Siya tuluyang humarap sa krus ng Kalbaryo. The raising of Lazarus was not merely a miracle to amaze people, but a powerful revelation of Christ’s authority, glory, and the coming fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Sa gitna ng kamatayan, unbelief, at suffering, ipinakita ng Panginoon kung sino talaga Siya, ang may kapangyarihan sa buhay at kamatayan.

We first saw the climatic sign in verses 38–44. Jesus confronted the reality of death itself. Ang kamatayan ay hindi normal o morally neutral, kundi bunga ng kasalanan at paalala ng pagkasira ng mundo dahil sa rebellion ng tao laban sa Diyos. Yet before performing the miracle, Jesus first called for faith. Sinabi Niya kay Martha na kung sasampalataya siya, makikita niya ang kaluwalhatian ng Diyos. The world says, to see is to believe, but the Word of God calls us to believe even before we see. True faith trusts Christ even when the answer has not yet arrived. Kaya ang pananampalataya ay hindi nakabase sa nakikita lamang, kundi sa katapatan ng Diyos at sa Kanyang mga pangako.

When Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He displayed His sovereign power over death. Ngunit ang muling pagkabuhay ni Lazarus ay preview pa lamang ng mas dakilang plano ng Diyos, na darating ang araw na lahat ng mananampalataya kay Cristo ay bubuhayin din tungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. This reminds us that the gospel is not merely advice or moral teaching, but the very power of God that brings life to spiritually dead sinners. Kaya ang tunay nating pag-asa ay hindi sa mundong ito, kundi kay Cristo lamang na may kapangyarihan magbigay ng buhay.

We also saw the revealed glory of the Son in verses 40–45. The glory of Christ was revealed not by avoiding suffering, but by entering into it. Minsan iniisip natin na kapag tahimik ang Diyos o tila delayed ang Kanyang sagot, ibig sabihin ay wala Siya o hindi Siya concerned. Ngunit ipinapakita ng passage na ang katahimikan ng Diyos does not mean His absence. He is always working according to His perfect wisdom, for our good and ultimately for His glory. God is more concerned with revealing His glory than preserving our temporary comfort. At sa gitna ng brokenness at suffering, si Cristo ang liwanag na dumarating sa pinakamadilim na bahagi ng ating buhay.

As people witnessed the glory of Christ, many believed in Him. Saving faith happens when a person truly sees the glory and worth of Christ and entrusts himself fully to Him. Ngunit nakita rin natin na the same miracle revealed hardened hearts in verses 46–53. The miracle exposed the true condition of people’s hearts. Some drew closer to Christ in faith, while others rejected Him even more. This reminds us that miracles alone cannot soften the sinful heart of man. Ang pusong bukas kay Cristo ay lalapit sa Kanya, ngunit ang pusong matigas ay lalong lalayo kahit malinaw na ang katotohanan.

The religious leaders valued their position, influence, and authority more than the truth. Natakot silang mawala ang kanilang kapangyarihan kaya mas pinili nilang tanggihan si Cristo kaysa magpasakop sa Kanya. Yet even in their wicked plans, God was still sovereignly working out salvation. Habang ang plano ng tao ay destruction, ang plano ng Diyos ay redemption. Walang sinuman ang makakapigil sa plano ng Diyos sapagkat lahat ng Kanyang ipinangako ay Kanyang tutuparin sa tamang panahon.

Finally, we saw the beginning of the road to Calvary in verses 53–57. The miracle became the trigger for the cross. Instead of leading everyone to worship Christ, it intensified the rejection against Him. Ngunit hindi aksidente ang krus. The cross was always the divine destination of the Son. Si Jesus Christ ay lalakad patungo sa krus sa oras at panahon na itinakda ng Ama. Walang nangyari kay Cristo na hiwalay sa kalooban ng Diyos, because from the very beginning, the salvation of sinners through Christ was already the sovereign plan of God.

And in the greatest irony of all, the One who conquered death would Himself die so that sinners might live. Kaya ang tamang tugon sa katotohanang ito ay pagsisisi, pananampalataya, at buong pusong pagpapasakop kay Cristo. Whether we see the full picture now or not, we trust the God who created us, the God who planned salvation, and the God who fulfilled His promises through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Soli Deo Gloria!

John 11:38-57

I. The Climatic Sign (v.38-44)

✨ Jesus confronted the reality of death (v.38-39)
🫒 Death is the ultimate consequence of sin.
✨ Jesus called for faith before the miracle (v.40)
🫒 Manampalataya ka at makikita mo ang kaluwalhatian ng Diyos
🫒 Ang basehan ng mundo ay to see is to believe pero ang sabi ng Salita ng Diyos manampalataya kahit hindi nakikita.

🌷 Pattern of Faith: Faith trusts Christ even before the answer comes.

✨ Jesus displayed His Sovereign power over death (vv.41-44)
🫒 Ang muling pagkabuhay ni Lazaro ay preview pa lamang ng darating na mas magandang plano ng Diyos: na kahit pa ang mananampalataya ay namatay siya ay muling bubuhayin ng Diyos.

🫒 Gospel is not just a piece of advice it is a life-giving power.

🫒Our hope is not in this world, our hope is in Christ🙌

II. The revealed glory of the Son (vv.40-45)

"Glory is revealed not by avoiding suffering, but by entering it."

🫒 The glory of the Son was revealed through suffering and delay.

"God is more concerned with revealing His glory than preserving our temporary convenience."

🌷 His silence does not mean He's absent. He's preparing for something and that is for our good and for His glory.

✨ The glory of the Son produced faith in those who saw Him

🫒 Saving faith happens when a person sees the glory of Christ and entrusts himself to Him.

🫒 He's a light that comes in the darkest part of our lives in times of brokeness and sufferings.

III. The same miracle reveals hardened hearts (vv.46-53)

🫒 The miracle that Jesus did exposed the real condition of the heart.

✨ The same miracle produced two different responses (vv.45-46)

🫒 Miracle alone cannot soften a sinful heart of men.

🌷 A heart that is open to Jesus Christ will draw close to Him while a sinful heart/ a hardened heart will turn away from Him.

✨ The religious leaders valued their position more than the truth (vv.47-48).

🫒 Religious leaders are afraid to lose their position, authority, influenced and their full control of what they really valued.

🫒 God used even their wicked plan to accomplish salvation (vv.49-53)

🌷 Man's plans are destruction while God's plan is salvation. Human cannot stop what God has promised to accomplished He will surely fulfill His plan according to His right time.

IV. The beginning of the road to calvary (vv.53-57)

🫒 "The miracle becomes the trigger for the cross."

🫒 The miracle intensified the rejection of Christ (vv.53-54).

🫒 The cross was already the divine destination of the Son (vv.55-57)

🌷 Si Jesus Christ ay lalakad papunta sa krus ng kalbaryo sa panahon at oras na itinakda ng Ama. Walang naganap kay Jesus Christ na hindi kalooban ng Diyos Ama bagkus mula pa sa simula ang dakilang plano ng Diyos para sa kaligtasan ay siguradong magaganap sa papamagitan ni Hesukristo na ating Tagapagligtas.

🫒 "The One who conquered death would Himself die. so that the sinners might live."

🌷 Pagsisisi, pananampalataya at buong pusong pagpapasakop sa Kanyang kalooban may nakikita man tayo o wala sapagkat ang Diyos na lumikha sa atin ang Siya ding Diyos na nagplano at tumupad ng pangakong kaligtasan sa bawat mananampalataya sa Kanya

Soli Deo Gloria🙌🙏❤️ .